Home > Appendixes to VKICG > The Ten Commandments - The Catholic Understanding

The Controversy

Most professing Christian denominations believe in the existence of God's ten commandments written in the Bible. For those groups that keep the ten commandments, the controversy lies under two umbrellas of thought:

1) The ordering number and division of the ten commandments.

2) Whether or not a Christian is obligated to keep them under the new covenant.

This article focuses on point #1.

The Catholic Ten Commandments

Protestant denominations show agreement with the Bible's layout and order of the ten commandments, whether or not they agree to commandment-keeping. On the other hand, The Catholic Church, as laid out in its catechism, shows a slightly different variation of God's commandments for those who follow the Catholic faith. Though the Catholic catechism lists ten commandments, a review reveals a modification that one cannot ignore.

A comparison of the ten commandments from Exodus 20:2-17 - AFV and the Catechism of the Catholic Church is listed below. (In the catechism, listed are both old and new testament references for each of the commandments given.)

From the above two lists, we can ascertain this.

• Both lists contain a total of ten commandments.
• Both lists contain the same general message.
• The 1st & 2nd commandments of the Bible combines into the Catholic 1st commandment.
• The 10th commandment of the Bible splits into the 9th & 10th Catholic commandments.
• Because of the split/combination of the commandments listed, the order does not remain perfectly aligned between them (e.g., #4 of one is not #4 of the other).

Catholic Reasonings as to Why

Because of the discrepancy at the beginning and end of the Catholic commandment list, other Christian denominations claim they altered the commandments. One Catholic response by Tim Staples narrows the Catholic viewpoint down to five key points as to why the difference exists (summarized):

1. Exodus 20:2-6 is one commandment because it forbids the worship of idolatry (worshiping anything other than God), not condemning statues and the like.
2. The phrase "any likeness of anything" would make God contradictory in His commands for the Tabernacle and its contents. If the commandment were to be separated, it would make the first two commandments repetitive.
3. The commandments are classified as ten by men even though the scriptures do not list them with numbered identifiers. The actual numbering can be relative to what you combine or separate.
4. The Catholic Church has the sole authority to give God's people an authoritative list known as the ten commandments.
5. The last two commandments, coveting your neighbor's wife and coveting your neighbor's property, are two separate commandments. Women are not property. Deuteronomy 5 shows the distinction of "coveting" one's wife versus "desiring" one's property.

Let us go over each key point one at a time.

Catholic Key Point #1 - No Condemnation of Idols

1. Exodus 20:2-6 is one commandment because it forbids the worship of idolatry (worshiping anything other than God), not condemning statues and the like.

The Catholic Church is well known for its statues and icons representing Jesus and many of the prophets and saints of the faith over the centuries. Catholic believers routinely bow down and pray unto these items in their churches and homes, giving "veneration" to what they represent. On the surface, all of this appears contradictory to what God says in the Bible, which fuels excoriation by other Christian denominations. Despite its appearance, the Catholic Church defends its property and behaviors with the utmost certainty that God allows it.

In the Catholic's defense, they argue that the Protestant first and second commandments should be solely one commandment, saying it is mostly about idolatry and not about condemning statues and the like. Because of what God commands Israel to make for the Tabernacle, Temple, and the serpent on the pole, these would contradict the first Catholic commandment if statues and images were not allowed at all. Hence, God permits the Catholic Church to make these items, and in doing so, they venerate what they represent, not worshiping them directly as unto God.

Expounding upon the first commandment in their catechism, under the section "You Shall Not Make For Yourself a Graven Image...", points #2129 thru #2132 are given to explain the apparent contradiction and give credence to their worship.

Point #2129 explains the prohibition on making anything of a representation of God to worship Him, for God showed no form unto man to make nor gave any command.

2129 The divine injunction included the prohibition of every representation of God by the hand of man. Deuteronomy explains: "Since you saw no form on the day that the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, beware lest you act corruptly by making a graven image for yourselves, in the form of any figure...."⁶⁶ [Deut 4:15-16] It is the absolutely transcendent God who revealed himself to Israel. "He is the all," but at the same time "he is greater than all his works."⁶⁷ [Sir 43:27-28] He is "the author of beauty."⁶⁸ [Wis 13:3]

-- Catechism of the Catholic Church
IV. "You Shall Not Make For Yourself a Graven Image..."

One can hardly argue against this principle, for it is biblical. (Deuteronomy 4:15-19)

Point #2130 explains the justification for the Catholic Church to be permitted statues and icons, so long as it is pointing "symbolically toward salvation by the incarnate Word." They reference various commands of God to Israel in the making of icons, which included instructions for His Tabernacle in the wilderness and the Temple built by Solomon. The Catholic Church concludes that this is not contradictory to God's commandment because this is what He instructed Israel to do.

• to make a fiery serpent and put it on a poll (Numbers 21:4-9; John 3:14-15)
• to make three-dimensional cherubim on the mercy seat of the ark (Exodus 25:17-20)
• to embroider cherubim on the tabernacle curtains and veil (Exodus 26:1, 31)
• to make cherubim on many parts of the Temple as well as lions, oxen, palm trees, etc. (1 Kings 6, 7; 1 Chronicles 28; 2 Chronicles 3)

2130 Nevertheless, already in the Old Testament, God ordained or permitted the making of images that pointed symbolically toward salvation by the incarnate Word: so it was with the bronze serpent, the ark of the covenant, and the cherubim.⁶⁹ [Cf. Num 21:4-9; Wis 16:5-14; Jn 3:14-15; Ex 25:10-22; 1 Kings 6:23-28; 7:23-26]

-- Catechism of the Catholic Church
IV. "You Shall Not Make For Yourself a Graven Image..."

