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Ten Commandments
1st Commandment ⇐ ⇒ 3rd Commandment
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“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me and keep my commandments.”
Ex. 20:4-6
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Subsections
Superstition
Images
Impurity vs. Idolatry
Idolatry
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Order of Contents
Shorter 22+
Longer 10
Confessions, etc. 2
More
Quote 1
Latin 8
Biblio 1
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Shorter
1500’s
Bullinger, Henry – 2nd Sermon, ‘Of God’s Law, & of the Two First Commandments of the First Table’ in The Decades ed. Thomas Harding (Cambridge: Parker Society, 1849), vol. 1, 2nd Decade, pp. 209-37
Gau, John – ‘On the First [& Second] Command of God’ in A Short Declaration of the Ten Commandments in The Right Way to the Kingdom of Heaven (†1553), p. 12
Gau was an early Scottish Lutheran before the Reformation of 1560.
Bradford, John
‘Though shalt not make to thyself any graven, etc.’ in A Meditation upon the Ten Commandments in Writings, (d. 1555), vol. 1, pp. 152-53
‘And concerning thy Second Commandment’ in Prayer on the Ten Commandments in Writings, vol. 2, pp. 258-59
Calvin, John – 2nd Commandment in Institutes of the Christian Religion tr. Henry Beveridge (1559; Edinburgh: Calvin Translation Society, 1845), vol. 1, bk. 2, ch. 8, pp. 447-52
Vermigli, Peter Martyr – The Common Places… (d. 1562; London: Henrie Denham et al., 1583), pt. 2
5. ‘The Second Precept, which concerns Images, their Beginning, Antiquity & Cause’ 333
‘Whether it be lawful to express Christ, the angels and other creatures in Images’ 340
‘Whether it be lawful to place images in churches’ 351
‘Of Cherubim and Teraphim’ 356
‘Of human sacrifices’ 359
‘Of the establishing of the Second Commandment, whether the child shall bear the iniquity of the father’ 362-68
Becon, Thomas – ‘The Second Commandment’ in The Ten Commandments of God, with Confirmations of Every Commandment out of the Holy Scripture in Catechism (d. 1567), pp. 498-99
Becon was an English reformer.
Ursinus, Zachary – p. 267 of 20, ‘Of the Six First Commandments’ in Rules & Axions of Certain Chief Points of Christianity in A Collection of Certain Learned Discourses… (d. 1583; Oxford, 1600)
“2. The second precept is a rule of our whole worship of God, that we worship not God with any kind of worship besides that wherewith he commanded Himself to be worshipped: wherefore it commands the true and forbids all the fained and false worship of God, especially idols and images made to represent and worship God: also negligence of magistrates, whereby images or other instruments, which either do or may easily serve to idolatry, are tolerated in places subject to their authority, much more the worship of them; also hypocricy and prophaness.”
Beza, Theodore, Anthony Faius & Students – 30. ‘Upon the Second Commandment’ in Propositions & Principles of Divinity Propounded & Disputed in the University of Geneva by Certain Students of Divinity there, under Mr. Theodore Beza & Mr. Anthony Faius… (Edinburgh: Waldegrave, 1591), pp. 68-72
Virel, Matthew – 2nd Commandment in A Learned & Excellent Treatise Containing All the Principal Grounds of Christian Religion (London, 1594), bk. 2, 1. Of Good Works, 1st Part
Perkins, William
pp. 1,021-22 of An Advertisement to all Favorers of the Roman Religion, showing that the said religion is against the catholic principles and grounds of the Catechism [Apostles’ Creed, Ten Commandments, Lord’s Prayer, Lord’s Supper] in A Reformed Catholic… ([Cambridge] 1598)
‘The Second Commandment’ in The Whole Duty of Man, containing a Practical Table of the Ten Commandments wherein the sins forbidden, & the duties commanded, or implied are clearly discovered (†1602; 1674), no page number
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1600’s
Holland, Henry – ‘On the 2nd Commandment, questions 69-85’ in The History of Adam, or the Fourfold State of Man, well formed in his Creation, Deformed in his Corruption, Reformed in Grace & Perfected in Glory (London: Thomas Man, 1606), pp. 31-47 ToC
Holland was a London minister.
Granger, Thomas – The Second Commandment in The Tree of Good & Evil: or a Profitable & Familiar Exposition of the Commandments… (London, 1616), pp. 5-9
Granger (1578-1627) was reformed.
