@article{ART003378963},
author={Lee Keung Jae},
title={A Theological Evaluation of ‘Suicide’ in the Old Testament with a Diachronic Consideration},
journal={The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics},
issn={1229-8387},
year={2026},
number={65},
pages={385-427}
TY - JOUR
AU - Lee Keung Jae
TI - A Theological Evaluation of ‘Suicide’ in the Old Testament with a Diachronic Consideration
JO - The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics
PY - 2026
VL - null
IS - 65
PB - The Society Of Korean Christian Social Ethics
SP - 385
EP - 427
SN - 1229-8387
AB - This study reexamines the traditional perception of the Korean church, which has condemned “suicide” within a doctrinal framework, from the perspective of Old Testament studies, against the backdrop of Korean society, characterized by a rapidly rising suicide rate. To this end, the study conducts a diachronic examination ranging from ancient Near Eastern cultures to Greek philosophy, Judaism, and early Christianity, as well as Émile Durkheim’s sociological perspective, and analyzes six cases of suicide in the Old Testament through exegetical work.
Through this analysis, it was confirmed that the Old Testament objectively narrates incidents of suicide without using a specific term to refer to it, treating it not as a mere moral failure but as a “social death” resulting from a loss of identity and as a “meaningful event.” In particular, the fact that most of those who ended their lives by suicide were still laid to rest “with their ancestors” as members of their kinship community confirms that their suicides were not viewed negatively. Ultimately, the modern church’s condemnation of suicide is likely a product of church history established after Augustine.
KW - Suicide;Identity;Good Death;Bad Death;Social Death;Emile Durkheim
DO -
UR -
ER -
Lee Keung Jae. (2026). A Theological Evaluation of ‘Suicide’ in the Old Testament with a Diachronic Consideration. The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics, 65, 385-427.
Lee Keung Jae. 2026, "A Theological Evaluation of ‘Suicide’ in the Old Testament with a Diachronic Consideration", The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics, no.65, pp.385-427.
Lee Keung Jae "A Theological Evaluation of ‘Suicide’ in the Old Testament with a Diachronic Consideration" The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics 65 pp.385-427 (2026) : 385.
Lee Keung Jae. A Theological Evaluation of ‘Suicide’ in the Old Testament with a Diachronic Consideration. 2026; 65 : 385-427.
Lee Keung Jae. "A Theological Evaluation of ‘Suicide’ in the Old Testament with a Diachronic Consideration" The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics no.65(2026) : 385-427.
Lee Keung Jae. A Theological Evaluation of ‘Suicide’ in the Old Testament with a Diachronic Consideration. The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics, 65, 385-427.
Lee Keung Jae. A Theological Evaluation of ‘Suicide’ in the Old Testament with a Diachronic Consideration. The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics. 2026; 65 385-427.
Lee Keung Jae. A Theological Evaluation of ‘Suicide’ in the Old Testament with a Diachronic Consideration. 2026; 65 : 385-427.
Lee Keung Jae. "A Theological Evaluation of ‘Suicide’ in the Old Testament with a Diachronic Consideration" The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics no.65(2026) : 385-427.