The commands God gave to Israel discussed here are true, but there is more to this topic than what appears on the surface, God permitting them to make images. Using the Bible Study Rules, ask yourself some questions regarding this topic, such as:

• Did God command Israel to make additional statues or images apart from what He instructed for the Tabernacle, Temple, and the serpent on the pole? Is it written in the scriptures?
• Were any of the items in the Tabernacle and Temple to be venerated according to the Catholic definition? Is permission given towards other images? Is there a written command to do so?
• Did any of God's people in the Bible before Exodus 20 make and venerate statues?
• Did Isreal eventually make statues of Abraham, Isacc, and Jacob and pray unto them? What about Moses, Joshua, or Deborah? How about Enoch (since most believe he ascended into Heaven)?
• Did Israel venerate angels?
• In the New Testament, did Jesus ever authorize such worship practices? Did Peter, Paul, or John? If so, where is it written in the Bible? Are there any scriptural examples of them practicing this?
• How do we know which people have salvation and are in Heaven? How do we know they can intervene for us if we pray to them? Is this even biblical? (Biblical Proofs V.ii.)
• How does the addition of objects used in the worship of God, such as rosaries, crosses, pictures, holy water, palm branches, etc., uphold and not violate God's Word?
• Are we allowed to make and venerate statues and icons dedicated to one's imagined conception of Jesus and other biblical characters? Are we obligated to "venerate" ANYTHING we consider to be in Heaven?
• (There are many more questions I could ask.)

Only giving examples of Israel's commanded work on the Tabernacle without instances of the veneration in question provides no definitive solution to this problem for the Catholics. Without proper, explicit scriptural examples in the Bible of God's approval towards images made of biblical characters, it is difficult to presume the first commandment of the Catholic Catechism is God's authorization of such acts of Christian worship. Even the serpent on the pole, for example, has no record in the Bible of the people venerating it. They only were to look upon it for healing.

Numbers 21:8-9 - AFV

8.   And the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole. And it shall be when everyone who is bitten looks upon it, he shall live."
9.   And Moses made a serpent of bronze and put it upon a pole. And it came to pass that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked upon the serpent of brass, he lived.

Garner Ted Armstong summed the issue up correctly.

The obvious thrust of the Second Commandment is that "images" were not to be made for the purpose of worship!

However, a simple amount of research will prove that Almighty God Himself approved the use of various figures and representations of cherubim as a part of the tabernacle in the wilderness, and the temple of God!

The great difference is that wherein God allowed Moses and the children of Israel to decorate the tabernacle in the wilderness with the figures of cherubim, and ordered Moses to hold a brazen serpent aloft to stop a plague of snakes, it was authorized of God, and done for the purposes of God, and not as a representation of "God" or something to be worshipped.

-- Garner Ted Armstrong
The Ten Commandments
The Second Commandment

Point #2131 attempts to add credence to the work done at the seventh ecumenical council at Nicaea against those who were destroying such icons. The statement goes as far as declaring that Jesus introduced a new "economy" of images, referencing biblical new testament characters.

2131 Basing itself on the mystery of the incarnate Word, the seventh ecumenical council at Nicaea (787) justified against the iconoclasts the veneration of icons - of Christ, but also of the Mother of God, the angels, and all the saints. By becoming incarnate, the Son of God introduced a new "economy" of images.

-- Catechism of the Catholic Church
IV. "You Shall Not Make For Yourself a Graven Image..."

At the Second Council of Nicaea in 787 A.D.,

The council declared that icons deserve reverence and veneration but not adoration, which is reserved for God. It was also decreed that every altar should contain a relic, a tradition that has been retained in both modern Catholic and Orthodox churches.

-- Britannica
Second Council of Nicaea,
Christianity [787]

The veneration or worship of any earthly item or anything else in Heaven lacks permission in the Bible. Its condemnation is rather steadfast by God's decree. (Exodus 20:4-6; Leviticus 26:1; Deuteronomy 5:8) If the founding of their decision is not upon the proper dividing of God's Word, the conclusion of a council of men over seven hundred years after Christ's death is hardly any justification.

Point #2132 is the pinnacle of the argument from the Catholic Church's point of view. The construct of their conclusion is around the belief that to venerate is not equivalent to worship. The Catholic Catechism proclaims their prayer to a statue or image of a biblical character is not the direct worship of the article per se, but the "veneration," or honor, of the prototype it represents. In the eyes of the Catholic Church, it is not the same adoration you attribute to God.

2132 The Christian veneration of images is not contrary to the first commandment which proscribes idols. Indeed, "the honor rendered to an image passes to its prototype," and "whoever venerates an image venerates the person portrayed in it."⁷⁰ [St. Basil, De Spiritu Sancto 18, 45: PG 32, 149C; Council of Nicaea II: DS 601; cf. Council of Trent: DS 1821-1825; Vatican Council II: SC 126; LG 67] The honor paid to sacred images is a "respectful veneration," not the adoration due to God alone:

Religious worship is not directed to images in themselves, considered as mere things, but under their distinctive aspect as images leading us on to God incarnate. the movement toward the image does not terminate in it as image, but tends toward that whose image it is.⁷¹ [St. Thomas Aquinas, STh II-II, 81, 3 ad 3]

-- Catechism of the Catholic Church
IV. "You Shall Not Make For Yourself a Graven Image..."

