Michael Brooks
The Ten Commandments are a series of religious and moral imperatives that are recognized as a moral foundation in several Abrahamic religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. They first appear in the Book of Exodus, in which Moses, acting under God's orders, frees the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. The commandments are considered essential for spiritual good health and growth and serve as the basis for Catholic social teaching. While the Catholic Church has not changed the Ten Commandments, there are differences in the way they are divided and numbered compared to other traditions such as Judaism and Protestantism. The Catholic Church combines coveting a neighbor's wife and property into a single commandment, while other traditions separate these into two commandments. Additionally, the Catholic Church's numbering of the commandment regarding graven images differs from the Protestant understanding of the second commandment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| The Catholic Church changed the Ten Commandments | False |
| The Catholic Church removed the second commandment | True |
| The Catholic Church changed the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday | True |
| The Catholic Church's Catechism | The Commandments are considered essential for spiritual good health and growth, and serve as the basis for Catholic social teaching. |
| The Ten Commandments in Catholic theology | The Ten Commandments are a series of religious and moral imperatives that are recognized as a moral foundation. |
| The Ten Commandments in the Old Testament | The Old Testament refers to ten individual commandments, but there are more than ten imperative sentences in Exodus 20:1–17 and Deuteronomy 5:6–21. |
| The Ten Commandments in the Book of Exodus | The Ten Commandments first appear in the Book of Exodus, according to which Moses, acting under the orders of God, freed the Israelites from physical slavery in Egypt. |
| The Ten Commandments in Deuteronomy | The Ten Commandments also appear in Deuteronomy, where God gave his people a different order of commandments than in Exodus. |
| The Catholic Church's division of the Ten Commandments | The Catholic Church combines coveting your neighbor's wife (9th commandment) with coveting your neighbor's property (10th commandment). |
| The Jewish division of the Ten Commandments | The Jewish division of the Ten Commandments is different from the Catholic and Protestant divisions. |
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What You'll Learn
- The Catholic Church changed the second commandment
- The original second commandment prohibited making images of Jesus, Mary, and Saints
- The Catholic Bible combines coveting a neighbour's wife and property into one commandment
- The Catholic Church changed the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday
- The Catechism of the Catholic Church considers the Commandments essential for spiritual good health
The Catholic Church changed the second commandment
The Catholic Church is believed to have changed the second commandment of the Ten Commandments. The second commandment, as written in the Book of Exodus, prohibits the creation of images of Jesus, Mary, or the Saints, and bowing before them. The Catholic Church, however, is believed to have omitted this commandment, allowing for the use of statues and images in their churches.
The second commandment, as quoted from Exodus 20:4, states: "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". Despite this, God is seen to either command or praise the creation of images and statues in other biblical texts, such as Exodus 25:18, Numbers 21:8-9, and I Kings 6:23-28, 9:3.
The Catholic Church's reasoning for this change is not clear, but some believe it was to justify the use of statues and images in their worship. This change has been a point of contention, with some arguing that it goes against the original intent of the second commandment.
It is important to note that the Catholic Church does condemn idolatry and the worship of anything or anyone other than God. They argue that the commandment is not simply about the creation of statues but about the worship of false idols. By combining the commandment against idol worship with the first commandment, they emphasize their stance against idolatry.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, the official exposition of the Catholic Church's Christian beliefs, considers the Ten Commandments essential for spiritual health and growth and serves as the basis for Catholic social teaching. The Catholic Church believes it has the authority to provide an authoritative list of the Ten Commandments to its followers.
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The original second commandment prohibited making images of Jesus, Mary, and Saints
The Ten Commandments are a set of religious and moral imperatives that are recognized as a moral foundation in several of the Abrahamic religions, including the Catholic Church. The commandments form part of a covenant offered by God to the Israelites to free them from the spiritual slavery of sin.
The original second commandment, as written in the Book of Exodus, prohibited the making of images of Jesus, Mary, and Saints, and bowing before them. The commandment states: "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" (Exodus 20:4). This commandment is often interpreted as a prohibition against idolatry, or the worship of anything or anyone other than God.
However, some argue that the commandment does not prohibit the making of all images, but rather the worship of those images. This interpretation is based on the fact that God commands the making of statues and images in other parts of the Bible (Exodus 25:18; Numbers 21:8-9; 1 Kings 6:23-28, 9:3). Additionally, the incarnation of God in human form through Jesus suggests that it is not forbidden to depict God in some way.
The Catholic Church has been accused of changing the second commandment to justify the use of statues and images in their churches. However, Catholics argue that they have not changed the commandments, but rather interpret the second commandment as being included within the first commandment, which prohibits idolatry. They also argue that images of Jesus are not a violation of the commandments but a celebration of the incarnation.
The debate over the interpretation of the second commandment and the use of religious images has been ongoing since the early centuries of the church. It has been a point of disagreement between various Christian denominations and theological traditions.
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The Catholic Bible combines coveting a neighbour's wife and property into one commandment
The Ten Commandments are a series of religious and moral imperatives that are recognized as a moral foundation in several of the Abrahamic religions, including the Catholic Church. The Commandments are considered essential for spiritual good health and growth and serve as the basis for Catholic social teaching.
