When Someone Says the Bible Is Silent on Abortion — A Response from Scripture and the Church

I remember sitting in a crowded living room years ago as an expectant father passed around grainy ultrasound photos. Someone quipped, half-joking, “Well, the Bible doesn’t say anything about this.” The room laughed, but I didn’t. I opened my Bible to Psalm 139 and read aloud: “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13, ESV). The joke landed flat. For many believers, the claim that Scripture is silent on the matter isn’t just a debating point; it feels like a category error — a refusal to read the Bible about what it actually says about human life.

By David Chen

What Scripture Actually Says

We should start where Christians always start: with the text. Here are a few passages that shape the Christian view of unborn life.

• Psalm 139:13–16 — “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made... Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me...” These verses describe intimate divine knowledge and formation in the womb.
• Jeremiah 1:5 — “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you...” God’s relationship to Jeremiah begins before birth.
• Luke 1:41–44 — The baby in Elizabeth’s womb (John the Baptist) reacts when Mary visits, and Elizabeth calls the child “the fruit of your womb.” This is not dry theological language — it’s a recognition of personhood and responsiveness in utero.
• Genesis 1:27 — Human dignity rests on being made in God’s image: “So God created man in his own image...” Image-bearing applies to the human person at every stage of life.
• Exodus 20:13 — “You shall not murder.” When the Bible affirms the sanctity of human life, that moral principle frames how we consider unborn human life as part of God’s creation.

None of these passages uses our modern terminology or offers a line-by-line policy manual, and that’s not the point. The Bible consistently portrays unborn persons as known, formed, and active before birth. To say the Bible is “silent” about the unborn ignores the narrative and moral framework that runs through both Old and New Testaments.

A Word from Church History

The earliest Christians didn’t treat abortion or infanticide as neutral. Early texts and leaders opposed killing infants and unborn children. The Didache, an early Christian manual of moral instruction, explicitly forbids causing an abortion. Church fathers such as Tertullian and others spoke against practices that destroyed nascent human life. That doesn’t remove theological nuance—there were debates about when life begins and about culpability in different circumstances—but it does show a continuity: historic Christianity has treated unborn life with moral seriousness.

Why “Bible Is Silent” Is a Misunderstanding

When someone says the Bible is silent, they often mean there’s no single verse that says, “Abortion is wrong.” That literalistic demand misses how the Bible teaches. Scripture shapes how we see humanity, dignity, and God’s creative work. Ethical conclusions come from reading the whole counsel of God: anthropology (we are made in God’s image), divine knowledge of the person (Jeremiah), and moral commands protecting life (Exodus). If the Bible’s pattern is that God values and forms human life before birth, then the claim of “silence” rings hollow.

Franklin Graham and Public Responders

Recently, when a public figure claimed the Bible was silent on abortion, Franklin Graham and others publicly condemned that statement — Graham called it “an absolute lie.” That blunt language broke through the polite abstractions. Why the strong reaction? Because how we answer this question shapes public policy, pastoral care, and how churches teach discipleship. When believers read Scripture and see unborn persons as known by God, we can’t calmly shrug and call the matter “silent.” To do so risks normalizing language that marginalizes the unborn and those who carry them.

Speaking Truth with Grace

We also need to be mindful of tone. Condemnation without compassion fails the Gospel. People who support abortion access are our neighbors, often wounded and fearful. The call to oppose abortion must be paired with concrete compassion: supporting women in crisis, welcoming single mothers, offering material help, and advocating for policies that reduce the pressures that lead to abortion.

If we want to be persuasive, we must do two things at once: hold to biblical conviction about the value of pre-born life and demonstrate the love of Christ to women, families, and children in tangible ways.

Practical Next Steps for Believers

• Read the texts together. Try Psalm 139, Jeremiah 1, and Luke 1 aloud with a friend and ask what the passages assume about human life.
• Pray for humility and clarity. Ask God to give you courage to speak and tenderness to love.
• Get trained in pastoral care for pregnancy crises. Churches should be places where women encounter help, not judgment.
• Learn to explain your convictions calmly. Practice a short, clear answer to the question, “Why do you think the Bible matters here?”
• Support organizations that provide practical help to mothers and families in need — not as a political gesture, but as gospel work.

For Scripture readings that can help shape daily discipleship around life and dignity, see our collection of Bible verses for daily encouragement. If you want to ground your conversation in spiritual habits, try starting mornings with prayer and Scripture using our Christ-centered morning routine.

Key Takeaways

• The Bible repeatedly portrays unborn persons as known and formed by God (Psalm 139:13–16; Jeremiah 1:5).
• Church history shows early Christians condemned abortion and infanticide as serious moral evils.
• Calling the Bible “silent” on abortion misunderstands how Scripture teaches human dignity and personhood.
• Christians must pair firm moral conviction with compassionate care for pregnant women and families.
• Practical steps: read key texts together, pray for humility, get trained in pastoral care, and support tangible help for families.

FAQ

• Q: Does the Bible explicitly say “abortion is wrong”?
  A: The Bible does not contain a single modern-sounding legal verdict that uses the word “abortion.” But Scripture consistently affirms that human life is known and formed by God (Psalm 139:13–16; Jeremiah 1:5), that humans are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), and that life should be protected (Exodus 20:13). Christians draw on that whole counsel to conclude that taking innocent human life is contrary to God’s design.
• Q: How should I talk to someone who says the Bible is silent?
  A: Listen first. Then gently point to passages that speak to God’s care for the unborn (Psalm 139; Luke 1) and to human dignity (Genesis 1:27). Speak from your faith story and offer practical love — not just debate points. Remember Jesus’ model of truth spoken in love (Ephesians 4:15).
• Q: What are concrete ways the church can help pregnant women?
  A: Provide material support (baby supplies, housing referrals), emotional and spiritual care (counseling, discipleship), and community (mentoring, parenting classes). Mobilize volunteers to walk beside women in crisis so choosing life is both viable and supported.

We must be honest: these conversations are hard. They ask us to read Scripture well, to hold convictions when it’s costly, and to love people who disagree with us. Start small — memorize Psalm 139:13–14, pray for clarity, and ask your church how you can tangibly support local families. The Gospel calls us to defend the vulnerable and to do so in the way of Jesus: truth spoken with tenderness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Bible explicitly say abortion is wrong?

The Bible does not use the modern term “abortion” in a single legalistic sentence, but it consistently affirms that human life is formed and known by God (Psalm 139:13–16; Jeremiah 1:5), that humans are made in God's image (Genesis 1:27), and that human life should be protected (Exodus 20:13). Christians draw these teachings together to oppose taking innocent human life.

How should I talk to someone who says the Bible is silent on abortion?

Listen first and ask questions. Gently point to passages that imply personhood and dignity for the unborn (Psalm 139; Luke 1), share your faith perspective calmly, and offer practical compassion. Aim to combine clear biblical reasoning with tangible care for women and families.

What practical steps can my church take to support pregnant women?

Offer material assistance (clothing, baby supplies), emotional and spiritual support (counseling, mentoring), and community resources (parenting classes, housing referrals). Train volunteers for crisis care so choosing life is supported in real, everyday ways.