Rachel Evans
The question of which commandment Catholics leave out often arises due to a difference in numbering between the Catholic and Protestant traditions. Catholics combine the prohibitions against coveting one’s neighbor’s wife and coveting one’s neighbor’s goods into a single commandment, resulting in a total of ten commandments. In contrast, Protestants separate these into two distinct commandments. This variation stems from the Catholic Church’s reliance on the ancient structure found in the Didache and early Christian teachings, which groups these coveting prohibitions together. Thus, Catholics do not omit any commandment but rather organize them differently, maintaining the full moral and theological intent of the Decalogue.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Commandment Omitted | The commandment traditionally omitted in Catholic numbering is the second of the original Protestant list, which combines the first two commandments in the Catholic tradition. |
| Protestant Numbering | 2. "You shall not make for yourself an idol and worship it." |
| Catholic Numbering | Combines the first two Protestant commandments into one: "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me." |
| Reason for Omission | Catholics combine the prohibition against idolatry with the command to worship only God, resulting in a single commandment. |
| Total Commandments | Catholics list 10 commandments, same as Protestants, but with different numbering and grouping. |
| Scriptural Reference | Exodus 20:2-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21 |
| Impact on Doctrine | No doctrinal difference; both traditions uphold the same moral and theological principles. |
| Historical Context | The difference in numbering dates back to early Christian traditions and interpretations of Scripture. |
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What You'll Learn
Lutheran vs. Catholic Commandment Counting
The question of "which commandment do Catholics leave out" stems from a difference in how Lutherans and Catholics divide and number the Ten Commandments. This apparent discrepancy doesn't indicate a fundamental disagreement on the content of God's law, but rather a historical and interpretative difference in organizing the text from Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5.
At the heart of the matter lies the commandment against coveting. Lutherans, following the tradition of the Augsburg Confession, combine the prohibitions against coveting your neighbor's wife and coveting your neighbor's possessions into a single commandment. This results in their counting of the Ten Commandments.
Catholics, on the other hand, following the tradition of the Didache and early Church Fathers like Augustine, separate these two prohibitions into distinct commandments. This leads to a slightly different numbering system. The Catholic division emphasizes the individual gravity of each covetous desire, highlighting the distinct sins involved in lust and greed.
The specific commandment that seems "left out" by Catholics in Lutheran eyes is the prohibition against bearing false witness, which Lutherans combine with the commandment against coveting your neighbor's house. Catholics, however, keep these as separate commandments, resulting in a different numbering sequence.
It's crucial to understand that this difference in counting doesn't reflect a rejection of any biblical principle. Both Lutherans and Catholics affirm the entirety of the Decalogue. The variation lies solely in how the text is structured and organized for instructional and devotional purposes. This difference serves as a reminder of the richness and complexity of biblical interpretation and the diverse traditions within Christianity.
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The Coveting Commandments Split
Protestant traditions, however, typically divide the coveting commandment into two distinct prohibitions, making it the Ninth and Tenth Commandments in their enumeration. The Ninth Commandment states, "You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife," while the Tenth Commandment expands to, "You shall not covet your neighbor’s house, or his field, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor" (Deuteronomy 5:21). This division highlights the specificity of the prohibitions, addressing both the coveting of a neighbor’s spouse and their possessions separately. The split underscores the Protestant emphasis on the clarity and detail of God’s law, ensuring that each aspect of covetousness is explicitly addressed.
The historical and theological reasons for this split trace back to the Reformation. Reformers like Martin Luther and John Calvin sought to align the commandments more closely with the original Hebrew text, which they believed was obscured by the Catholic consolidation. By separating the commandments, Protestants aimed to emphasize the distinctiveness of each prohibition and its relevance to different aspects of human desire. This approach also reflected their focus on the individual’s responsibility to obey God’s law in every detail, without conflating different sins under a single heading.
The Catholic approach, on the other hand, is rooted in the tradition of the Didache, an early Christian text that influenced the Church’s enumeration of the commandments. By combining the coveting prohibitions, Catholics emphasize the interior nature of sin and the unity of the commandment’s purpose: to guard against the root of envy and greed. This perspective aligns with the Catholic emphasis on the sacraments and the interior life of grace, where the focus is on transforming the heart rather than merely adhering to external rules.
In practical terms, the Coveting Commandments Split has implications for how Catholics and Protestants teach and interpret the Ten Commandments. For Catholics, the focus is on the holistic nature of the final commandment, encouraging believers to examine their hearts for covetous desires. Protestants, meanwhile, emphasize the specificity of each prohibition, urging believers to guard against both the coveting of a neighbor’s spouse and their possessions as distinct sins. Despite these differences, both traditions agree on the central message: covetousness is a violation of God’s law and a barrier to loving one’s neighbor as oneself.