Garner Ted Armstrong distinctly summed up my thoughts on the matter.

Of course, some who profess to be "Christian," and who nevertheless have little idols about the house, on the dashboard of their automobile, or look to various figurines in their churches and cathedrals, will argue it is not the statue or the figurine to which they look, but what it represents!

This is the flimsiest of all possible excuses, however, for it is the very purpose for which the idol is made!

Even the pagan Babylonians, Egyptians and Greeks had sense enough to know that the idol itself was not the "god" they were worshipping, but that the idol merely represented that "god."

-- Garner Ted Armstrong
The Ten Commandments
The Second Commandment

Even the Catholic use of the English word "venerate" distorts the message they portray; synonyms of the word venerate are worship, adore, reverence, revere, look up to, and hold in awe. In retrospect, is not the veneration of an image an act of worship towards that object, whether it is the object itself or what it represents?

In addition to questions asked on Point #2130 prior, consider the following.

• Where in the Bible is God's command on allowing anyone to venerate an item, even if said item represents something from Heaven?
• Where in the Bible are examples of saints doing such practices? Old or New?
• Does not God forbid communication with the dead? (Leviticus 19:31; 20:6; Deuteronomy 18:11) The scriptures teach that eternal life is not inherent among men but is the gift of God and given at the resurrection. (Biblical Proofs V.ii.) All who have died are asleep until their appointed resurrection, so any veneration given towards them would be in vain. Jesus Christ is the only individual resurrected from the dead. God will resurrect His saints at Christ's second coming and the rest of the dead at the second resurrection. (Revelation 20:4-6)
• God is a jealous God and does not want any uncommanded worship of Him physically or spiritually outside of His Word. Because of this, the Old Testament is replete with examples of Israel and Gentiles bowing down to idols, spurring God's anger. Honestly, ask yourself, does this not do the same?
• Blessing, praying, or bowing down to an image, whether to the object itself or directed towards its prototype, is still an act of worship to an idol.

The bowing down and praying to religious icons have always been a purview of pagan religions that God forbade His people to learn and practice. The Catholic Church's activities over the past centuries, through numerous historical documents, have repeatedly shown their ability to Christianize many forms of pagan worship practices to win converts to the Church. To clarify, they incorporated pagan worship practices and symbols into the Catholic Church's worship of God and gave them Christian overtones. (Have you ever questioned where certain worship practices and doctrines originated not explicitly stated in the scriptures?) God unequivocally forbids such practices in the Bible. (Deuteronomy 12:29-32; Jeremiah 10:2) Venerating images and statues of past holy men, women, or anything in general, is not commanded by God.

In a Catholic response by Tim Staples concerning the verses in Exodus 20:2-5, he states the following:

Verses 3 and 5 make clear that this commandment is not simply condemning making statues; It is condemning making gods that you bow down to or serve. In a word, this first commandment forbids idolatry, i.e., the worship of anything or anyone other than God. The Catholic Church condemns this as well.

-- Tim Staples
Catholic Answers
"Did the Catholic Church Change the Ten Commandments?"
4/28/2013

A former Catholic myself, having been born and raised in that faith till the age of twenty, I, for one, know of the beliefs and worship practices of the Catholic Church. Having believed in the doctrines taught by the Pope, priests, and bishops, I partook in those activities. All of which were to my delusion, not having my mind open to God's Truth. In light of this answer by Tim Staples, it flies contrary to reality. Like other Catholic believers, I bowed down, prayed, and worshiped at the feet of various statues and relics, treating them as if they were gods but knowing they were not.

When Catholics bow down, pray, or kiss the feet of a statue, they should understand this is breaking the commandment of God by serving idols even if they are venerating them.

What are God's commands to His people on worshipping Him in this matter?

Deuteronomy 4:1-2 - AFV

1.   "And now, O Israel, hearken to the statutes and to the judgments which I teach you, in order to do them, so that you may live and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers gives to you.
2.   You shall not add to the word which I command you; neither shall you take away from it, so that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

Deuteronomy 4:15-19 - AFV

15.   Therefore, take good heed to yourselves, for you did not see any form at all on the day the LORD spoke to you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire,
16.   Lest you act corruptly and make for yourselves a graven image, the likeness of any figure, the likeness of male or female, or
17.   The likeness of any beast on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flies in the air, or
18.   The likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish in the waters beneath the earth;
19.   And take heed, lest you lift up your eyes to the heavens—when you see the sun, and the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven—lest you should be driven to worship them and serve them, which the LORD your God has divided for signs and seasons unto all nations under all the heavens.

Exodus 23:24 - AFV

24.   You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them. And you shall not do according to their works. But you shall surely tear them down, and surely you shall smash their standing images.

Leviticus 26:1 - AFV

1.   "'You shall make no idols to yourselves; and you shall not set up for yourselves graven images, or a standing pillar. And you shall not set up any image of stone in your land in order to bow down to it, for I am the LORD your God.

Revelation 22:13-21 - AFV

13.   I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.
14.   Blessed are those who keep His commandments, that they may have the right to eat of the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.
15.   But excluded are dogs, and sorcerers, and fornicators, and murderers, and idolaters, and everyone who loves and devises a lie.
16.   I, Jesus, sent My angel to testify these things to you in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright and morning star."
17.   And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who thirsts come; and let the one who desires partake of the water of life freely.
18.   For I jointly testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, that if anyone adds to these things, God shall add to him the plagues that are written in this book.
19.   And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the book of life, and from the holy city, and from the things that are written in this book.
20.   He Who testifies these things says, "Surely, I am coming quickly." Amen . Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
21.   The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

The Catholic Church lacks scriptural proof of God's permission to make icons outside of His instructions for the Tabernacle, Temple, and the fiery serpent on the pole. In addition, they lack pertinent biblical examples that teach and allow individuals to bow down and pray to them.

