"Though shall not kill" - Death Penalty? War?
Your statement is based upon pure unadulterated IGNORANCE of the word of God, the source for all Christian Doctrine, "faith cometh hearing and hearing by the WORD OF GOD." as defined in scripture -- Roman 10:17......thou shall not MURDER is the correct translation based upon the context of the entire Word of God. There is a vast difference in Justice/killing and Murder. *
Self defense is recommended by Jesus Himself as He advised His apostles to "sell their clothing if need in order to purchase a sword for self defense." -- Luke 22:35-36. Why? Because He was sending them away from their homes and neighbors to spread the word....to places that were frequented by thieves and murders, on a world wide campaign (Matthew 10:5-6), Jesus knew that thieves preyed upon travelers (Luke 10:30)
God explains exactly what thou shalt not kill means.....it means the deliberate and premeditated spilling of innocent blood, something that God finds ABOMINALBE . -- Proverbs 6:16-19
As far as the "death penalty"....its a direct command from God for the same reason, the spilling of innocent blood..i.e, MURDER " -- Genesis 9:6
Its carried over into the New Testament of Christ Jesus, Paul an apostle of the Christ was inspired to write these words, "For the COMMANDMENTS (the original commandments of God..i.e., the 10 commandments), ".....you shall not MURDER...." -- Romans 13:9
What happens if someone does commit murder, is anyone authorized to seek revenge and kill the murderer.....Of Course not, Paul explains it in detail, such punishment as the death penalty is to be carried out by the GOVERNMENT as governments are appointed by God in order to reward the righteous and punish evil doers and he (the government does not bear the sword in vain -- Romans 13:1-4
As the scriptures detail, there is a time for everything....to include killing for righteousness sake,-- Eccl. 3:1-8
As far as killing in a military fashion, that would fall under the government not bearing the sword in vain, as the first gentile convert to Christianity was a Roman Commander of Arms "Cornelius".
As the word of God points out there is a vast difference in Murder, the spilling of innocent blood, and the punishment for the sin of murder and killing in self defense.
Jesus had this to say on the subject of self defense, "When a strong man, FULLY ARMED, guards his own palace, his goods are safe." -- Luke 11:21
*All quoted scripture is taken from the modern English Translation, not the King James, i.e., the New American Standard translation. The truth of translation is derived from context of the subject matter being addressed in all Book, Chapter, and verses, as directed by the word of God, in order to find the truth, the entire Word of God must be considered. "....the whole counsel of God.." -- Acts 20:17 When you state an opinion based upon only half or a partial portion of the Word.... a half truth often becomes a whole lie. Search the entire word of (the whole counsel) God where that specific subject matter is addressed, as the entire Word/all scripture is inspired of God -- 2 Tim. 3:16-17