Horne, Robert – no page numbers in A Short Exposition of the Ten Commandments in Questions & Answers in Points of Instruction for the Ignorant as also, an Expositition on the Ten Commandments, and the Lord’s Prayer, by Questions & Answers… (1617)
Horne (1565–1640) was an English divine.
Elton, Edward – The Second Commandment in An Exposition of the Ten Commandments of God wherein the Principal & Most Material Doctrines are set down (1623), pp. 11-18
Elton (1569-1624)
Wolleb, Johannes – Abridgment of Christian Divinity (1626) in ed. John Beardslee, Reformed Dogmatics: J. Wollebius, G. Voetius & F. Turretin (Oxford Univ. Press, 1965), bk. 2, The Service of God
ch. 4, ‘The Works connected with the 2nd, 3rd & 4th Commandments in general’ 201-2
ch. 5, ‘The Works of the Second Commandment Specifically’ 202-14
Wolleb (1589–1629) was a Swiss reformed theologian. He was a student of Amandus Polanus.
Boys, John – p. 49 in “The Decalogue” in Works (1629)
Scudder, Henry – ‘Second Commandment’ of The Christian’s Daily Walk (1631), pp. 96-97 Westminster divine
Twisse, William – pp. 27-33 of A Catechism Touching the Ten Commandments (1632) in A Brief Catechetical Exposition of Christian Doctrine, Divided into Four Catechisms, comprising the Doctrine of the 1. Two Sacraments. 2. Lord’s Prayer. 3. Ten Commandments. 4. And the Creed
Twisse was the first moderator of the Westminster Assembly.
Palmer, Herbert – pp. 25-26 of Questions & Answers Tending to Explain the Ten Commandments (1644) in An Endeavor of Making the Principles of Christian Religion, namely the Creed, the Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Sacraments…
Palmer (1601-1647) was a Westminster Divine.
Fenner, William – The Spiritual Man’s Directory guiding a Christian in the path that leads to true blessedness in his Three main duties towards God: how to believe, to obey, to pray, unfolding the Creed, Ten Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer (1648), pp. 31-32
Q. 66. What art thou commanded in the second Commandment?
Q. 67. What else art thou commanded in the second Commandment?
Fenner (1600-1640) was a reformed, puritan minister.
Andrewes, Lancelot – ‘The Second Commandment’ in ‘The Ten Commandments Paraphrased’ in Holy Devotions… (1663), pp. 443-48
Rijssen, Leonard – ‘On the 2nd Commandment’ in ch. 15, The Decalogue & Good Works in A Complete Summary of Elenctic Theology & of as Much Didactic Theology as is Necessary trans. J. Wesley White MTh thesis (Bern, 1676; GPTS, 2009), pp. 178-83
Patrick, Simon – pp. 1-2 of A Brief Exposition of the Ten Commandments & the Lord’s Prayer (London, 1665)
Patrick (1626–1707) was an Anglican bishop and theologian.
Heidegger, Johann H. – VI. ‘The Second Commandment’ in The Concise Marrow of Theology trans. Casey Carmichael in Classic Reformed Theology, vol. 4 (Reformation Heritage Books, 2019), Locus 14, ‘On the Decalogue’, p. 97
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1700’s
Hole, Matthew – pp. 19-20 of Discourse on the Ten Commandments (†1730) in Practical Discourses on the Liturgy of the Church of England, vol. 4
Hole (1640-1730) was a divine in the Church England.
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1800’s
Scott, Thomas – pp. 71-74 in A Brief Exposition of the Ten Commandments, as comprising the substance of the Moral Law (†1821) in Theological Works, vol. 5, Essay 4
Scott was an evangelical in the Church of England who was known for his whole commentary on the Bible, amongst other things.
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Longer
1500’s
Hooper, John – ch. 5, ‘The Second Commandment’ in A Declaration of the Ten Holy Commandments of Almighty God wrotten Ex. 20, Deut. 5. Collected out of the Scripture Canonical (1548), pp. 316-22 EEBO
Hooper was an English reformer.
