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Did the Catholic Church change the Ten Commandments? This question has sparked debate for centuries among Bible scholars and believers. The Ten Commandments are foundational moral laws given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, forming the core of Judeo-Christian ethics. Yet, when comparing the biblical version found in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 to the Catholic Catechism, clear differences appear. This article explores how the Catholic Church Ten Commandments differ from Scripture, why those changes matter, and what the Bible teaches about preserving God’s law.
This article explores how the Catholic Church altered the presentation and arrangement of the Ten Commandments, the implications of those changes, and why it matters. It examines historical, biblical, and doctrinal perspectives using Bible references.
The Biblical Ten Commandments
Before analyzing the changes, it is important to understand the commandments as originally recorded in the Bible. In Exodus 20:1-17, the Ten Commandments are as follows:
- You shall have no other gods before Me. (Exodus 20:3)
- You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow 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 to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. (Exodus 20:4-6)
- You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. (Exodus 20:7)
- Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. (Exodus 20:8-11)
- Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. (Exodus 20:12)
- You shall not murder. (Exodus 20:13)
- You shall not commit adultery. (Exodus 20:14)
- You shall not steal. (Exodus 20:15)
- You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (Exodus 20:16)
- You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s. (Exodus 20:17)
These commandments are repeated nearly verbatim in Deuteronomy 5:6-21, reaffirming their importance and divine origin.
The Catholic Version of the Ten Commandments
The Catechism of the Catholic Church presents the Ten Commandments in a format that differs from the biblical text. This adapted version is often taught in Catholic catechism classes and printed in religious materials. The Roman Catholic Ten Commandments are typically summarized as follows:
- I am the Lord your God; you shall not have strange gods before me.
- You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
- Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.
- Honor your father and your mother.
- You shall not kill.
- You shall not commit adultery.
- You shall not steal.
- You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
- You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
- You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.
At first glance, these may appear similar to the biblical version, but careful comparison reveals significant changes.
Removal of the Second Commandment
One of the most noticeable alterations is the omission of the Second Commandment found in Exodus 20:4-6:
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow 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 to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.” (Exodus 20:4-5 NKJV).
This commandment clearly prohibits the making and worshiping of images. The Catholic Church has historically used statues and images in worship, particularly of Mary, saints, and Jesus. This omission avoids addressing the Church’s use of religious icons and practices that is violating this commandment.
Alteration of the Sabbath Commandment
Another key change is the alteration of the Fourth Commandment, which concerns the Sabbath. In the Bible, it is written:
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.” (Exodus 20:8-10 NKJV).
The biblical Sabbath is the seventh day of the week—Saturday. However, the Catholic Church shortened and reworded this commandment to say: “Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.” In Catholic doctrine, this “Lord’s Day” refers to Sunday, the first day of the week, which they believe commemorates the resurrection of Jesus.
Historically, the Catholic Church claims authority to change the day of worship from Saturday to Sunday. This change is acknowledged by Catholic sources, which argue that the Church, guided by tradition and the authority given by Christ, had the power to make such a change. However, the Bible nowhere authorizes this shift. The original commandment emphasizes rest and worship on the seventh day, not the first.
Division of the Tenth Commandment
To maintain the traditional number of ten commandments, the Catholic Church divides the Tenth Commandment into two separate commandments:
- The Ninth Commandment becomes: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.”
- The Tenth Commandment becomes: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.”
However, Exodus 20:17 reads:
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.” (NKJV)
This verse includes all items in one commandment against coveting. Nowhere in the text is it divided into two separate laws. The Catholic division appears to serve the purpose of preserving the number ten after omitting the commandment on graven images.
Historical Origins of the Change
The change of the Ten Commandments in the Catholic Church has historical roots. St. Augustine of Hippo (354–430 A.D.) played a significant role in reshaping the order of the commandments. He combined the first two commandments (no other gods and no images) into one and then split the last commandment into two. The Catholic Church adopted his arrangement, which has been passed down through catechisms and religious teachings.
The early church fathers and councils debated the structure of the commandments. By the time of the Council of Trent (1545–1563), the Catholic Church firmly adopted Augustine’s version in response to the Protestant Reformation. Reformers like Martin Luther challenged the Catholic practices of image veneration but the Church reaffirmed its position through catechisms that used Augustine’s arrangement.
The Role of Tradition in Catholic Teaching
The Catholic Church holds that both Scripture and tradition are equal sources of authority. This view is expressed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which states that the deposit of faith is found in both the Bible and Sacred Tradition. As a result, the Church believes it has the authority to interpret and even change God’s law and certain teachings in a way that supports its theological and liturgical heritage.
Protestants, on the other hand, adhere to sola scriptura, the belief that the Bible alone is the ultimate authority in matters of faith. Thus, altering the Ten Commandments is seen as undermining the authority of Scripture.
The Impact of These Changes
The Catholic version of the Ten Commandments has had significant implications for Christian education and doctrine. Many Catholic believers are unaware of the differences between the biblical text and the catechism summary. This has led to widespread misunderstanding about the biblical prohibition against image worship.
Furthermore, by simplifying or omitting the commandments related to idolatry and changing the Sabbath commandment, the Catholic Church has made it easier to incorporate images, statues, and Sunday worship into its practices without directly challenging the conscience of the average churchgoer. This clearly compromises the purity of worship that God demands.
Defending the Biblical Standard
The Bible frequently warns against altering God’s Word. In Deuteronomy 4:2, God says:
“You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.” (NKJV)
Similarly, Proverbs 30:5-6 warns:
“Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.” (NKJV)
The New Testament affirms this principle in Revelation 22:18-19, which warns against adding to or taking away from the words of prophecy. While this passage specifically concerns the book of Revelation, the principle reflects God’s general desire for His Word to be kept intact.
Jesus and the Commandments
Jesus upheld the authority of the Ten Commandments. In Matthew 5:17-19, He declared:
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (NKJV)
Jesus repeatedly quoted the commandments in His teachings, affirming their ongoing relevance. In Matthew 19:17-19, He reminded a young man that keeping the commandments was essential for eternal life. His emphasis on love did not negate the commandments but rather deepened their moral significance.
In Mark 12:30-31, The Ten Commandments are summarized by the two great commandments:
“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (NKJV)
Conclusion
The changes made by the Catholic Church to the Ten Commandments reflect a combination of historical tradition, theological change, and ecclesiastical authority. By removing the commandment against graven images, altering the Sabbath commandment, and dividing the commandment on coveting, the Church altered God’s original structure found in the Bible.
While the Catholic Church justifies its version through tradition and the authority it claims, a biblical examination reveals clear discrepancies. For believers committed to the authority of Scripture, these changes are not minor but significant, especially when they affect the understanding and practice of God’s moral law.
In the end, each person is called to examine the Scriptures carefully. As Acts 17:11 says, the Bereans “searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” (NKJV) Faithful followers of Christ are urged to do the same, aligning their beliefs and practices with the unchanging Word of God.