Two basic reasons exist for the death penalty in the Old Testament. Taking away the life of another is the highest crime that can be committed against another, or society. The reason is the intrinsic value of human life in its divine connection. It is worthy of note that Jesus did not argue with Pilate over the legitimacy of the death penalty. Paul did not challenge the law, but merely the justice of the charges against him.
Civil law is to encourage the good and punish the evil.
If the prohibition extended to capital punishment it would be difficult to understand why there are twenty two capital crimes listed in the Old Testament . The main objective of capital punishment is not deterrence, but punishment. In the first place, it is not called capital deterrence. It is called capital punishment because the state has the God given right to punish the murderer for his crime. It is sometimes argued that capital punishment is contrary to God s love.