Ultimately, the Coveting Commandments Split is a reminder of the rich diversity within Christian tradition. While Catholics and Protestants may enumerate the commandments differently, their shared goal is to guide believers toward a life of holiness and obedience to God. Understanding this split offers insight into the theological priorities of each tradition and invites Christians to reflect on the universal call to resist covetousness in all its forms.
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Historical Reasons for the Difference
The difference in the enumeration of the Ten Commandments between Catholics and some Protestant denominations stems from historical and interpretive divergences rooted in the early Christian and Jewish traditions. The primary point of contention is the division of the commandment against coveting. In the Jewish tradition, as reflected in the Hebrew Bible, the prohibition against coveting a neighbor’s wife and property is treated as a single commandment. However, the Catholic Church, following the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible), splits this into two separate commandments: one against coveting a neighbor’s wife and another against coveting a neighbor’s goods. This difference in division leads to a shift in the numbering of subsequent commandments, resulting in the perception that Catholics "leave out" a commandment.
Historically, the Septuagint was widely used by early Christians, including the authors of the New Testament. The Catholic Church adopted the Septuagint’s division of the commandments, which aligns with the structure found in the Book of Exodus (20:1–17) and Deuteronomy (5:6–21) in the Greek translation. This decision was influenced by the Church Fathers, such as Augustine of Hippo, who defended the Septuagint’s enumeration. Augustine argued that the division into two commandments better reflected the distinct nature of the sins involved: one related to sexual desire and the other to material greed. This interpretation was formalized in the Latin Vulgate, the standard Bible of the Catholic Church for centuries, further solidifying the Catholic tradition.
In contrast, the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century saw a return to the Hebrew Bible as the authoritative text for many reformers, including John Calvin and Martin Luther. Protestant traditions, particularly those influenced by Lutheran and Reformed theology, adopted the Hebrew Bible’s single commandment against coveting, which led to a different numbering system. This shift was part of a broader effort by Protestant reformers to align Christian practice more closely with the original Hebrew text and to critique what they saw as unnecessary additions or alterations in Catholic tradition.
Another historical factor is the role of rabbinic Judaism in shaping early Christian interpretations. While the Septuagint was widely used in the Hellenistic world, Jewish scholars in Palestine and the diaspora continued to follow the Hebrew text. The Catholic Church’s reliance on the Septuagint, rather than the Hebrew Bible, reflects its cultural and geographical ties to the Greco-Roman world, where the Septuagint was the dominant version of the Old Testament. This divergence highlights the complex interplay between Jewish and Christian traditions in the early centuries of Christianity.
Finally, the difference in commandment enumeration also reflects broader theological and liturgical priorities. For Catholics, the focus has been on the moral and spiritual implications of the commandments rather than their strict numbering. The Catechism of the Catholic Church emphasizes the unity and coherence of the commandments as a whole, rather than their individual sequence. In contrast, the Protestant emphasis on the Hebrew Bible’s numbering reflects a commitment to textual precision and a rejection of perceived Catholic accretions. This historical divergence underscores the enduring impact of early Christian choices on later theological and liturgical developments.
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Catholic Catechism Explanation
The question of which commandment Catholics "leave out" often arises from a comparison between the Catholic enumeration of the Ten Commandments and the numbering used in other Christian traditions, particularly Protestant ones. To address this, it is essential to understand the historical and theological context behind the Catholic Catechism's presentation of the Decalogue. The Catholic Church does not omit any commandment but organizes them differently, combining the traditional ninth and tenth commandments into a single commandment while splitting the first commandment into two. This approach is rooted in the Church's interpretation of Scripture and the teachings of the early Church Fathers.
In the Catholic Catechism, the Ten Commandments are structured as follows: 1) I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before me; 2) You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God; 3) Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy; 4) Honor your father and your mother; 5) You shall not kill; 6) You shall not commit adultery; 7) You shall not steal; 8) You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor; 9) You shall not covet your neighbor's wife; and 10) You shall not covet your neighbor's goods. The key difference lies in the treatment of the prohibition against coveting, which in Protestant traditions is split into two separate commandments (against coveting a neighbor's wife and goods), while Catholics combine the prohibition against false worship and idolatry into a single commandment.
