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# A Conversation on Capital Punishment and the Old Testament - Mere Orthodoxy | Christianity, Politics, and Culture
- URL: https://mereorthodoxy.com/conversation-capital-punishment-old-testament/
- Published: 2014-05-12T05:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-05-18T16:57:57.000Z
- Description: What has capital punishment to do with the Old Testament? Andrew Wilson and Derek Rishmawy discuss with Alastair Roberts.
- Author: Mere Orthodoxy
- Tags: Matthew Lee Anderson

I’m pleased to introduce *Casting Across the Pond,* a conversation with three of my favorite young thinkers.

[Alastair Roberts](http://alastairadversaria.wordpress.com/?ref=mereorthodoxy.com) and [Derek Rishmawy](http://derekzrishmawy.com/?ref=mereorthodoxy.com) have both written for us here at Mere-O, and are well known in many parts of the blogging community. Derek is one of the most irenic and thoughtful young writers I have read, while Alastair’s plodding and thorough approach to the world always turns up provocative thoughts and genuine insights.

[Andrew Wilson](https://twitter.com/AJWTheology?ref=mereorthodoxy.com) first came to my attention several years ago for his epic and incisive conversation with Rob Bell, and since then has distinguished himself as one of the most astute theological observers around. Having newly been justly awarded a monthly column in Christianity Today, Andrew is about to become a lot more well known to US audiences.

They recently gathered to have a chat about recent stirrings online about capital punishment and the Old Testament. The conversation is unadorned with bells and whistles, but full of good conversation.

Which, come to think of it, is precisely how we like it around these parts.

Some pertinent reading, for your ongoing education: [*Brian Zahnd on Jesus and Biblicism*](http://brianzahnd.com/2014/05/jesus-trumps-biblicism-tale-sticks-stones/?ref=mereorthodoxy.com)*, Andrew Wilson on the* [*Jesus Tea Strainer*](http://thinktheology.co.uk/blog/article/the%5Fjesus%5Flens%5For%5Fthe%5Fjesus%5Ftea%5Fstrainer?ref=mereorthodoxy.com)*, and Derek Rishmawy on* [*how we relate the two testaments*](http://derekzrishmawy.com/2014/03/03/sabbath-sticks-ot-morality-and-the-jesus-tea-strainer/?ref=mereorthodoxy.com)*.*