The Catholic Church combines coveting a neighbour's wife and property into one commandment, known as the tenth commandment. This commandment forbids coveting the goods of another, as the root of the stealing and fraud forbidden by the commandment, "You shan't steal". The commandment also prohibits greed and the setting of one's heart on material possessions. The Hebrew word "chamad" is commonly translated as "covet", "lust", and "strong desire".
The Catholic Church's interpretation of the tenth commandment is connected to the command to "love your neighbour as yourself". The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that the prohibition on coveting is related to Christ's admonishments to desire and store up treasure in Heaven rather than on Earth. This commandment is regarded as completing and unfolding the ninth commandment, which prohibits carnal concupiscence or lust.
The common Protestant listing of the Ten Commandments combines coveting your neighbour’s wife, the Catholic ninth commandment, with coveting your neighbour’s property, the Catholic tenth commandment. However, some argue that the original order of the commandments in the Book of Exodus is clear about not making images of Jesus, Mary, or the Saints, and bowing before them. The Catholic Church is accused of removing the second commandment to justify bowing down and worshipping statues.
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The Catholic Church changed the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday
The Catholic Church has been accused of changing the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday. However, the Catholic Church denies this, stating that they do not worship on the Sabbath, which is Saturday, the last day of the week, when God rested from his work of creation. Instead, Catholics worship on the Lord's Day, which is Sunday, the first day of the week, or the eighth day, when Christ rose from the dead. This change is seen as a mark of the Catholic Church's ecclesiastical authority in religious matters.
The Ten Commandments, including the Sabbath commandment, are recognized as a moral foundation in several Abrahamic religions, including Catholicism. They are considered essential for spiritual health and growth and form the basis for Catholic social teaching. The Sabbath commandment, as given in Exodus 20:8-11, states: "And on the seventh day, God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made."
The Catholic Church's justification for changing the day of worship from Saturday to Sunday is based on the idea that Sunday represents the new creation inaugurated by the Resurrection of Christ. This is supported by biblical passages such as Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2, and the Council of Laodicea's decree in AD 364, which encouraged Christians not to Judaize by resting on Saturdays but to honour the Lord's Day, or Sunday, instead. Additionally, Emperor Constantine I, a pagan sun-worshipper who legalized Christianity, made the first Sunday-keeping law in AD 321.
Some critics argue that the Catholic Church changed the Sabbath to assert its power and authority over religious matters, as evidenced by quotes from Catholic figures such as Thomas Enright and H.F. Thomas. They claim that the change from Saturday to Sunday worship is a sign of the Catholic Church's belief that it is above the Bible and has the power to change times and laws. However, it is important to note that the Catholic Church itself denies removing the second commandment.
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The Catechism of the Catholic Church considers the Commandments essential for spiritual good health
The Catechism of the Catholic Church is the official exposition of the Catholic Church's Christian beliefs. The Ten Commandments are a set of religious and moral imperatives that are considered essential for spiritual good health and growth. They are a moral foundation in several Abrahamic religions, including the Catholic Church. The Commandments are said to have occupied a predominant place in teaching the faith since the time of Augustine of Hippo (AD 354–430).
The Ten Commandments are described in the Old Testament books Exodus and Deuteronomy. They are part of a covenant offered by God to the Israelites to free them from the spiritual slavery of sin. The Catechism addresses the concept of human stewardship of God's creation in its explanation of the seventh commandment, which forbids abuse of animals and the environment. According to the Church, people have a right to private property. However, ownership makes that person a "steward" who is expected to make it "fruitful" or profitable in a way that benefits others after taking care of their family.
The Catechism categorizes violations of the sixth commandment into two categories: "offenses against chastity" and "offenses against the dignity of marriage". Lust, according to the Church, is the desire for sexual pleasure outside its intended purpose of procreation and the uniting of man and woman, body and soul, in mutual self-donation. Masturbation is considered a sin. The Church teaches that chastity is a "moral virtue, a gift from God, a grace, and a fruit of spiritual effort".
The Catechism also enumerates specific violations of the first commandment, including superstition, polytheism, sacrilege, atheism, and all practices of magic and sorcery. It further prohibits astrology, palm reading, and consulting horoscopes or mediums. The Catechism attributes these actions to a "desire for power over time, history, and other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers".
Some people claim that the Catholic Church changed the Ten Commandments by removing the second commandment, which prohibits the making of "any likeness of anything" and bowing down to or serving idols. However, the Catholic Church argues that this is a misunderstanding, as God commands or praises the making of images and statues in multiple biblical texts.
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Frequently asked questions
The Catholic Church has not changed the Ten Commandments, but there are differences in how they are divided and numbered compared to the Jewish and Protestant interpretations.
The Protestant listing of the Ten Commandments combines coveting your neighbour's wife (the Catholic ninth commandment) with coveting your neighbour's property (the Catholic tenth commandment).
The Jewish division of the Ten Commandments includes 13 sentences (17 in the Christian), but the text does not clearly indicate how the text should be divided.
The Catholic Church's interpretation of the second commandment focuses on idolatry and the worship of other gods, rather than the creation of graven images.
The Catholic Church observes Sunday as the day of rest and worship, which they call the "Lord's Day", due to their belief that Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week.
