When approaching abortion in the Old Testament, there are a number of ways it could be addressed. Perhaps the clearest avenue would be in dealing with the issue of child sacrifice, that first appears in the narrative of Abraham, which spans through the time of the post-exilic Prophets and the Intertestamental or Second Temple period. Though the evil of child...

When we approach how the New Testament addresses certain topics and practices, it’s extremely important to recognize that the contextual matrix and theological worldview from which the writers were drawing is incredibly rich. This richness is due in no small part to the 400 years that preceded it, known as the Second Temple period. In this article, we will examine...

Instead of beginning with the oldest scriptural references to ascertain the correct stance a “Christian” should take on the global issue and practice of abortion, it seems much more prudent to work backwards toward the earliest foundations of Christianity. Contrary to what most would assume, abortion in the Roman Empire, was a common practice, prior to and during the 1st...

Most believers are unfamiliar with the majority of what has been covered thus far. Some have an awareness of the church Fathers and Apologists discussed in the previous articles. Yet among these there is still a general ignorance of what they had to say. Even fewer have heard of the many Christian texts produced in the Post-apostolic era (beyond the...

The predecessors of the 4th and 5th century orators and writers presented a solid foundation upon which their successors could build. The early Apologists of the first and second Post-apostolic generations were presented with the unique challenges of defining what the Christian faith looked like without the inaugural Jesus-group leaders and teachers. They were also responsible to defend that definition,...

For nearly four hundred years, anti-murder was the orthodox Christian ethic. Abortion was considered murder. Thus, infanticide in any form, be it abortion or exposure, was deemed anti-Christian. So much so that those who participated in the practice were placed outside the believing community as a consequence for their actions. Working our way back, we begin with the late 4th...