Rachel Evans
The Ten Commandments are a set of religious and moral laws from the Bible that are prominent in Catholicism. They are found in the books of Exodus and Deuteronomy and are said to have been given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. While the Catholic Church has been accused of altering the Commandments, it adheres to an ancient tradition of numbering that differs slightly from Protestant and Jewish interpretations. The Commandments are viewed as the foundation of Christian moral teaching and a guide to living a holy life, with the ultimate goal of attaining eternal life in heaven.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of commandments | 10 |
| Basis for the number of commandments | Symbolizes completeness |
| Scripture references | Exodus 20:1-17, 34:28, Deuteronomy 4:13, 5 4:21 |
| Catholic Numbering | Follows St. Augustine's teachings from the 5th century |
| Catholic Numbering vs. Protestant Numbering | Catholics and Lutherans use St. Augustine's numbering, while Protestant and Orthodox Churches use Origen's numbering from the 3rd century |
| First Commandment | "I am the Lord your God; you shall not have strange gods before me." |
| First Commandment (extended) | "You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them." |
| Second Commandment | "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain." |
| Commandments' Relevance | Remain the foundation of Christian moral teaching |
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What You'll Learn
- Catholics follow a traditional order influenced by St. Augustine's teachings
- The commandments are found in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5
- The commandments are not merely rules, but a foundation for living in a right relationship with God
- The commandments are central to the Catholic faith and the moral life they lead
- The numbering of the commandments has varied throughout history
Catholics follow a traditional order influenced by St. Augustine's teachings
Catholics, along with Lutherans, follow a traditional order of the Ten Commandments influenced by St. Augustine's teachings from the fifth century. This numbering system is different from the one used by Protestant and Orthodox Churches, which follows a system established by Origen in the third century.
St. Augustine's formulation of the commandments includes the prohibition of idolatry, which is considered an extension of the first commandment: "You shall have no other gods before me." This interpretation sees the creation of statues or images not as an absolute prohibition, but rather as subordinate to the worship of the one true God. Augustine also made a distinction between coveting a neighbour's house and coveting a neighbour's wife as two separate commandments.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, influenced by St. Augustine's teachings, states that the first three commandments pertain to our relationship with God, while the remaining seven relate to our relationships with others. This division of the commandments is considered traditional within the Catholic Church and is also followed by Lutherans.
The Catholic Church teaches that the Ten Commandments are central to the faith and the moral life that Catholics strive to lead. While there may be differences in the numbering and division of the commandments compared to other Christian denominations, the essential teachings and principles remain the same across traditions.
In summary, Catholics adhere to a specific order and interpretation of the Ten Commandments that are influenced by the teachings of St. Augustine. This numbering system has been familiar to Western Christians for most of history and emphasises the importance of worshipping God alone and distinguishing between different forms of covetousness.
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The commandments are found in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5
The Ten Commandments, or the Decalogue, are a set of religious and ethical directives that are foundational to Jewish law and are also regarded as divinely authoritative by most Christian traditions. The text of the Ten Commandments appears in three distinct versions in the Bible: Exodus 20:1–17, Deuteronomy 5:6–21, and the "Ritual Decalogue" of Exodus 34:11–26.
The Exodus version of the Ten Commandments is God's direct words, given to Moses on Mount Sinai and recorded in Exodus 20. The Deuteronomy version, found in Deuteronomy 5, is Moses' recounting of the event to the Israelites 40 years later. While the core commandments remain the same, there are slight differences in wording and emphasis between the two versions.
The division and numbering of the Commandments have varied throughout history, with the Catholic Church following the system established by St. Augustine in the fifth century. This system combines verses 3–6 of Exodus 20 into a single commandment and divides the prohibition on coveting in verse 17 into two commandments.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1992) reiterates St. Augustine's numbering, changing "the Sabbath" to "the Lord's day" and dividing Exodus 20:17 into two commandments to fulfill the number ten. Lutherans, on the other hand, reverse the order of the ninth and tenth commandments, following the word order of Exodus 20:17.
In summary, the Ten Commandments are found in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5, with different religious traditions dividing and numbering the verses in distinct ways according to their theological priorities. The Catholic Church adheres to the numbering system established by St. Augustine, with slight variations in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
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The commandments are not merely rules, but a foundation for living in a right relationship with God
The Ten Commandments are a central part of the Catholic faith and are seen as more than just a set of rules. They are viewed as a foundation for living a life that aligns with God's wishes and are considered God's loving gift to humanity. By following the commandments, Catholics believe they can live in a right relationship with God and others, and ultimately attain eternal life in heaven with Jesus.