I am fully aware that the Catholic Church will undoubtedly provide ample evidence outside of the Bible, through the teachings of the Church fathers, to aid in their defense of bowing down and praying to idols and icons. When it comes to the proper worship of God, if there is no proof in the Bible, Christians should hold no adherence to its practice. For salvation, it is essential to avoid it.

Catholic Key Point #2 - Commandment Repetition

2. The phrase "any likeness of anything" would make God contradictory in His commands for the Tabernacle and its contents. If the commandment were to be separated, it would make the first two commandments repetitive.

The second Catholic key point in defense of their images, statues, and worship practices is that the phrase "any likeness of anything" in the first commandment would make God contradictory in His instructions for the Tabernacle and its contents.

I again ask the questions:

• Does God allow for the making of additional images and icons outside of His commands?
• In the Bible, does God permit Israel to "venerate" the objects made for the Tabernacle and Temple?
• Is any form of worship towards God allowed?

Though God did mandate Israel to construct certain items for His purpose and glory, God never commanded them to be worshiped or prayed to, even if directed to their prototypes. Faithful worship is appropriated to God alone: no other gods.

There is a reason why the first and second commandments are separated.

• The first commandment is the worship of God only, excluding all other gods man may choose to worship. Atheism is also prohibited.
• The second commandment is the prohibition of the making and worshiping of graven images (idols).

God gave instructions on building the Tabernacle and later the instructions to build the Temple. These were representations of what was in Heaven, where God's throne is. God stated the following:

Exodus 20:4 - AFV

4.   You shall not make for yourselves any graven image^H6459, or any likeness of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters under the earth.

The word translated "graven image" (H6459) is shown below.

H6459 peçel, peh'-sel;

from H6458;

an idol: - carved (graven) image.

H6458 pâçal, paw-sal';

a prim. root;

to carve, whether wood or stone: - grave, hew.

-- Strong's Concordance

The created item that God forbids anyone to make is dead and has in it no life. It cannot by itself move, hear, see, speak, eat, or even feel. How can that created item be a god (or represent one) of anything on the earth or in Heaven? God says it is a sin to manufacture an idol and bow down to it in worship, for not only is another god substituted for the worship of the True God (a violation of the first commandment), but it also has no life.

The latter half of the Catholic argument concerns the repetitiveness of the commandments if they are separated. In the Catholic response by Tim Staples, these verses (Exodus 20:2-6) cover the broad topic of idolatry. In one aspect, they do. The ten commandments often overlap in applications; to sin against one commandment, you also sin against another. But how much of their position is influenced by the Catholic interpretation of the scriptures? Deceivingly, Catholics firmly believe that God allows veneration of images of Heaven as long as no worship occurs as one does towards the One True God.

What do those scriptures tell us?

Exodus 20:2-6 - AFV

2.   "I am the LORD your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3.   You shall have no other gods before Me.
4.   You shall not make for yourselves any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters under the earth.
5.   You shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me,
6.   But showing mercy to thousands of those who love Me and keep My commandments.

There is a clear distinction between the two commandments.

• Verses 2 and 3 clearly state you are to worship the One True God and no one else.
• Verses 4, 5, and 6 discuss the prohibition in the making of graven images (idols) and their worship.

The former verses (v.2-3) refer to what is alive and exclude anyone from having other living gods before God the Father. Living gods can include angels (Lucifer, Michael, Gabriel, etc.), demons, another living person, or even oneself.

In contrast, the latter verses (v.4-6) refer to that which is naturally dead and has no life in them. An idol is a GRAVEN image and is not even a god. Any image made and worshipped is an abomination to God. Making a graven image, bowing down, and serving it, one shows hate and contempt towards the God that created everything and gave each of us life. Worship would be towards the creation, not the Creator. Even various human matters can become an "idol" that forces the Father out of one's life, such as pursuing wealth, fame, beauty, a bad habit, an obsession, etc.

2 Kings 19:17-19 - AFV

17.   Truly, LORD, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands,
18.   And have thrown their gods into the fire; for they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone, and they have destroyed them.
19.   And now, O, LORD our God, I beseech You, save us out of his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD God, and You only."

Isaiah 37:18-20 - AFV

18.   Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the countries and their lands,
19.   And have cast their gods into the fire, for they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone; so they have destroyed them.
20.   And now, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD, You alone."

Jeremiah 2:11-13 - AFV

11.   Has a nation changed their gods who are yet no gods? But My people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.
12.   Be amazed, O heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid; be utterly desolated," says the LORD,
13.   "For My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me, the Fountain of living waters [a violation of the 1st commandment], and hewn out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that cannot hold water [a violation of the 2nd commandment].

Jeremiah 2:13, as shown above, clearly reveals the two evils Israel committed, not one. This verse shows a stronger inclination that the commandments in question are two and not one.

If the separation of these two commandments creates redundancy, it is solely one's interpretation. The Catholic argument in defense of the veneration of images and statues is only an excuse for their worship practices over the centuries. It has no basis in God's Word.

