Main Page for
The Sound of Sheer Silence and the Killing State
The Death Penalty and the Bible
Studies in Peace and Scripture Series 8

Millard Lind

Summary: This book unambiguously opposes capital punishment as the immoral act of "the killing state." Lind traces Yahweh’s saving action and steadfast love for Israel and the world from Moses to Elijah to Jesus, and shows how they are to be emulated on the societal level by obedience to covenant law. This leads to his conclusion that capital punishment is to be opposed because from the perspective of the God revealed in the Bible—determined in Lind’s view by the careful reading of the text he has attempted here—capital punishment is simply wrong.

Comment: ”This is an important work. Lind’s analysis of Old Testament texts seriously undermines notions of a prevailing theology of violence in the Old Testament.”
—Wilma Ann Bailey, Associate Professor of Hebrew and Aramaic Scripture, Christian Theological Seminary

"In his vigorous attack on the killing state, Millard Lind moves away from rationalistic arguments against capital punishment, however useful they may be, toward a radically biblical approach that does not look for single texts but identifies a large movement of covenant law that sets forgiveness and love of neighbor over against all statist claims on human life. This may be the only ‘weapon’ that Christians have. Lind suggests it is the one that matters.
—Patrick D. Miller, Professor of Old Testament Theology, Princeton Theological Seminary

“Lind has been exploring biblical themes of justice and injustice, war and peace, for many years. As he suggests in his preface, this book is the culmination of a life of scholarly work.”
—Howard Zehr, Professor of Sociology and Restorative Justice; Co-Director, Conflict Transformation Program, Eastern Mennonite University, in the Foreword

Market: Scholars and college or graduate students; church leaders and pastors; groups or individuals interested in a thoughtful examination of the Bible’s implications for the contemporary penalty which is presented in accessible language while thoroughly supported by extensive notes and bibliography.

Shelving: Capital punishment; Biblical studies; Theology—Anabaptist-Mennonite. BISAC: Religion. RTM: 690 Religion/Ethics.

The Author: Millard Lind, Goshen, Indiana, is a retired Professor of Old Testament at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, where he taught for 30 years. A widely traveled and published scholar, Lind is the author of such books as Yahweh Is a Warrior (Herald Press, 1980); Monotheism, Power, Justice (Institute of Mennonite Studies, 1990); and Ezekiel in The Believers Church Bible Commentary (Herald Press, 1996). He has also published numerous articles in scholarly and church magazines.

Publisher: Cascadia Publishing House (the new name of Pandora Press U.S.)
Potential Copublishers: Herald Press, Scottdale, PA
Tentative Publication date: October 15, 2004 (copies available now)
Approximate Pages: 188
Format: 5.5 x 8.5" trade paper
Prices: $18.95 US, $27.95 Can.
ISBN: 1-931038-23-6

Sound of Sheer Silence orders:

• Cascadia Publishing House Online Order Form
• Cascadia, Herald Press, and other order options
• Online shopping basket card orders through Sound of Sheer Silence page, MennoLink Online Bookstore