The Bible mentions six specific individuals who committed suicide: Abimelech (Judges 9:54), Saul (1 Samuel 31:4), Saul carrying weapons (1 Samuel 31:4-6), Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:23), Zimri (1 Kings 16:18), Judah (Matthew 27:5). Five of them were wicked, sinners. (Not much is said about Saul’s armour-bearer so that no judgment can be made about his character). Some consider that Samson is also an example of suicide (Judges 16:26-31), but Samson’s intention was to kill the Philistines, not himself. The Bible equates suicide with murder, which is the act of killing yourself. Only God can decide when and how a person should die
- The Bible mentions six specific individuals who committed suicide: Abimelech (Judges 9:54), Saul (1 Samuel 31:4), Saul carrying weapons (1 Samuel 31:4-6), Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:23), Zimri (1 Kings 16:18), Judah (Matthew 27:5). Five of them were wicked, sinners. (Not much is said about Saul’s armour-bearer so that no judgment can be made about his character). Some consider that Samson is also an example of suicide (Judges 16:26-31), but Samson’s intention was to kill the Philistines, not himself. The Bible equates suicide with murder, which is the act of killing yourself. Only God can decide when and how a person should die.According to the Bible, if a person commits suicide, it does not determine whether he will enter heaven or not. If an unsaved person commits suicide, he or she “hastens” his or her journey to Hell by doing nothing. However, a person who dies by suicide will go to the final hell because of his rejection of Christ’s salvation, not because he committed suicide. What does the Bible say about a Christian committing suicide? The Bible teaches that from the moment a person truly believes in Christ, we are assured of eternal life (John 3:16). According to the Bible, Christians can know without a doubt that they have eternal life (1 John 5:13). Nothing can separate believers from God’s love (Romans 8: 38-39). If “created things” can separate a believer from God’s love, then a believer who commits suicide is also a “created thing”, so even suicide cannot separate him from God’s love. Jesus died for all our sins, and if a true believer commits suicide in a spiritual attack or weakness, that is a sin that is covered by the blood of Christ.
Suicide is a grave sin against God. According to the Bible, suicide is murder; This is always wrong. A believer who claims to be a believer but commits suicide will have serious doubts about the genuineness of his faith. There is no way to justify anyone, especially a believer, who takes his own life. There are no circumstances that justify anyone, especially a Christian, from taking his/her own life. Christians are called to live for God, and the decision of when they will die is solely in God’s hands. Although it does not describe suicide, 1 Corinthians 3:15 gives a good explanation of the believer who commits suicide: “But he himself shall live as one who escapes from the fire.”