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Who was the first Christian to deliberately kill somebody?

Whilst we're on the theme of war and religion.

Serious question though - Obviously Jesus didn't

I can't recall any of the Apostles having done so.

Do we have to wait until Constantine adopts Christianity into the Legions for Christians to start wielding the sword or was there someone earlier?

jake-the-peg Sun 09/11/08 12:40

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Booldawg
Sun 09/11/08
13:57

I don't think that counts as he wasnt a Christian whilst he was a Roman solider.

Clanad
Sun 09/11/08
17:57

Pedantcially, Paul (Saul of Tarsus) was a Roman citizen, probably by birth, but never a Roman soldier. He did severely persecute the early Christians, but as a zealous Jew, not as a Roman... all of which was dramatically changed by the event on the road to Damascus. On the other hand Peter attempted to harm, maybe kill Malchus a servant of the High Priest in the Garden on the night the Christ was betrayed... (first healing of an amputee, by the way).
But, I have no direct answer to your query... interesting as it is, by the way...

wizard66
Sun 09/11/08
19:07

".. (first healing of an amputee, by the way). "
It would appear to have been the last as well. Dont recall anyone having an arm or leg miraculously grow back in any evangelical healing crusades.

jno
Sun 09/11/08
22:02

working on it, wizard

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7354458.stm

No idea, jake... if you're thinking of the commandment, I've heard it suggested that 'kill' is a bit of a mistranslation to modern ears; to a Jacobean the injunction was more like 'though shalt not murder'. The default word for taking life was then 'slay' rather than 'kill'. I don't know how true this is.

jno
Mon 10/11/08
00:21

er... 'thou'

jake-the-peg
Mon 10/11/08
08:53

Question Author

I'm really thinking of Christian sanctioned warfare or an execution perhaps.

Obviously there's lots of sancioned warfare and executions in the old testament.

Jesus we are often told is the ultimate role model.

I'm not aware that he killed anybody, I can't imagine him fighting in the Roman army if conscripted and he actively prevented an execution (let he who is without sin cast the first stone etc.)

So I'm interested in when that changed and whether it was Constantine hijacking Christianity or whether it changed in the early church before that.

Octavius
Mon 10/11/08
10:42

Some insight maybe.....

http://thomstark.jesuspolitics.net/?p=279

jake-the-peg
Mon 10/11/08
22:17

Question Author

Thanks - Octavius interesting article.

I don't think it sounds quite as clear cut as the author wants us to think but it certainly sounds as if Christianity was very predominantly pacifist until Constantine got hold of it.

Octavius
Mon 10/11/08
22:29

I very much doubt that jake. I am pretty sure given the violent nature of the the times that Christians would have been as much involeved in violence and bloodshed as everyone else at the time.

I just doubt you'll get a particular name if that is what you are looking for.

brionon
Sat 15/11/08
15:08

Jesus-you know ? Gentle Meek and Mild? cursed a Fig tree for not giving fruit out of season. His dad murdered the Midianites. Nice bunch.

jake-the-peg
Mon 17/11/08
09:09

Question Author

Is that it Brionon? Cursed a fig tree?

Wish that were my greatest crime!

As for Midanites, that's kind of the point of the question - lots of "slaying" in the OT but when did it start with the Christians?

Looks increasingly like Constantine's in the frame

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