the ten commandments

[Searching_for_Christ]

Why do we Lutherans have our commandments ordered differently?

 

[doulos_tou_kuriou]

we follow the traditional Catholic ordering. It is actually the protestants who went with a different numbering.
It is also worth saying that modern day Jews also have a different numbering, so there are currently 3 claims for the Decalogue.
In regards to the protestant-Lutheran differences, it basically comes down to whether you think the two covets or idolatry and no other gods that should be combined. Although the difference has an obvious effect on church architecture.

 

[Resha Caner]

Why do we Lutherans have our commandments ordered differently?

Because the Bible doesn't explicitly enumerate them. IOT, Scripture doesn't say, "Commandment One is ..." So, there is some debate as to how the ten were supposedly broken up on the original tablets. We obviously don't have those originals anymore.

Personally, I think the fact that God didn't enumerate them is telling.

 

[Luther073082]

we follow the traditional Catholic ordering. It is actually the protestants who went with a different numbering.
It is also worth saying that modern day Jews also have a different numbering, so there are currently 3 claims for the Decalogue.
In regards to the protestant-Lutheran differences, it basically comes down to whether you think the two covets or idolatry and no other gods that should be combined. Although the difference has an obvious effect on church architecture.

This is correct, the traditional numbering of the Roman Catholic church and the Eastern Orthodox church is completly different from the way the protestants have revised the numbering.

We basically went with the numbering that was handed down to us from the past.

 

[bach90]

The numbering that Lutherans and Roman Catholics come to us from Augustine ordered them. Augustine based the ordering on how they were ordered and recited by Jews in the synagogue service.

 

[MDIVGRAD]

Because the Bible doesn't explicitly enumerate them. IOT, Scripture doesn't say, "Commandment One is ..." So, there is some debate as to how the ten were supposedly broken up on the original tablets. We obviously don't have those originals anymore.

Personally, I think the fact that God didn't enumerate them is telling.

That being said, it is interesting that those we number 1-3 in the Lutheran church have to do with our relationship to God and the numbers we give to 4-10 are those having to do with our relationship to our neighbor.

 

[filosofer]

This is correct, the traditional numbering of the Roman Catholic church and the Eastern Orthodox church is completly different from the way the protestants have revised the numbering.

We basically went with the numbering that was handed down to us from the past.

Let’s be a little more accurate.

The differing in the numbering system for the commandments precedes the Reformation by at least 1,000 years. The Orthodox community uses the numbering scheme that was eventually followed by the Protestants. Lutherans follow the Roman Catholic numbering.

But there is a further point regarding Lutheran views (especially Martin Luther) concerning the commandments. The ten commandments as given in Exodus 20 are specially directed to the Israelites (later Jews), but was not for all nations. When Jesus Christ fulfilled the commandments as an expression of the Law, Luther commented “Do not bring Moses to me, because he is done away with in Jesus Christ.” Thus, when Luther looked at the ten commandments, he saw that they are only applicable insofar as they reflected the natural law of creation, which applies to all humans. He then could revise the wording of the ten commandments without the “fear of “destroying them”. Hence it is not just a numbering scheme issue, it is much broader, deeper, and more significant for our understanding of Law and Gospel, creation, etc.

 

[Searching_for_Christ]

Why was graven images omitted?

 

[doulos_tou_kuriou]

Why was graven images omitted?

Not so much "ommitted" as it is counted among "You shall have no other gods", similar to how the protestants don't "omit" one of the covet commandments, they count them together. And ironically Jews count images and gods together and the covets together and include the introductory phrase "I am the LORD your God..." among the numbers of the decalogue.

 

[filosofer]

Why was graven images omitted?

A suggestion: Read Luther's section on the Commandments in the Large Catechism