The themes of life and death pulse throughout the Bible in the lives of individuals and communities. The Creator has empowered humankind to work out their lives and grapple with their deaths, setting before them precepts to follow and people to imitate, preeminently Jesus, risen from the dead. Although the biblical authors do not specifically address such matters as abortion, they do offer perspectives that are relevant to the discussion. Besides this, the Scriptures offer a rich treasury of texts and stories that not only inform but also inspire those who are longing for trustworthy guidance, greater wholeness, and deeper peace in life, as they approach that unknown moment of death that comes for each of us.
The series What Does the Bible Say About …? examines Biblical teaching in non-technical language in a style accessible to all, while taking into account current scholarship, and relating the biblical message to challenges of today's church and society. Rather than commenting on the content of any specific book, this new series examines topics of interest in a cross-reading of the Bible, both Old and New Testament, presenting a wide-angle view of what Sacred Scripture really says.

John Gillman received his Ph.D. in Religious Studies (New Testament) from the Catholic University of Louvain (KUL) in Belgium. He has published widely and lectured nationally and internationally. He is a lecturer at San Diego State University and more recently at the Franciscan School of Theology. For many years he has served as a Certified Pastoral Educator (CPE) and a chaplain at major medical centers, a national hospice provider, and an urban ministry program.