Ten Commandments
Term
The ten words God spoke from Sinai and wrote on stone, which the Reformation confessions take as a summary of his moral law.
Also called: Decalogue, moral law
What it means
The Ten Commandments are given in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5. The first table concerns love for God: no other gods, no idols, reverence for his name, and keeping the Sabbath. The second table concerns love for neighbor: honoring parents, and forbidding murder, adultery, theft, false witness, and coveting. Jesus summarized them as love for God and love for neighbor.
The Westminster and 1689 confessions teach that this moral law binds all people at all times, and that Christ did not dissolve it but strengthened the obligation. The ceremonial laws of Israel were fulfilled in Christ, and its civil laws expired with that nation, but the moral law remains.
Historic catechisms, including the Westminster Shorter Catechism and the Heidelberg Catechism, teach the commandments line by line. The site records whether a church teaches them, since neglecting the Decalogue often signals a weak view of the law's place in the Christian life.
In Scripture
God speaks the ten commandments to Israel after redeeming them from slavery.
God spoke these words from the fire and wrote them on two stone tablets.
Jesus summarizes the law as love for God and love for neighbor.
Paul cites several commandments and says love is the fulfillment of the law.
Where it comes up
Confessions: WCF 19.2; WCF 19.5; LBCF 1689 19.2; LBCF 1689 19.5
On this site: Law & gospel
Related terms
Three uses of the lawHistoric orthodoxy
The Reformation teaching that God's moral law restrains evil in society, shows sinners their need of Christ, and guides believers in grateful obedience.
CatechismTerm
A summary of Christian teaching in question-and-answer form, used to teach children and new believers the faith; catechesis is that teaching.
Christian SabbathA view held among orthodox Christians
The confessional teaching that the fourth commandment still binds Christians, so the Lord's Day is to be kept holy as a whole day of rest and worship.
Lord's DayA view held among orthodox Christians
Sunday, the first day of the week, when Christians gather to worship the risen Christ; on this page, the view that it is a day of worship but not a Christian Sabbath.