The commandments are found in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 and were given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai. The earth trembled as God spoke these laws, demonstrating their importance and seriousness. The number 10 symbolises completeness and is referenced in Scripture, specifically Exodus 34:28 and Deuteronomy 4:13.
While the Catholic Church has been accused of changing the Ten Commandments, it actually adheres to an ancient tradition of numbering that differs slightly from some Protestant and Jewish lists. The commandments themselves have not been altered, but the numbering system was developed by St. Augustine in the fifth century and is still used by Catholics and Lutherans today. This differs from the numbering system created by Origen in the third century, which is used by many Protestant and Orthodox churches.
The first commandment, "I am the Lord your God; you shall not have strange gods before me," sets the tone for the rest of the commandments. It encompasses the prohibition against making graven images or idols, which some Protestants view as the second commandment. However, Catholics see this as an extension of the first commandment, not as an absolute prohibition on the creation of images, but as a reminder not to worship created things as gods instead of the one true God.
The commandments provide guidance on how to worship God, respect the sacredness of life and family, and live honestly and justly with others. They are a moral compass that directs Catholics toward a life of holiness and a deeper relationship with God.
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The commandments are central to the Catholic faith and the moral life they lead
The Ten Commandments are fundamental to the Catholic faith and the moral life that Catholics lead. They are God's laws, which direct followers toward a life of holiness and a right relationship with God and others. By following these commandments, Catholics believe they can attain eternal life in heaven with Jesus.
The Ten Commandments appear twice in the Bible: in Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:4-21. God delivered these commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai. The earth trembled as God spoke these laws, demonstrating their importance and seriousness.
Catholics adhere to a traditional order of the Ten Commandments, influenced by St. Augustine's teachings in the fifth century. This numbering system is also used by Lutherans. In contrast, many Protestant and Orthodox churches follow the numbering system created by Origen in the third century.
The first commandment, "I am the Lord thy God; you shall not have strange gods before me," prohibits idolatry and the worship of anything or anyone other than God. Catholics interpret this as including the prohibition of creating idols or images to be worshipped as gods. This interpretation is supported by various biblical texts where God commands the creation of images, such as the Ark of the Covenant.
The commandments provide a moral foundation for Catholics, teaching them to love God and their neighbours by avoiding idolatry, dishonour, and sin in thoughts, words, and actions. They also emphasise the sacredness of life and family and promote honest and just relationships with others.
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The numbering of the commandments has varied throughout history
The Ten Commandments, or "the ten words", "the ten sayings", or "the ten matters", are central to the Christian faith and the moral life that Christians lead. They are mentioned in Exodus 34:28, Deuteronomy 4:13 and Deuteronomy 10:4.
The numbering of the commandments has indeed varied throughout history. In the Torah, the references to the Ten Commandments are Exodus 20 2–14 and Deuteronomy 5:6–18. The biblical narrative describes how God revealed the Ten Commandments to the Israelites at Mount Sinai, giving Moses two stone tablets inscribed with the law. However, God did not number them, and so the variations in numbering that exist today emerged over time.
The two most common numbering systems today are those established by Origen in the third century, and St Augustine in the fifth century. Origen's numbering is used by Protestant and Orthodox churches, while Augustine's is used by Catholics and Lutherans.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1992) reiterates Augustine's division, changing "the sabbath" into "the Lord's day" and dividing Exodus 20:17, prohibiting covetousness, into two commandments, in order to fulfil the number 10. Lutherans follow Luther's Large Catechism (1529), which follows Augustine and Roman Catholic tradition but subordinates the prohibition of images to the sovereignty of God in the First Commandment.
The difference in the two lists can be narrowed down to the question of how to divide Exodus 20:17, which states: "You shall not covet your neighbour's house; you shall not covet your neighbour's wife, or his male or female slave, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour." Augustine's numbering system divides this into two commandments, whereas Origen's treats it as one.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the 10 commandments are a central part of Catholic doctrine.
The first commandment is: "I am the Lord your God; you shall not have strange gods before me."
The second commandment is the subject of some debate. Some say it is: "You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth." However, others argue that this is part of the first commandment.
Catholics follow a traditional order, largely influenced by St. Augustine’s teachings: The commandments are not merely rules, a list of dos and don'ts. They are the foundation to living in right relationship with God and others, so that we might one day attain eternal life in heaven with Jesus.
