What does the Bible say about abortion?
The Bible and this teaching affirm the sanctity of human life from conception, as each person is divinely formed and known by God, embodying His image. While the Bible does not explicitly mention abortion, it values pre-born life and imposes penalties for its harm. The Principle clarifies that physical death is natural, but spiritual death, separation from God, resulted from the Fall. Abortion is seen as a tragic deviation from God's ideal, rooted in the fallen world's suffering, demanding compassion and efforts towards restoration.
The question of abortion compels us to confront profound ethical dilemmas regarding the sanctity of human life and God's creative will, especially in a world marked by the consequences of the human Fall.
The Biblical Foundation
The Bible, while not explicitly using the term "abortion," provides a clear framework for understanding the sanctity of human life from its earliest stages. Central to this is the concept that each individual is divinely formed and known before birth. Psalm 139:13-16 beautifully states, "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." This passage highlights God's intimate involvement and recognition of life in the womb.
Further biblical texts reinforce the value of pre-born life. Jeremiah 1:5 proclaims, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Likewise, "For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb" (Psalm 139:13, KJV). Similarly, Isaiah 49:1-5 speaks of being called from the womb, indicating a divine purpose established prior to birth. The Law of Moses, in Exodus 21:22-25, outlines penalties for causing a miscarriage: "If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise." This passage undeniably assigns a value and protection to the life developing within the womb, showing that harm to a pregnant woman and her unborn child incurs a serious penalty. These scriptures collectively affirm the inherent sacredness of human life from conception, rooted in God's creative act and foreknowledge.
Divine Principle's Clarification
The Divine Principle deepens this biblical foundation by elaborating on the origin and purpose of human life within God's central purpose of creation. It teaches that human beings are created in God's image, embodying His dual characteristics of Seong Sang (internal character) and Hyung Sang (external form). Thus, every human life is infinitely precious, holding the potential to realize the Three Great Blessings: to grow to maturity, to multiply, and to have dominion (Genesis 1:28).
The Principle emphasizes that a human being is a spiritual-physical being, designed for a perfect union between spirit and body. Life begins with God's creative act at conception, where spiritual and physical elements begin their journey of growth. The potential for a four position foundation—God, husband, wife, and child—is implicit from conception. The physical body, like clothes for the spiritual body, is designed for a natural lifespan, and physical death is not a result of the Fall. Instead, the Fall brought about spiritual death, which is separation from God (Luke 9:60, Revelation 3:1). Therefore, life in the womb is not merely physical existence but a sacred development of a spiritual being.
However, the Divine Principle also confronts the tragic reality of the Fall of Man, which introduced sin and brokenness. Unideal circumstances like rape or life-threatening pregnancies are manifestations of this fallen state, distortions of God's original intent. While the Principle unequivocally affirms the absolute value of every life, in a fallen world, perfect solutions are elusive, and individuals face agonizing choices that fall short of God's ideal. Therefore, while abortion deviates from God's blueprint, understanding its context requires examining the deep impact of the Fall and the suffering it inflicts.
Understanding the Deeper Meaning
The synthesis of biblical teaching and Divine Principle reveals a profound truth: human life is a sacred trust, conceived and known by God. The Bible establishes the intrinsic value of a pre-born child, reflecting the Creator's hand. The Divine Principle expands this by explaining that each life is a unique expression of God's internal character and external form, carrying immense potential to contribute to God's purpose of realizing a world of true love and harmony. For "Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward" (Psalm 127:3, KJV).
This combined understanding elevates the discussion beyond mere legal or political arguments to a spiritual and theological plane. It calls us to look at life from God's perspective, recognizing His investment and love in every individual, from conception to eternity. The ideal is always for every child to be born and nurtured in an environment of true love, fulfilling their unique purpose. Abortion, in this context, represents a tragic divergence from God's ideal, often born out of desperate circumstances in a fallen world rather than malicious intent. Therefore, while taking a life is serious (Genesis 9:6), the response for a Principles-guided individual is not condemnation but a deeper understanding of the root causes of human suffering and an unwavering commitment to restoration.
Living the Principle
Living by the Principle in the context of abortion requires compassionate engagement:
1. Advocate for the sanctity of life through education and promoting responsible relationships, fostering a world where every conception is welcomed in love. 2. Provide proactive support for women and families facing difficult pregnancies through resources like affordable healthcare, childcare assistance, and adoption services. 3. Work to dismantle systemic causes contributing to abortion, such as poverty and lack of mental health support, to create a world that values every child and mother. 4. Extend radical compassion and tangible help to those in despair (Luke 10:25-37), reflecting God's heart for the unborn and for those facing agonizing choices, understanding that the suffering stems from the fallen world.
These answers explain the Bible in the light of the Divine Principle, the teachings of Reverend Sun Myung Moon. Read about the author, Sun Myung Moon.
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Sources and further reading
- The Holy Bible, King James Version — Scripture quoted and referenced throughout the answers.
- The Divine Principle (full text) — The complete text of the Divine Principle, the teaching of Reverend Sun Myung Moon that these answers explain.
- Unification texts library (tparents.org) — Large online library of Unification texts, sermons and collected speeches, including the Cheon Seong Gyeong.
- Short video lectures in English — Playlist of short English video lectures presenting these same principles.