Is Capital Punishment Biblical? Capital punishment has always been an arguable issue and for good reason. The Old Testament clearly calls for the death penalty on many occasions, whereas; many of the teachings of Jesus and others in the New testament readily denounce it. Therefore, both advocates ands opponents of capital punishment have Biblical references to support their beliefs. Opponents use the creation story to show that all are created in God's image. Genesis 1:27a states that “God created man in his image.”1 God, thus, has the power to give and take away life as he chooses. All men are to pres