Catholic Key Point #3 - The Numbering is Relative

3. The commandments are classified as ten by men even though the scriptures do not list them with numbered identifiers. The actual numbering can be relative to what you combine or separate.

The third Catholic key point supporting their version of the ten commandments concerns the lack of numbered identifiers for each commandment; their perceived division is relative to what you combine and separate. This perspective has one valid point. Indeed, the commandments are not individually numbered, though the scriptures infallibly state ten in total.

Exodus 34:28 - AFV

28.   And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And He wrote upon the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.

Deuteronomy 4:13 - AFV

13.   And He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, even the ten commandments. And He wrote them on two tablets of stone.

Deuteronomy 10:4 - AFV

4.   And He wrote on the tablets, according to the first writing, the Ten Commandments which the LORD spoke to you in the mountain out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly. And the LORD gave them to me.

In Catholic history, St. Augustine (354a.d.-430a.d.) put in order the Catholic Ten Commandments.

2066 The division and numbering of the Commandments have varied in the course of history. the present catechism follows the division of the Commandments established by St. Augustine, which has become traditional in the Catholic Church. It is also that of the Lutheran confessions. the Greek Fathers worked out a slightly different division, which is found in the Orthodox Churches and Reformed communities.

-- Catechism of the Catholic Church
SECTION TWO, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

Tim Staples explains his position.

Though the commandments are said to be "ten" in Exodus 34:28, they are not numbered by the inspired authors of Sacred Scripture. If you count the "you shall nots" along with the two positive commandments of keeping holy the Sabbath and honoring father and mother, you end up with 13 commandments. So the actual numbering of the commandments depends upon which "you shall nots" you lump together as one commandment and which ones you separate. And in the end, which "you shall nots" you lump together depends upon your theology.

-- Tim Staples
Catholic Answers
"Did the Catholic Church Change the Ten Commandments?"
4/28/2013

(In all fairness, one of the "shall nots" is actually a negation of one of the positive commands, (Exodus 20:10) i.e. to keep the Sabbath of the Lord holy, but maybe I am just being too picky.)

The commandments that God spoke are ten based upon God's statement that ten are in total. Reading the commandments from the scriptures, man can collectively ascertain what the ten are by collecting them together according to the subject matter.

Most Christian believers classify the first two commandments into the two subjects of worshiping God only and the making and worshiping of idols. Catholics, instead, combine the first two commandments into one based upon the subjectivity of idolatry. The Catholic position is looked upon with much contempt by other Christians, for they see it as a front for the widespread use of statues in their churches and cathedrals.

The same application applies to the last two Catholic commandments. The Catholic Church's understanding of the Hebrew words translated into "covet" and "desire" drives their reasoning to separate God's commands into two. Another driving force is their respect towards women not to be the subject of property. Other Christian believers see coveting as the whole of the subject matter, hence one commandment.

With the remaining commandments being equal in allotment between Catholics and other Christian sects, the controversy truly centers around the subject of idol usage (statues and icons) in the Catholic Church. Coveting is not necessarily the main issue since both Christian divisions agree on the statement of the scriptures. Dividing them is still a disagreement, though.

Catholic Key Point #4 - The Catholic Church's Authority

4. The Catholic Church has the sole authority to give God's people an authoritative list known as the ten commandments.

This viewpoint is subjective and solely of the Catholic Church believing they are the one True Church established by Jesus Christ upon the Apostle Peter.

I, for one, will have to disagree with that premise for a plethora of scriptural reasons. The majority of which can be quantified by my statement of beliefs page.

Catholic Key Point #5 - Women Are Not Property

5. The last two commandments, coveting your neighbor's wife and coveting your neighbor's property, are two separate commandments. Women are not property, and Deuteronomy 5 reveals the distinction of "coveting" one's wife versus "desiring" one's property.

Concerning listing the ten commandments, the controversy resides at the beginning and ending. Since the first two key points already cover the first two commandments, let us look at the last two commandments and the Catholic perspective.

Let us look at the scriptures involved.

Exodus 20:17 - AFV

17.   You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's."

Deuteronomy 5:21 - AFV

21.   And you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor shall you covet your neighbor's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his donkey, or any thing that is your neighbor's.'

Apart from a slight change in the listing order of the wife and house, the only other alteration recognized is the addition of the neighbor's field in Deuteronomy 5:21. This additional item in the list should be of no concern because it falls under the final listing of anything that is your neighbor's. It was undoubtedly given in Deuteronomy because of the second giving of the Law before they were about to go into the Promised Land. The Catholic argument favoring the splitting of the last commandment into two separate commandments mainly centers on the issue of the neighbor's wife and the English words "covet" and "desire" translated from Hebrew in the English Standard Version (ESV) bible and other versions.

In his Catholic response article, Tim Staples' explains the Catholic division of the tenth commandment (summarized):

1. The Protestant listing of coveting one's wife parallel with the property of one's neighbor ultimately equates women with property.
2. Exodus 20 "appears" to equate women (wives) and servants as property.
3. Genesis 1:26-27 reveals "essential" equality in man and woman by God at their creation. Though present in the Old Testament, this revelation is not as unambiguous in the New. Exodus 20 does not add clarity to this issue.
4. God gave His revelation to men a little at a time in the Old Testament as they received it.
5. Though God revealed this revelation of the essential equality of man and women to ancient people, they did not have the same understanding as we do oday through Christ.
6. God helped them along in this gradual development of understanding. Deuteronomy demonstrates this at the time of its writing.
7. The author of Deuteronomy makes a sharper distinction between "coveting" one's wife versus "desiring" one's property, making the difference between the two undeniable.

