WK7 DB Replies

Stefan Wlodarczyk

The Bible describes a variety of crimes which are still pertinent today which hold both a legal and moral significance within our communities, and shape how we interpret modern crime with biblical references. Aside from Murder, two additional examples include both theft and perjury, which are still punishable today in a modernized criminal justice system. With both criminal statutes, we can examine the biblical elements associated and compare them to our modernized laws- which allows for us to see its relevance with regard to contemporary law. For starters, the eighth commandment stated, "You shall not steal" (Exodus 20:15, ESV), which establishes that theft is a sin in biblical law. Stealing, i.e. theft is elaborated in Exodus as well, specifically 22:1-4 where it outlines the restitution requirements for any products or goods which were stolen. The various elements of theft within biblical law include the unlawful taking, with intent to deprive the owner, with restitution as a penalty or sentence. In the State of Georgia, where I am employed in law enforcement, theft is codified under O.C.G.A. 16-8-2, which defines theft by taking as unlawfully taking or appropriating property with the intent to deprive the owner of possession. Unlike how biblical law is written, Georgia law primarily focuses on the punishment associates rather than any restitution for said offense, with the penalties varying from the amount stolen. Our statutes reference theft as a misdemeanor where lesser amounts of $1,500 is a misdemeanor, while any theft that exceeds $1,500 is a felony (O.C.G.A. 16-8-12). Georgia also breaks theft down into various subsections, such as theft by taking, theft by shoplifting, etc. When referencing theft from a cultural standpoint, I believe that theft should remain a crime, as the property rights to ones belongings help to maintain social order within our communities. Although, our modernized legal systems could benefit from potentially incorporating restitution-based justice within certain cases, which reflects the biblical principle of compensatory justice- rather than the party having to pursue any losses via a civil court proceeding. Secondly, perjury, or false testimony, is condemned in Exodus 20:16, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (ESV). When perjury is referenced in biblical law, it is taken very seriously, which Deuteronomy 19:18-19 supports by referencing how if a witness falsely accuses another, they shall receive the punishment which was initially intended for the accused party. In the State of Georgia, perjury is referenced under O.C.G.A. 16-10-70, which criminalizes knowingly making a false statement, under oath, within a judicial proceeding. With such, a conviction could lead to imprisonment for up to ten years. The primary difference between both biblical and modern law is that biblical justice demands that there is an equivalent punishment for false witnesses, where again, modern law imposes a fixed penalty, if convicted. Furthermore, truthful testimony is essential for justice. Strict enforcement of perjury should continue, potentially with harsher penalties for cases which could lead to a wrongful conviction. Both the statute of theft and perjury are both crimes which are still relevant today, where biblical law focuses on restitution and proportionate response, whereas modern laws focus on more punitive measures. If the system begins to incorporate biblical principles like restitution, and ensures truthful testimony, I believe both the religious and secular legal systems would improve greatly.

Stefan Wlodarczyk

The Bible describes a variety of crimes which are still pertinent today which hold both a legal and moral significance within our communities, and shape how we interpret modern crime with biblical references. Aside from Murder, two additional examples include both theft and perjury, which are still punishable today in a modernized criminal justice system. With both criminal statutes, we can examine the biblical elements associated and compare them to our modernized laws- which allows for us to see its relevance with regard to contemporary law. For starters, the eighth commandment stated, "You shall not steal" (Exodus 20:15, ESV), which establishes that theft is a sin in biblical law. Stealing, i.e. theft is elaborated in Exodus as well, specifically 22:1-4 where it outlines the restitution requirements for any products or goods which were stolen. The various elements of theft within biblical law include the unlawful taking, with intent to deprive the owner, with restitution as a penalty or sentence. In the State of Georgia, where I am employed in law enforcement, theft is codified under O.C.G.A. 16-8-2, which defines theft by taking as unlawfully taking or appropriating property with the intent to deprive the owner of possession. Unlike how biblical law is written, Georgia law primarily focuses on the punishment associates rather than any restitution for said offense, with the penalties varying from the amount stolen. Our statutes reference theft as a misdemeanor where lesser amounts of $1,500 is a misdemeanor, while any theft that exceeds $1,500 is a felony (O.C.G.A. 16-8-12). Georgia also breaks theft down into various subsections, such as theft by taking, theft by shoplifting, etc. When referencing theft from a cultural standpoint, I believe that theft should remain a crime, as the property rights to ones belongings help to maintain social order within our communities. Although, our modernized legal systems could benefit from potentially incorporating restitution-based justice within certain cases, which reflects the biblical principle of compensatory justice- rather than the party having to pursue any losses via a civil court proceeding. Secondly, perjury, or false testimony, is condemned in Exodus 20:16, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (ESV). When perjury is referenced in biblical law, it is taken very seriously, which Deuteronomy 19:18-19 supports by referencing how if a witness falsely accuses another, they shall receive the punishment which was initially intended for the accused party. In the State of Georgia, perjury is referenced under O.C.G.A. 16-10-70, which criminalizes knowingly making a false statement, under oath, within a judicial proceeding. With such, a conviction could lead to imprisonment for up to ten years. The primary difference between both biblical and modern law is that biblical justice demands that there is an equivalent punishment for false witnesses, where again, modern law imposes a fixed penalty, if convicted. Furthermore, truthful testimony is essential for justice. Strict enforcement of perjury should continue, potentially with harsher penalties for cases which could lead to a wrongful conviction. Both the statute of theft and perjury are both crimes which are still relevant today, where biblical law focuses on restitution and proportionate response, whereas modern laws focus on more punitive measures. If the system begins to incorporate biblical principles like restitution, and ensures truthful testimony, I believe both the religious and secular legal systems would improve greatly.