Through the pure and natural light of reason, how can we know the 10 commandments?

[Adjac]

is there nothing within those commandments that we can't know through the pure and natural light of reason? I know God wants us to know it with ease, that is with facility, with accuracy and without the admixture of error so that we can have certainty in our life. maybe with exception to the day on when we should worship

 

[timothyu]

The ten commandments are totally covered by Jesus' two commandments to put the will of God before man's thus to love all including enemy as self.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

is there nothing within those commandments that we can't know through the pure and natural light of reason? I know God wants us to know it with ease, that is with facility, with accuracy and without the admixture of error so that we can have certainty in our life. maybe with exception to the day on when we should worship

Similar commands existed in the same era, but there would have been different laws for commoners and leader types. The mosaic law was different in that it was one law for all of the people, citizen or foreigner including the 10 commandments.

Since current nations do not even aspire to this biblical ideal of having one law for all of the people, whether citizens or not - it would be illogical to conclude that the rationalism of the 1800s or the current century would lead to the 10 commandments.

 

[Aussie Pete]

is there nothing within those commandments that we can't know through the pure and natural light of reason? I know God wants us to know it with ease, that is with facility, with accuracy and without the admixture of error so that we can have certainty in our life. maybe with exception to the day on when we should worship

Who said that reason is pure? Not God's word. His thoughts are not our thoughts. Man's ways seem right to him but they end up in death. Trust in the Lord... do not rely on your own understanding. The Bible is a spiritual book for spiritual people. It is not an instruction manual for living. That is the error made by the Pharisees who condemned Lord Jesus for healing on the sabbath.

 

[HTacianas]

is there nothing within those commandments that we can't know through the pure and natural light of reason? I know God wants us to know it with ease, that is with facility, with accuracy and without the admixture of error so that we can have certainty in our life. maybe with exception to the day on when we should worship

I understand your question, and the answer is yes. Not so much the ten commandments as the seven universal laws of Noah. All those are found through reason by examination of the conscience. If we take the example of Buddhism, their idea of "right thought, right action" comes from their form of meditation, which is an example of examination of the conscience. That also has a place in Christianity, as Paul said:

Rom 2:14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves,

Rom 2:15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)

 

[Tolworth John]

is there nothing within those commandments that we can't know through the pure and natural light of reason

As others have said the social elements of the commandments can be reasoned out but the commands relating to God cannot be reasoned out.

To have No othergods or not to make images are not able to be reasoned out.
This is seen by the worshipping of other gods and the use of images in worship.

Ultimately God is unknowable.
We know him because he has revealed himself to us, through prophets, personal experience and primarily through his Son Jesus.

It is this revelation that makes Christianity unique.

 

[timothyu]

Ultimately God is unknowable.

Has no one ever said 'there's got to be a better way than this'?

 

[childeye 2]

is there nothing within those commandments that we can't know through the pure and natural light of reason? I know God wants us to know it with ease, that is with facility, with accuracy and without the admixture of error so that we can have certainty in our life. maybe with exception to the day on when we should worship

I don't see how keeping the Sabbath Holy is something that comes by reasoning.

 

[timothyu]

I don't see how keeping the Sabbath Holy is something that comes by reasoning.

Everyone likes a snow day.

 

[childeye 2]

Everyone likes a snow day.

Yeah but I don't think I've ever worked six days for one week in my entire life.

 

[Tolworth John]

Has no one ever said 'there's got to be a better way than this'?

Yes God did and he sent his Son so we could know him.

 

[John Helpher]

The ten commandments are totally covered by Jesus' two commandments to put the will of God before man's thus to love all including enemy as self.

HI Timothyu. You're not wrong, though I'd add that all the rest of Jesus' teachings demonstrate how to obey these two most important. These other teachings of his, which show us how to love God and our neighbor, don't get much attention, probably because they require discipline and self-sacrifice to apply.

 

[timothyu]

These other teachings of his, which show us how to love God and our neighbor, don't get much attention, probably because they require discipline and self-sacrifice to apply.

I would say because they require us to focus on the Gospel of the Kingdom which requires us to live contrary to the traditional self serving will of man. Hard for a religion to teach that when it itself rejoined the world. The gospel of salvation has been used to offer a way around that where forgiveness trumps repentance/change. Something for everybody in the institutions of man . All can say Lord Lord but few do His will.