To condense the summary points above even further:

1. God made man and woman with essential equality and revealed it from the beginning (at their creation).
2. God gave this revelation to His people in the Old Testament in a "piecemeal fashion" as they were able to receive it till Christ should come, bringing to light the fullness of the revelation of God.
3. The difference between the writing of Exodus and Deuteronomy demonstrates this gradual revelation.

It is undeniable that God does give man revelation a little at a time and not all at once. But within that revelation, one must understand that God's Truth does not change. (Biblical Proofs I.i.)

The concern here is this:

• What is the "essential" equality of men and women?
• How does that perception apply when reading the ten commandments about coveting?

When God created Adam and Eve on the sixth day, they were male and female. Both possessed a "form" of equality in their creation towards God in that:

• They were both created on the same day.
• They were both the first of their sex (male and female) [Yes, liberals, cringe at that very thought.].
• Both were God's children made in the flesh after His image and likeness.
• Both possessed a portion of God's character (emotions, thoughts, etc.)
• They both had possession of the earth and dominance of the animals.

On the contrary, Adam and Eve had certain qualities and attributes associated with their sexes that thoroughly defined them separately. At the time of their creation, it is evident that Adam was created first and Eve second (from Adam's side), putting the onus upon Adam, the male, with leadership characteristics and obligations, while other responsibilities are upon Eve. All of this becomes a little more evident in the punishments given to them by God after their first sin, eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Unto Adam, the ground becomes cursed (man's role in working the land and providing), and unto Eve, childbearing becomes sorrowful (towards the female's role in bearing life). In ancillary words concerning Eve's punishment, God states that her husband shall rule (to rule, have dominion, reign) over her. (Genesis 3:16)

Remember, though the serpent deceived Eve, Adam was not. (I Timothy 2:13-14) From Adam, sin entered the world and affected everyone. (Romans 5:12)

The length of time Adam and Eve spent with God in the Garden of Eden is not evident, but it would be sufficient to say God taught them enough about the family structure to procreate the human race and run it in a Godly fashion. God instructed them about the Sabbath, the Garden, worshiping Him, and many other relatable things for their good. It would be doubtful that God failed to let Adam and Eve know of their roles within the structure of family and society and how to love one another.

Since Adam and Eve are the first of the creation of man, they would be the most ancient of all people. After their expulsion from the Garden of Eden, their human endeavors would be primitive, but God would not have left them without instruction over some aspects of their humanity. Would God not have taught them some semblance of how a husband and wife are to love one another and the family structure? Would not this be a salient factor for the first family on earth from which ALL families derive?

In addition, concerning God's instruction for man, would God deliver His truth to any of His people in a "primitive" fashion only to mature the text later in time? Or is God consistent? (Biblical Proofs I.i.)

Read the following, and you will know why I bring this up.

In a similar way, though God revealed the essential equality of man and woman very early in salvation history (Gen. 1:26-27), this revelation was given by God to an ancient people who did not have the same understanding of the essential equality of man and woman we so often take for granted given the fullness of revelation we have enjoyed in the New Covenant for 2,000 years. God did not expect his people to change immediately, nor did he give them the fullness of the revelation that we have in Christ all at once; rather, he helped them along as we"ve said. In fact, we can see this development of understanding even in the Old Testament itself. We cited the earlier version of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20, but notice the change by the time God gave his people Deuteronomy:

Neither shall you covet your neighbor"s wife; and you shall not desire your neighbor"s house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox. Or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor"s.

-- Tim Staples
Catholic Answers
"Did the Catholic Church Change the Ten Commandments?"
4/28/2013
(Emphasis mine)

2. The Exodus 20 version of the Decalogue, the command concerning a neighbor's wife is mixed in among a catalogue of his property, destroying that heightened parallelism. Also, the Exodus version is presented to us as the more primitive of the two, making it more normative.

3. The Exodus 20 version of the Decalogue uses only <one> verb—"covet" (Hebrew, <chamad>)—to refer to setting one's heart on either wife or property. Again, the Exodus version is the more primitive, making it more normative.

-- James Akin
EWTN
"The Division of the Ten Commandments"
1996

A few questions:

• From Adam until the writing of Deuteronomy, were men looking upon their wives as mere property, or did Godly men see their wives as something equal and special that belonged to them within the marriage covenant?
• Could it be said of the patriarchs: Noah, Abraham, Issac, Jacob, or Moses, that they perceived their wives as property?
• Did Enoch, who walked with God, see his wife as property? (Genesis 5:22)
• How could that ever be the case for such patriarchs who were in God's favor?
• Are not the words of the New Testament from the same God Who breathed us His words in the Old? (John 1; Hebrews 1) Does God change?

Indeed, God does not change. (Biblical Proofs I.i.)

Just as in the New Testament, the Old Testament teaches us about the roles of men and women, as husbands and wives. It also teaches us of God's ordinances and judgments for specific situations.