The Catholic approach is based on the ancient tradition of the Hebrew Bible, particularly the division found in the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Old Testament widely used by early Christians. This tradition groups the commandments differently from the Hebrew Masoretic Text, which is more commonly followed in Protestant traditions. The Catholic Church maintains this division to remain faithful to the patristic and liturgical heritage of the early Church. By combining the commandments related to coveting, the Church emphasizes the unity of the human heart's desires and the need for integrity in one's relationships with God and neighbor.
It is important to note that the substance of all the moral precepts remains intact in the Catholic enumeration. The Church does not dismiss or diminish any of the divine laws given to Moses. Instead, the focus is on the coherent and holistic interpretation of God's will as revealed in Scripture. The Catholic Catechism explains that the commandments are not isolated rules but form a cohesive moral framework that guides believers toward love of God and love of neighbor, the two greatest commandments on which the entire law depends (Matthew 22:36–40).
In summary, the Catholic Catechism's explanation of the Ten Commandments reflects a deep theological and historical tradition. The apparent "omission" of a commandment is a matter of organizational difference rather than a rejection of divine law. By adhering to the ancient tradition of the Septuagint and the teachings of the Church Fathers, the Catholic Church provides a structured and meaningful interpretation of the Decalogue that emphasizes the unity of faith and morality. This approach ensures that the commandments remain a living guide for the spiritual and moral life of believers.
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Impact on Religious Practices
The question of which commandment Catholics "leave out" often refers to the difference in the enumeration of the Ten Commandments between Catholic and Protestant traditions. Catholics combine the first two commandments in the Protestant list into a single commandment, prohibiting the worship of false gods. This difference impacts religious practices in several ways, particularly in how the commandments are taught, memorized, and applied in daily spiritual life.
In Catholic religious education, the Ten Commandments are a cornerstone of moral and spiritual formation. The combined first commandment, "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me," sets the foundation for all others. This emphasis on the primacy of God's sovereignty influences liturgical practices, such as the structure of Mass, where prayers and hymns consistently affirm God's uniqueness and authority. The impact is seen in the frequent use of the Creed and other proclamations of faith, reinforcing the commandment's centrality in Catholic worship.
The reordering of the commandments also affects the practice of confession and examination of conscience. Catholics are taught to reflect on their adherence to the commandments as part of their preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The combined first commandment prompts penitents to consider not only overt idolatry but also subtler forms of placing other priorities above God, such as materialism or excessive focus on career or relationships. This nuanced approach deepens the spiritual introspection required in the confessional process.
In pastoral ministry, priests and catechists often highlight the interconnectedness of the commandments, a perspective facilitated by the Catholic enumeration. For instance, the prohibition against graven images (addressed within the first commandment) is explained not as a ban on religious art but as a safeguard against misdirecting worship. This interpretation is evident in the widespread use of icons, statues, and sacred art in Catholic churches, which serve as tools for devotion rather than objects of worship themselves. This practice contrasts with some Protestant traditions that avoid such imagery altogether.
Finally, the Catholic approach to the commandments influences the rhythm of liturgical seasons, particularly Lent and Easter. During Lent, believers are encouraged to refocus their lives on God, aligning with the first commandment's call to prioritize Him above all else. Practices like fasting, almsgiving, and prayer are framed as acts of reordering one's life to reflect God's primacy. This thematic emphasis continues into Easter, where the resurrection is celebrated as the ultimate affirmation of God's sovereignty, reinforcing the commandment's central role in Catholic spirituality.
In summary, the Catholic enumeration of the Ten Commandments, particularly the combining of the first two, significantly shapes religious practices. It influences liturgical worship, sacramental life, pastoral teaching, and the spiritual disciplines observed during key seasons of the liturgical calendar. This distinct approach fosters a holistic understanding of faith, where the primacy of God is not just a theoretical principle but a lived reality integrated into every aspect of religious observance.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholics do not "leave out" any commandments. However, the Catholic Church combines the traditional ninth and tenth commandments about coveting into a single commandment, resulting in a list of ten commandments that differs slightly from Protestant traditions.
Catholics combine the commandments about coveting (Exodus 20:17) into one because they view coveting as a single sin of desiring what belongs to another, whether it be a person’s possessions or their spouse.
Catholics number the commandments differently by dividing the prohibition against false worship and idols (Exodus 20:2-6) into two separate commandments: one against worshiping false gods and another against making graven images.
No, Catholics do not ignore it. The content of the second commandment in Protestant traditions (no graven images) is included in the first commandment in Catholic numbering, which prohibits the worship of false gods and the creation of idols.
The confusion arises from the different numbering systems used by Catholics and Protestants. Both traditions include all the moral principles of the Ten Commandments, but they organize them slightly differently.
