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17 votes
Accepted

Why do some Christians object to images of Jesus?

Those who argue against images of Jesus do so primarily in two ways: (1) that any image of Christ is necessarily inadequate and false and (2) that images of Christ inspire worship and devalue the Word ...
Nathaniel is protesting's user avatar
12 votes
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How do Protestants keep the Sabbath?

Within Protestantism there are many views regarding the proper way to keep the Sabbath, even among those who generally agree that Sunday is the most appropriate day to observe it. I'll provide a ...
Nathaniel is protesting's user avatar
12 votes
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In Catholicism is salvation by grace alone or by following the ten commandments and confession?

This is more complicated than you might expect, since Catholicism and Protestantism (which often takes a "salvation by grace alone" approach) can have slightly different approaches to ...
Matt Gutting's user avatar
  • 18.3k
9 votes

Why aren't the two greatest commandments part of the Decalogue?

Jesus had a way of calling attention to that which underpinned the Law as the Jews were accustomed to viewing it. For instance: “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not ...
Mike Borden's user avatar
  • 13.1k
8 votes

Meaning of the original Hebrew of "thou shall not" in the ten commandments

The syntax of the Hebrew is consistent with other prohibitions throughout the legal texts of the Torah. That is, the negative particle לא (lo) is followed by an imperfective verb. Although ...
Susan's user avatar
  • 4,302
8 votes
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Adam and Eve, and the 10 Commandments

It is a commonly held belief among Christians that transgression of any of the 10 commandments leads to death. Therefore since transgression of any of them is the same as transgressing all of them. In ...
BYE's user avatar
  • 13.2k
8 votes
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When is it morally acceptable to lie?

The 9th commandment (Ex 20:16) is about being a false witness (perjury) which implicates others to be judged guilty in a court setting. The commandment does not prohibit all types of lying. Being a ...
GratefulDisciple's user avatar
7 votes
Accepted

What is LDS policy/teaching on not taking God's name in vain in languages where it is extremely common?

It may be helpful first to understand exactly what is mean by the word "vain." The NOAD defines vain as "producing no result, useless" and "having no meaning or likelihood of fulfillment." The use ...
intcreator's user avatar
6 votes

Origin of the (mis)translation "Ten Commandments"

"Ten Commandments" is not a mistranslation of עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדְּבָרִים, but is justified based on the Hebrew and Greek Bibles themselves. The meaning of דָּבָר in the Hebrew Bible In the Hebrew ...
Lee Woofenden's user avatar
6 votes
Accepted

Has the prohibition against construction and veneration of statues and images been abrogated?

This is about correct teaching and the meanings of latria and worship. TL;DR(1): if the bishops do not ensure proper teaching regarding religious images, they let the faithful down. That's where the ...
KorvinStarmast's user avatar
6 votes
Accepted

How do Reformed Churches justify applying the 4th commandment to the Lord's Day?

This a tricky yet very interesting question and I would vote +2 if I could. Basically from what I understand, although not perceived as a strict law, in the same way that the Sabbath was instituted ...
Mike's user avatar
  • 31.7k
6 votes

What was written on the two stone tablets of Moses?

Especially if we put together the parallel accounts of the giving of the Ten Commandments in Exodus and Deuteronomy, the Bible text itself is quite clear that what was written on the stone tablets was ...
Lee Woofenden's user avatar
6 votes
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Do the 10 commandments forbid desire?

I think your answers lays in the New Testament where Jesus explained how "10 commandments" work in practical use and not just in theory (also today's problem, not just Pharisees in Jesus's time) - ...
Leonardo's user avatar
5 votes

Do Catholics consider saying "Jeez(e)!" to be a violation of the Second Commandment?

The term "using God's name in vain" comes from the Ten Commandments, which were given to Moses in the Old Testament: "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain" (Exodus 20:7, KJV). ...
Samuel Bradshaw's user avatar
5 votes

How are the bread and wine explained by those who forbid images of Jesus?

