Is it a sin to kill yourself?

Tradition	Verdict	Primary Citation
Protestant	Forbidden	Deuteronomy 5:17 Deuteronomy 5:17
Catholic	Forbidden (grave sin, with pastoral nuance)	Leviticus 24:17 Leviticus 24:17
Eastern Orthodox	Forbidden	Deuteronomy 5:17 Deuteronomy 5:17

Protestant · Christianity

Protestant: Suicide Violates the Sanctity of Life

Thou shalt not kill. — Deuteronomy 5:17 Deuteronomy 5:17

Verdict: Forbidden

Protestant theology has historically treated suicide as a violation of God's explicit command not to kill. The sixth commandment is direct and unqualified Deuteronomy 5:17, and most Reformation-era and modern Protestant theologians extend its prohibition to self-killing. Life is understood as a gift from God, not a possession one may dispose of at will.

Proverbs warns that pursuing evil leads to one's own death Proverbs 11:19, and while this verse addresses wickedness broadly, Protestant commentators often apply its logic to self-destruction as a rejection of God's life-giving order. Importantly, contemporary Protestant pastoral care increasingly distinguishes between culpable sin and the diminished responsibility that may accompany severe mental illness — but the act itself remains contrary to Scripture's teaching on the value of human life Leviticus 24:17.

Key takeaways

All major Christian traditions — Protestant, Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox — consider suicide a serious sin, primarily grounded in the sixth commandment (Deuteronomy 5:17) Deuteronomy 5:17.
Leviticus 24:17's prohibition on killing any person Leviticus 24:17 is extended by theologians to self-killing, reinforcing the scriptural basis.
Modern pastoral theology across traditions increasingly distinguishes between the objective gravity of the act and the reduced culpability of those suffering severe mental illness, per Leviticus 5:17's acknowledgment of unwitting sin Leviticus 5:17.
John 8:22 shows that even in the New Testament era, self-killing was viewed as a shocking and negative act John 8:22.
Proverbs 11:19 frames life as the outcome of righteousness and death as the fruit of pursuing evil Proverbs 11:19, a principle applied by commentators to self-destruction.

FAQs

What Bible verse most directly addresses killing oneself?

The most direct scriptural basis is the sixth commandment: 'Thou shalt not kill' (Deuteronomy 5:17) Deuteronomy 5:17. Christian theologians across traditions apply this commandment to one's own life as well as others'.

Does the Bible explicitly mention suicide?

The Bible doesn't use the word 'suicide,' but John 8:22 records onlookers asking whether Jesus would 'kill himself' John 8:22, treating the concept as a recognizable — and troubling — act. Several biblical figures died by their own hand (e.g., Saul, Judas), and none are portrayed approvingly.

Is someone who dies by suicide automatically condemned in Christian teaching?

Most modern Christian traditions say no — final judgment belongs to God alone. Leviticus 5:17 acknowledges that guilt can exist even without full awareness Leviticus 5:17, which cuts both ways: the act may be objectively wrong, yet subjective culpability may be reduced by mental illness or extreme suffering.

Does pursuing self-destruction have any scriptural commentary?

Proverbs 11:19 offers a relevant principle: 'As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death' Proverbs 11:19. Protestant and Catholic commentators read this as affirming that life is the fruit of righteousness, while self-destruction runs contrary to God's design.

How does Leviticus 24:17 relate to suicide?

Leviticus 24:17 states, 'He that killeth any man shall surely be put to death' Leviticus 24:17. Catholic and Orthodox theologians use this verse to argue that the prohibition on killing applies universally — including to oneself — since the sanctity of human life doesn't depend on who is doing the killing.

Discussion

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