Suicide

Again, just an informal essay for my Intro to the New Testament Class. I have to say, the class is certainly introducing me to many different viewpoints and views of the New Testament.

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Suicide

Suicide is a tough subject, no matter what your view on the subject, there is no way to soften the topic. Some people believe that anyone who commits suicide is bound for hell. Other people take a gentler approach, and say that suicide does not prevent a person from getting into heaven. Some people even say that the apostle Paul contemplated suicide and since Paul was is such an important Christian figure, and he contemplated it, then it must not be bad.

First, why do people believe that Paul contemplated suicide? Bart Ehrman gives an example from a book written by Arthur Droge and James Tabor to support the idea that Paul was suicidal (Ehrman 245). The idea put forth is quite interesting. Most people equate suicide with depression, hopelessness, anxiety, etc. Hardly anyone thinks that a “happy” person will commit suicide. It appears that there was a Jewish tradition of “self-inflicted death as a gain over present inflictions that should be accepted joyfully” (Ehrman 245). Several examples are then provided. So let’s move on to Paul himself. Paul states in Phil. 1:21 that “to live is Christ and to die is gain.” This is the basis for the “suicidal Paul” argument. Yet another passage that seems to support this idea is Phil. 1:22-24 “ If it is to be life in the flesh, this would be a good work for me, and I do not know which to choose, but I am constrained by the two things, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is much better, but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.” So was Paul contemplating suicide? Paul did not commit suicide, but it appears he may have been contemplating it. So, if Paul was contemplating suicide, does that mean suicide is not wrong? 

The other group does not believe Paul was suicidal. This group believes that suicide is wrong. Suicide is murder, the Sixth Commandment says “thou shalt not kill” (Ex. 20:13). Paul himself says several things that completely contradict the notion of committing suicide. Phil 4:11 “in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” This verse conveys an idea that one should be content in their situation, being content in the situation can hardly be described as suicide. 

Yet another reason that it is doubtful that Paul was suicidal is that Christians believe that the primary purpose of man (the reason humans were created) is to glorify God. One of the very best ways to glorify God is to bring others to him, that they may glorify God as well. In cutting off your life, you are cutting off opportunities to glorify God and to bring others to the knowledge of him. This is, essentially, cutting off the relationship with God. Suicide is selfish, it hurts others, suicide is not just something that affects only the individual who does it, and it has widespread ramifications. How can someone think that it is ok for them to decide when they will die? God knows the proper time for a person to die, Psalm 139:16 “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” A person who commits suicide is going against God’s will for their life. If they hadn’t decided their time to die, then they would have lived longer. 

Finally, it actually is likely that Paul craved heaven. It is only natural for a Christian to want to get past these tough, stressful, hard days of earthly life to get to that wonderful final reward, eternity with God. If heaven weren’t something to be desired, then there would be no need for it. Christians live as if they are citizens from a foreign land, their true home is elsewhere, heaven (1 Pet. 2:11-12). Christians look forward to eternity, but they don’t cut off their earthly life for it, in fact, a lot of Christians believe suicide will condemn a soul to hell. Living out life here, in the best way possible, doing their best to glorify God, makes the “prize” of heaven worth it. In 2 Timothy, life is compared to a race, with heaven as the prize. In order to get the reward, the work must be done for it. The verses Paul wrote about looking forward to heaven are an introduction to how wonderful heaven will be.

In conclusion, I don’t believe that Paul was suicidal. What I do believe is that he craved heaven and the intimacy with God that comes with it. He may have longed for heaven (I believe he did, as all Christians should), but did not actually consider suicide. Suicide is a selfish action, one that takes away from our purpose here on earth, and that makes it a sin.

* Like with all these essays, any reference to the textbook is from Bart Ehrman's "A Brief Introduction to the New Testament" 3rd Edition