• In marriages, the dowry of a virgin is always the price paid for a female, never a male. (Exodus 22:16-17; I Samuel 18:20-27)
• Concerning male Hebrew servants, God's judgment treated their wives as ownership of either the male servant or the male servant's master, depending on the circumstances. (Exodus 21:1-6)
• If a man sells his daughter as a maidservant, she is entrusted to her master's care, betrothed as a wife. Whether in her master's or his son's care, proper treatment is entitled to the maidservant in food, clothing, and duty of marriage, lest her freedom is given her without monetary payment. (Exodus 21:7-11)
• A master faces punishment if a manservant or maidservant is struck and dies at their hand. No punishment ensues if the servant lives for the servant is his money (his property and livelihood). (Exodus 21:20-21)
• All priests from the tribe of Levi are males, not females. (Exodus 27:21; 28:1, 41)
• Many of the implications of adultery and wickedness in Leviticus 20 are from the male viewpoint. If in consent, both would be guilty of the sin. (Leviticus 20:10-21)
• A non-Levite individual, hired servant of a priest, or a stranger is not allowed to eat of the holy things of God. If a priest's daughter belongs to a stranger (through marriage), she is no longer allowed to eat it. (Separated from her father's house, this now shows her new ownership by the male stranger and attachment to his house.) The daughter may eat it again only by returning to her father's house, divorced or widowed, having no children from the union. (Leviticus 22:10-13)
• From war, a woman that God gave into the hands of Israel, caught captive, endured proper treatment if taken as a wife (with love and respect). If the Israelite husband chooses to let her go because of undelight, she is not to be a slave or sold. (Deuteronomy 21:10-14)
• Regardless, if a husband has more than one wife, and one is loved more than another, the firstborn child of all his children has the preeminence. (Deuteronomy 21:15-17)
• As women are the bearer of children, God favors their purity (token of virginity). God's laws, statutes, and ordinances to Israel reveal this. (Deuteronomy 22:13-21)
• In adultery, the guilty parties receive punishment according to God's judgment. If circumstances arise that the woman had no savior to save her from the ordeal of a rape, she is not pronounced guilty. A virgin girl, if not engaged, is to become the wife of a man who lays hold upon her. Judgment then falls upon the man to pay the girl's father. (Deuteronomy 22:22-29) (Notice the virgin woman (v.23) belongs to the man as a wife (v.24) even when engaged.)
• If a woman has several husbands (at different times) and the second husband divorces her or dies, the first husband cannot marry her again for a wife. (Deuteronomy 24:1-4) Notice the wording of "a man has taken a wife" (v.1) and "she goes and becomes another man's" (v.2), showing a sense of ownership.
• Since the man engenders children, God states that a brother should raise children to his deceased brother if his brother dies before engendering children of his own. (Deuteronomy 25:5-10)
• Notice the language of relationships in the Bible: men "take" a wife, and women are "given" for a wife.
• Notice that men (at times) are allowed more than one wife, but women only have one husband (at a time).

From God's Laws, statutes, judgments, and ordinances in the Old Testament, when a woman is married to a man, she belongs to him and no one else. No other man is permitted to have her as a wife while she is in that marriage covenant. Conversely, a man also belongs to a woman who marries him within the same covenant.

So what does the New Testament teach us?

The New Testament teaches the proper relationship between husbands and wives.

• In all things, there is an order of respect, even in marriage. Paul stated, "The Head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man, and the Head of Christ is God." (I Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 5:23)
• A wife is to have reverence and subjection to her husband, even as Sarah did for Abraham. (I Peter 3:1-6; Ephesians 5:22, 33)
• If a woman is married, then her husband would be the head of the woman. Ephesians 5:22-24) According to the principle outlined by Christ, a wife (or husband) should love God more (in comparison) than one's spouse. (Matthew 10:34-39) In spite of this fact, husbands and wives should not lack their responsibilities towards one another in the marriage.
• A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the Church. (I Peter 3:7; Ephesians 5:23-33)
• Concerning the husband and wife, both are to have power over each other's bodies, for their bodies are no longer just theirs. (I Corinthians 7:1-5)
• A wife is not to separate from her husband. If she does, she is to remain unmarried. If she returns, she is to reconcile back to her husband. A husband is not to divorce his wife. (I Corinthians 7:10-11)
• A husband may not divorce an unbelieving wife if she is inclined to stay with him. But, if they separate, let them separate. (I Corinthians 7:12-16)
• A wife may not divorce an unbelieving husband if he is inclined to stay with her. But, if they separate, let them separate. (I Corinthians 7:12-16)
• By God's law, a wife is bound to her (one) husband until death, for it is a marriage covenant. (Romans 7:1-3; I Corinthians 7:39-40)
• In the Old Testament, some men had more than one wife, but women only had one husband to themselves. (Genesis 29:1-30; Exodus 21:9-11; (Deuteronomy 21:15; 1 Chronicles 14:3) The New Testament is more prone to one wife per husband as in the beginning in Genesis (I Corinthians 7:2).
• Widows are to be cared for. If a widow is still young, she should marry again. (I Timothy 5:9-15)

If salvation pertains to patriarchs like Abraham and Moses, would not they have kept what Christ taught in the New Testament concerning husbands and wives even in their lifetimes? God's Word does not change.

A husband belongs to his wife, and a wife belongs to her husband. A woman cannot be owned or coveted by another man if she is someone's wife, for she is her husband's property. Men take wives; women are taken as a wife by a man. It is undeniable that there is a sense of possession in marriage.

Let us look at the words translated "covet" and "desire" in the commandments. Notice how different translations render it, and not all in the same manner. Observe how some translate the command you shall not "covet" your neighbor's wife, while others say you shall not "desire." In addition, some say you should not "desire" your neighbor's property, while others say you shall not "covet."

Deuteronomy 5:21 - KJV

21.   Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour's.

Deuteronomy 5:21 - NKJV

21.   'You shall not covet your neighbor's wife; and you shall not desire your neighbor's house, his field, his male servant, his female servant, his ox, his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.'

