So, When Does Life Begin?

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In an effort to not sway the conversation in any particular direction. I’m going to simply display the verses that to my knowledge (and a couple brief google searches) are used in making the case for and against abortion. In the context of when life begins…

Scripture typically used to make a case Against Abortion…

Psalm 139:13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

Psalm 22:10 From birth I was cast upon you;
from my mother’s womb you have been my God.

Jeremiah 1:4 The word of the LORD came to me, saying,

5 “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.”

Luke 1:39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

And now for the verses that are used to make a case that “life” does not necessarily begin at conception but rather at birth.

Exodus 21:22 “If men who are fighting 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. 23 But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

Ecclesiastes 6:3 A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. 4 It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded. 5 Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man- 6 even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?

Job 10:18 “Why then did you bring me out of the womb?
I wish I had died before any eye saw me.

19 If only I had never come into being,
or had been carried straight from the womb to the grave!

I will leave my thoughts on the verses to the comments section to give everyone a fair opportunity to converse. If your reading this via email or rss I suggest you hop over and join the discussion.

2 thoughts on “So, When Does Life Begin?”

  1. Tough stuff, but necessary to sort through. I think the real question is not “WHEN” does life begin but “WHY” are there some asking the question. To me, it is all about motives, not data. I have deep concerns with the Racist and Genocidal root of the whole abortion culture in the modern world. Before the modern world, it’s roots were Pagan. How can anything good come from this wicked family tree of motives?

  2. Chris,
    Can you elaborate on this: “Before the modern world, [abortion culture’s] roots were Pagan.”

    I guess I’m just unsure of the history of abortion in our culture.

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