The Decalogue in the
Church’s Tradition
St. Augustine
Ever since St. Augustine, the Ten Commandments have
occupied a predominant place in the catechesis of
baptismal candidates and the faithful. In the fifteenth
century, the custom arose of expressing the
commandments of the Decalogue in rhymed
formulae, easy to memorize and in positive form.
(CCC 2065)
The present catechism follows the division of the
Commandments established by St. Augustine, which has
become traditional in the Catholic Church. (CCC 2066)
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
JUDAISM* AUGUSTINE ORIGEN
I am the Lord thy God and thou
I am the Lord thy God and thou shalt
1 I am the Lord thy God. shalt not have strange gods before
not have other gods before me.
me.
Thou shalt have no other Thou shalt not take the name of Thou shalt not make for thyself any
2
gods before me. the Lord thy God in vain. graven image.
Thou shalt not take the
Remember to keep holy the Lord's Thou shalt not take the name of the
3 name of the Lord thy God in
Day. Lord thy God in vain.
vain.
Remember the Sabbath Day Remember the Lord's Day to keep it
4 Honor thy Father and Mother.
to keep it holy. holy.
Honor thy Father and
5 Thou shalt not kill. Honor thy Father and Mother.
Mother.
6 Thou shalt not murder. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not kill.
Thou shalt not commit
7 Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
adultery.
Thou shalt not bear false witness
8 Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not steal.
against thy neighbor.
Thou shalt not bear false
Thou shalt not covet thy Thou shalt not bear false witness
9 witness against thy
neighbor's wife. against thy neighbor.
neighbor.
Thou shalt not covet thy
10 Thou shalt not covet. Thou shalt not covet.
neighbor's goods.
FOR GOD FOR NEIGHBOR
I: I am the Lord Your God, You IV:Honor Your Father and Mother
shall not have other gods besides
me.
II:You shall not take the name of [Link] shall not Kill.
the Lord, your God in vain.
III: Remember to keep holy the VI and IX : You shall not commit
Sabbath Day. adultery and You shall not covet your
neighbor’s wife.
VII and X: You shall not steal and You
shall not covet your neigbor’s goods.
The unity of the
Decalogue
The unity of the Decalogue
This order must not obscure the basic
unity of the Ten Commandments. They
form an organic whole in which all of
the commandments relate to, and
mutually condition, one another. No
one can relate to God authentically
while sinning against one’s neighbor;
neither can one adequately love
one’s neighbor while rejecting our
heavenly Father (CCC 2069).
The Decalogue and
the Natural Law
Natural Law
Natural law - is a body of unchanging moral principles
regarded as a basis for all human conduct. These are
inherent and given in nature. People can be aware of
these laws because of reason.
Examples of natural law:
•Parents should take care of their children.
•One should preserve one’s life and the lives of others.
Natural Law
“Natural laws are the laws which are absolute and
inalienable. These are the rights which every individual has
by the virtue of being a human being. Natural laws transcend
geographical and political boundaries. They would still exist
even if no government existed. The fundamental rights
enshrined in the UN Charter for Human Rights provide a
good example of Natural laws. Natural laws are based on
natural rights which are a man's birth rights.
-Abbas Askari, 2015
• Article 1 - All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and
rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act
towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
• Article 2 - Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in
this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour,
sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social
origin, property, birth or other status.
• Article 3 - Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
• Article 4 - No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the
slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.
• Article 5 - No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhumane or
degrading treatment or punishment.
Natural Law
“It provides the necessary basis
for the civil law with which
it is connected, whether by
a reflection that draws
conclusions from its principles,
or by additions of a positive
and juridical nature.”
(CCC, 1959)
The Ten
Commandments is
an expression of the
Divine Law
Divine Law of God,
And of the natural
law.
Natural Law
Human Law/
Civil Law
HOWEVER…
“The precepts of natural
law are not perceived by
everyone clearly and
immediately…
WHY???