Deuteronomy 5:21 - NLT

21.   "You must not covet your neighbor's wife. You must not covet your neighbor's house or land, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.

Deuteronomy 5:21 - NIV

21.   "You shall not covet your neighbor's wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor's house or land, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

Deuteronomy 5:21 - ESV

21.   "'And you shall not covet your neighbor's wife. And you shall not desire your neighbor's house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.'

Deuteronomy 5:21 - CSB

21.   "Do not covet your neighbor's wife or desire your neighbor's house, his field, his male or female slave, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

Deuteronomy 5:21 - NASB20

21.   'You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor desire your neighbor's house, his field, his male slave or his female slave, his ox, his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.'

Deuteronomy 5:21 - NASB95

21.   'You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, and you shall not desire your neighbor's house, his field or his male servant or his female servant, his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.'

Deuteronomy 5:21 - LSB

21.   'You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, and you shall not desire your neighbor's house, his field, or his male slave or his female slave, his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.'

Deuteronomy 5:21 - NET

21.   You must not desire another man's wife, nor should you crave his house, his field, his male and female servants, his ox, his donkey, or anything else he owns."

Deuteronomy 5:21 - RSV

21.   "'Neither shall you covet your neighbor's wife; and you shall not desire your neighbor's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or anything that is your neighbor's.'

Deuteronomy 5:21 - ASV

21.   Neither shalt thou covet thy neighbor's wife; neither shalt thou desire thy neighbor's house, his field, or his man-servant, or his maid-servant, his ox, or his ass, or anything that is thy neighbor's.

Deuteronomy 5:21 - YLT

21.   'Thou dost not desire thy neighbour's wife; nor dost thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, and his man-servant, and his handmaid, his ox, and his ass, and anything which is thy neighbour's.

Deuteronomy 5:21 - DBY

21.   Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, nor his bondman, nor his handmaid, his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbour's.

Deuteronomy 5:21 - WEB

21.   Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbor's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbor's house, his field, or his man-servant, or his maid-servant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbor's.

Deuteronomy 5:21 - HNV

21.   "Neither shall you covet your neighbor's wife; neither shall you desire your neighbor's house, his field, or his man-servant, or his maid-servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's."

A Faithful Version translates both words as "covet."

Exodus 20:17 - AFV

17.   You shall not covet^H2530 your neighbor"s house. You shall not covet^H2530 your neighbor"s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor"s."

Deuteronomy 5:21 - AFV

17.   And you shall not covet^H2530 your neighbor's wife, nor shall you covet^H183 your neighbor's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his donkey, or any thing that is your neighbor's.

Irrelevant to the translations, the Hebrew words translated "covet" and "desire" (H2530 & H183) are below:

Again, read Tim Staples answer on the difference between the commandments listed in Exodus verses Deuteronomy. I added his next statement that followed.

In a similar way, though God revealed the essential equality of man and woman very early in salvation history (Gen. 1:26-27), this revelation was given by God to an ancient people who did not have the same understanding of the essential equality of man and woman we so often take for granted given the fullness of revelation we have enjoyed in the New Covenant for 2,000 years. God did not expect his people to change immediately, nor did he give them the fullness of the revelation that we have in Christ all at once; rather, he helped them along as we"ve said. In fact, we can see this development of understanding even in the Old Testament itself. We cited the earlier version of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20, but notice the change by the time God gave his people Deuteronomy:

Neither shall you covet your neighbor"s wife; and you shall not desire your neighbor"s house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox. Or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor"s.

The inspired author of Deuteronomy now makes the distinction between wife and property sharper by using two different Hebrew words for "covet" and "desire" and by only using the word "covet" with regard to the wife. The two separate commandments now become undeniable.

-- Tim Staples
Catholic Answers
"Did the Catholic Church Change the Ten Commandments?"
4/28/2013
(Emphasis mine)

The Catholic argument presented is that God changed the meaning of "covet" towards a neighbor's belongings in contrast to their wife. The Hebrew words translated above show a different word used in Deuteronomy than in Exodus. The words pose little difference in the definition of wanting something that is not yours, for they both define lust in this context. God is not contradictory in His word. If Deuteronomy 5:21 is more clarified than Exodus 20:17, how can the latter be wrong? Is God not consistent? Do Catholics firmly believe that God was revealing more details concerning His truth to the Israelites, slowly over 40 years in the wilderness, while altering the meaning slightly of a previous quote? Could not Isreal understand God's message in Exodus when presented to them?

Though the Catholic Church combines the first two commandments based on one thought, idolatry, and separates the last commandment upon the translated words for "covet" and "desire", the opposite is what should be applied. When it comes to the last commandment, the thought of coveting anything that belongs to your neighbor is derived. A neighbor's wife is the property of the wife's husband and no one else. In the same sense, the neighbor's husband is the property of the husband's wife. If one is offended at the thought of a spouse being the property of the one they married, they need to go over the scriptures above. Scriptures strongly imply such. In all marriages, both spouses are to be loved and respected in the manner God specified in the Old and New Testaments.

The Catholic Church's stance on its version of the ten commandments based upon its need to justify the worship and the use of idols and icons is wrong. The silent expulsion of the second commandment and the excuse to imply it within the first while splitting the last commandment into two reveal this obvious intention of defying God's authority without repentance. In this regard alone, the Catholic Church is guilty of idolatry in its teachings and practices.

When it comes to the belief of how the Ten Commandments are listed, I will go with the listing, as stated at the beginning, and not the version of the Catholic Church.