All that God has made, expresses himself. The creation of luminaries in the heavens expresses something about Light. And God is Light; and in him is no darkness at all. The creation of vegetation, the ...
Nigel J's user avatar
  • 21.8k
5 votes

What (if anything) are the differences between God's Will, Commands of Jesus, Ten Commandments?

The entire bible deals with God's Purpose, God's will and God's resolving of all matters within that compass. The entire bible is a progressive revelation of the will of God and is a progressive ...
Nigel J's user avatar
  • 21.8k
4 votes
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Is there a theological lesson (modern or traditional) in who carved the tablets for each set of the Ten Commandments?

I can answer this question from the perspective of the theology of Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772), and the denominations that accept his theology. This answer is extracted from my article, "How God ...
Lee Woofenden's user avatar
4 votes

How does the "church" reconcile breaking the 2nd commandments religiously?

For that vast majority of Christians that do not prohibit images, this is an easy question to answer. The original wording of the 10 commandments did not prohibit all images - it was intended to ...
DJClayworth's user avatar
  • 30.9k
4 votes

If the Holy Trinity is defined as three distinct faces, people or persons of God, does this not directly contradict the first commandment?

If God is un-created and infinitely and eternally perfect then it is reasonable that He possesses uncreated, infinite, eternal integrity. If this is so then there can be no ontological difference ...
Mike Borden's user avatar
  • 13.1k
3 votes

Is sharing "Fake News" and gossiping "Fake News" a mortal sin? (Catholic perspective)

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. The Eighth Commandment condemns lying. Because God is regarded as the author of all truth, the Church believes that humans are obligated to ...
Grasper's user avatar
  • 5,349
3 votes

Adam and Eve, and the 10 Commandments

If you really insist on the point of view: You shall have no other gods before Me. Easy -- Eve allowed the serpent's advice to supersede the commands of God as she understood them. And Adam allowed ...
Joel Rees's user avatar
  • 286
3 votes

According to Catholicism do any of the Ten Commandments directly relate to tax evasion?

The Catholic Church, which does generally claim to follow the Bible, should follow the commands in the New Testament that specifically relate to tax evasion. Examples that weren't explicitly ...
Alex Strasser's user avatar
3 votes

According to Catholicism do any of the Ten Commandments directly relate to tax evasion?

As a personal note, I find it interesting that God specifically listed taxes as a reason Israel should not desire a king. Samuel's Warning Against Kings 10 So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to ...
user46322's user avatar
3 votes

Are the Ten Commandments in OT arranged in the order of their importance to the believer?

There is no biblical basis for the claim that the Ten Commandments are arranged in order of importance, and to my knowledge, there is no Roman Catholic teaching on the subject either. There are a ...
Ben Mordecai's user avatar
  • 4,906
3 votes
Accepted

Why in the Roman Catholic Church does the sixth commandment differ between languages?

The official Catechism in Spanish for the 6th commandment starts in the same way as the version in English: «No cometerás adulterio» (Ex 20, 14; Dt 5, 17). «Habéis oído que se dijo: “No cometerás ...
ltcomdata's user avatar
  • 943
3 votes

What is LDS policy/teaching on not taking God's name in vain in languages where it is extremely common?

You can say the Lords name in many languages with out it being in vain or offensive. LDS consider any use of the Lords name that does not show Him proper respect to be in vain. In English there are ...
ShemSeger's user avatar
  • 8,835
3 votes

Has the prohibition against construction and veneration of statues and images been abrogated?

It seems like you want to embrace Iconoclasm, but cannot bring yourself to leave the Barque of Peter. Unfortunately, however, I cannot write anything not backed up by sources, so I fear it will be ...
Wtrmute's user avatar
  • 2,785
3 votes

Adam and Eve, and the 10 Commandments

You're probably wanting something a little more than this (I personally find it a little unsatisfying as an answer), but I think the point at least needs to be made that as James writes: ...whoever ...
bruised reed's user avatar
  • 12.5k
3 votes

How are the bread and wine explained by those who forbid images of Jesus?

I believe the answer is self-explanatory in the first sentence of the answer to 109: "The sins forbidden in the second commandment are, all devising, counseling, commanding, using, and any wise ...
Brant Calkin's user avatar

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