Bullinger, Henry – 2nd Sermon, ‘Of God’s Law, and of the two First Commandments of the First Table’ in The Decades ed. Thomas Harding (1549; Cambridge: Parker Society, 1849), vol. 1, 2nd Decade, pp. 209-37
Musculus, Wolfgang – Common Places of the Christian Religion (1560; London, 1563)
2nd Commandment 41.b
Kneeling to Images 46.b
Of them which worship the image of the Father and the Son 47.a
The images of God in the Papists’ Churches 47.a
Of the Image of Christ 47.b
How worshipping appertains unto Christ 47.b
All worship and adoration only to God the Lord 48.b
That God is jealous 48.b
The nature of zeal and emulation 49.b
How these words agree with that of Eze. 18:4 & 18 50.a
How the revenge of God is extended to the third and fourth generation 51.a
Against the teachers of merits 53.b
Calvin, John
2nd Commandment in Institutes of the Christian Religion tr. Henry Beveridge (1559; Edinburgh: Calvin Translation Society, 1845), vol. 1, bk. 2, ch. 8. ‘Exposition of the Moral Law’, pp. 447-52
Sermons on the Ten Commandments (d. 1564; 1581)
2nd Sermon 8
3rd Sermon 15-23
Vermigli, Peter Martyr – ch. 5, ‘The Second Precept, which concerns Images, their Beginning, Antiquity & Cause’ in The Common Places… (d. 1562; London: Henrie Denham et al., 1583), pt. 2, pp. 333-67
‘Whether it be lawful to express Christ, the angels and other creatures in images’ 340
‘Whether it be lawful to place images in churches’ 351
‘Of Cherubim and Teraphim’ 356
‘Of human sacrifices’ 359
‘Of the establishing of the Second Commandment, whether the child shall bear the iniquity of the father’ 362
Cranmer, Thomas – pp. 16-30 in A Short Instruction Concerning the Ten Commandments in A Short Instruction into Christian Religion (d. 1566; Oxford Univ. Press, 1829)
Cranmer was an English reformer.
Bunny, Edmund
The Second Commandment in A Short Sum of Christian Religion under the Consideration of the Ten Commandments in The Whole Sum of Christian Religion… (London, 1576), pp. 37-42
Bunny (1540–1619) was an English Calvinistic prebendary in Durham and divine who also published an abridgment of Calvin’s Institutes.
pp. 28-65 in A Guide unto Godliness, or, A Plain & Familiar Explanation of the Ten Commandments, by Questions & Answers… (1617)
Knewstub, John – Second Lecture in Lectures of John Knewstub, upon the Twentieth Chapter of Exodus & Certain other Places of Scripture (1577), pp. 21-46
Knewstub was a moderate puritan, a follower of Thomas Cartwright and was proposed to succeed William Whitaker.
Babington, Gervase – The Second Commandment in A Very Fruitful Exposition of the Commandments by way of Questions & Answers... (1583), pp. 83-127
Babington (1549–1610) was a bishop in the Church of England.
Ursinus, Zachary
The Sum of Christian Religion: Delivered… in his Lectures upon the Catechism… tr. Henrie Parrie (d. 1583; Oxford, 1587)
1. How Far Images may be Allowed to be Made
2. Why Images are to be abolished in the churches of Christians
3. How images are to be abolished
Certain objections of the Papists
Beza, Theodore, Anthony Faius & Students – 30. ‘Second Commandment’ in Propositions & Principles of Divinity Propounded & Disputed in the University of Geneva by Certain Students of Divinity there, under Mr. Theodore Beza & Mr. Anthony Faius… (Edinburgh: Waldegrave, 1591), pp. 68-72
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1600’s
Perkins, William – 21. 2nd Commandment in A Golden Chain (Cambridge: Legat, 1600), pp. 42-54
Estey [Estye], George – Second Commandment in An Exposition upon the Ten Commandments in Certain Godly & Learned Expositions upon Diverse Parts of Scripture as they were Preached… (d. 1601; 1603), pp. 42-46
Estey (1560-1601) was a reformed Anglican.
Dod, John & Robert Cleaver
Second Commandment in The Bright Star which Leads Wise Men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A Familiar & Learned Exposition on the Ten Commandments… (1603), pp. 28-43
The Second Commandment in A Plain & Familiar Exposition of the Ten Commandments… 15th ed. (1603; 1622), pp. 59-91
Willet, Andrew – ‘The Ten Commandments in Particular’ in Hexapla in Genesis & Exodus… (d. 1621; 1633, London), pp. 280-92
1. What a graven image is
2. What things a similitude must not be made of, to worship
3. Of the difference between bowing down and serving
4. In what sense the Lord is called a jealous God
5. Of the titles which the Lord here gives Himself, and wherefore
6. Of the general commination and promise annexed
7. How it stands with God’s justice to punish the children for the father’s sins
8. Why mention is made of the third and fourth generation
9. Why mercy is promised to be showed to a thousand generations
10. How men are said to hate God
1. Of the particular contents of the Second Commandment
2. All is to be ascribed to God’s mercy, nothing to man’s merit
3. True obedience proceeds from love
1. That an idol and an image are all one
2. Against the Popish difference betweene idol worship and idol service
3. Against the Turks that allow of no images
4. That it is not lawful to make any image at all of the Trinity
. The contrary objections answered
5. Whether it be lawful privately to have the image of Christ
6. Against the toleration of images in churches
. The contrary objections for the toleration of images in churches answered
. Against the adoration and worship of images
7. Against the adoration of images
. The objections of the adversaries answered
. Of human precepts and traditions
8. Against human traditions
1. God is full of long suffering
2. That fathers for love unto their children should fear to offend
3. God is more inclined to mercy than to severity
Whately, William – Second Commandment in A Pithy, Short & Methodical Opening of the Ten Commandments (1622), pp. 42-65
Whately was a preacher at Banburie in Oxfordshire.
