Church Interpretation of Exodus 21:22

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tkelly

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I came across Exodus 21:22-23 and am wondering how the Church explains this given its long held position that life begins at conception. This passage would appear to refute this, clearly implying that causing the death of the fetus in miscarriage is not the taking of a “life,” (and hence not invoking the “life for a life” penalty)? Any information would be appreciated.

“When men have a fight and hurt a pregnant woman, so that she suffers a miscarriage, but no further injury, the guilty one shall be fined as much as the woman’s husband demands of him, and he shall pay in the presence of the judges. But if injury ensues, you shall give life for life,” New American Bible.
 
More recently the Lord himself told us to love our neighbour as ourself, and i dont often see people bashing in their own skulls. If we kill our neighbout we obviously dont love them, our neighbour being the fetus yes.
 
It looks like in that particular incident the injury caused to the fetus was accidental, as it was two men fighting. In any case, I think the “love thy neighbor” trumps all, as stated above.
 
Interesting, but I am not sure if that answers my question of how the Church interprets Ex 21:22-23.
 
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CnDWelch:
It looks like in that particular incident the injury caused to the fetus was accidental, as it was two men fighting. In any case, I think the “love thy neighbor” trumps all, as stated above.
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No doubt the reference is to accidential injury. That that is the same for both the fetus and the mother, yet the punishment is different, with a more serious punishment for negligently causing harm to the mother (“a life for a life”), than harm to the fetus (money damages), implying that the fetus is more akin to property than human life?
 
The commandments in Exodus 20 are generally considered to be rules for all people in all times. The rules in Exodus 21 through 23 are generally considered to apply to a particular group of people at a particular point in time.

Otherwise, we can use those three chapters to justify keeping slaves, selling your daughter as a slave, killing anyone who curses their mother or father, beating burglars to death, taking an eye for an eye, etc.

The laws of the Old Covenant are no longer binding on those who live in the New Covenant.
 
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