Many pro-life advocates rely on the Bible to support their defense of pre-born life. In contrast, there are many who claim that the Bible actually approves of abortion. Which is it? Have pro-life advocates simply spun religious teaching to fit their moral views? Or are pro-abortion arguers misusing Scripture as a way to justify their preferred policies?

It’s time to learn the truth.

Well, let’s start out by noting that there’s nothing surprising about otherwise kind and genuine Bible-believers falling into the trap of manipulating Scripture to fit their own beliefs.  Maybe it’s an honest effort at understanding scripture, but maybe it’s just wishful thinking. But let’s be clear. The Bible does not say anything about abortion–that is, the intentional killing of a child in the womb, let alone that it is acceptable. Instead, the Bible is pretty unequivocal about the sanctity and goodness of life, and, given its multiple references to children in the womb (not “fetuses”), the Bible clearly recognizes that the womb is where life begins. For example:

    • From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you. (Psalm 71:6)
    • Did not he who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us both within our mothers? (Job 31:15)
  • Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. (Jeremiah 1:5)

So, one thing we can say is that the Bible clearly acknowledges that life does not start at birth, but begins in the womb.

No, Exodus Does Not Prove That Abortion is Okay

The single passage in the Bible upon which the pro-abortion argument rests is in Exodus 21:22-25. This is part of a long passage that spells out in detail Hebraic law and the assigned punishments for breaking these laws. Though it has been translated in various ways, the basic passage is this:

If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows.

But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise. 

The abortionist’s argument is: “See? The law of Moses did not treat the killing of the baby in the womb the same as murder.” Fair enough. But this is not the same thing as saying that abortion is validated by the Bible. 

First, it is clear that the killing of the baby in the womb is still unlawful in the Bible, for which a punishment is required. 

Second, the woman is not involved in the fight, men are. So, unlike abortion, the injury to the mother and child, as described in this passage, is incidental, and not done with the intention of causing a miscarriage. Basically, it was not a purposeful attempt to take the child’s life. And it most definitely was not an attempt to take the child’s life by the mother herself, but, instead, the act was done by another man.

Third, it is obvious that the law’s purpose is to define the punishment for killing a child in the womb. Otherwise, there would be no reason to distinguish between striking just any woman versus striking a “woman with child”. In fact, the punishment is required specifically for the death of the child, since there is no punishment for the injury to the woman unless she, too, dies.

Ironically, the above passage actually works to defend the argument against abortion more than anything else. Any other interpretation is a deceptive falsehood.

There is No Biblical Support for Abortion

Make no mistake: God does not wink his eye at the callous destruction of his most precious and miraculous creation: new life. He knows well the sacrifice of every mother for her child, and he rewards the love shown by these women when they care for the least among us [1].

In the Old Testament, we’re told of the “cities of refuge”, where someone guilty of unintentional murder could go to be safe from attempts at his life from vengeful family members. It was a sort of mercy and protection for the guilty.  Those cities of refuge were a foreshadowing of Christ’s mercy. We flee to Him in search of mercy. We take refuge in His forgiveness of our sins, which gives us the ultimate freedom from eternal death.  This mercy is a true gift from God.

At Choices, we know that life, too, is a precious gift from God. This is true for the mothers who come through our doors, as well as the babies they carry, no matter what their circumstances are.

If you are faced with an unplanned pregnancy and you are not sure what to do, you need some good information and sound medical care. The last thing you should do is listen to people who would lie to you by claiming that the Bible says abortion is okay. You already know better, and you deserve better.

At Choices, you can receive a no-cost pregnancy test, a no-cost ultrasound which is reviewed by a board-certified OB-GYN. We will tell you what your true options are, so that you can make the best decision for yourself and for your baby. If you need help and support, contact Choices today and make an appointment for a confidential consultation.

[1] ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40