** – ‘Exceedingly scarce, but as rich as it is rare.’ – Spurgeon
Yates, John – pp. 309-14 in ch. 1, ‘Of the Law’ in A Model of Divinity, Catechistically Composed, wherein is Delivered the Matter & Method of Religion, according to the Creed, Ten Commandments, Lord’s Prayer & the Sacraments (1622), bk. 2
Yates (†1657) was a reformed, English minister in St Andrews in Norwich.
Ames, William – bk. 2, ch. 13, ‘Instituted Worship’ in The Marrow of Theology trans. John D. Eusden (1623; Baker, 1997), pp. 278-83
Ames (1576-1633) was an English, puritan, congregationalist, minister, philosopher and controversialist. He spent much time in the Netherlands, and is noted for his involvement in the controversy between the reformed and the Arminians.
Barker, Peter – The Second Commandment in A Judicious & Painful Exposition upon the Ten Commandments… (1624), pp. 75-143
Barker (1597-1624) was a reformed minister in Dorsetshire, England.
** – ‘Old-fashioned, remarkably quaint, and even coarse in places. Barker’s work abounds in Scriptural illustrations, but it is almost forgotten.’ – Spurgeon
Elton, Edward – God’s Holy Mind touching matters Moral, which Himself uttered in Ten Words, or Ten Commandments… in God’s Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral which Himself Uttered in Ten Words, or Ten Commandments. Also Christ’s Holy Mind touching Prayer, delivered in that most Holy Prayer, which Himself taught unto his disciples… (1625), pp. 25-54
Now to invocation
Now to the words
Now some objections are to be answered
Here some doubts touching these two things forbidden, are to be answered, as some may move this doubt
Now for the matter of marriage with idolatrous gentiles
Now to the affirmative part of this Second Commandment
Elton (1569-1624)
Wolleb, Johannes – Abridgment of Christian Divinity (1626) in ed. John Beardslee, Reformed Dogmatics: J. Wollebius, G. Voetius & F. Turretin (Oxford Univ. Press, 1965), bk. 2
4. ‘The Works Connected with the Second, Third & Fourth Commandments in General’, pp. 201-2
5. ‘The Works of the Second Commandment Specifically’, pp. 201-14
Wolleb (1589–1629) was a Swiss reformed theologian. He was a student of Amandus Polanus.
Andrewes, Lancelot
Second Commandment in The Moral Law Expounded: Largely, Learnedly, Orthodoxly… upon the Ten Commandments, being his Lectures in Cambridge (d. 1626; 1641)
This work is different than the one below.
Exposition of the 2nd Commandment in A Pattern of Catechistical Doctrine at large; or a Learned and Pious Exposition of the 10 Commandments (London: Norton, 1650), pp. 192-230
Andrewes (1555-1626) was an English bishop and scholar who held high positions in the Church of England during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I. He oversaw the translation of the KJV.
Weemes, John – Commandment 2 in An Explication of the Moral Law, the First Table (1632), pp. 59-138
1. Idolatry in general 59
2. No spiritual worship is to be given to any creature invisible 65
3. No visible thing in the heaven or in the earth to be worshipped 69
4. No image can be made to represent God 74
5. That idolatry is most opposite to God 78
6. How base idols are in the sight of God 82
7. What force idols have to allure those who worship them, and to draw the after them 85
8. The many evils which the people got of idolatrous Egypt 87
9. A comparison betwixt the golden calves set up in the wilderness, the golden calves in Dan and Bethel, and the Popish idols 90
10. Of the increase of idolatry, and how it spread through the world 93
11. Whether Gideon made the ephod an idol or not? 97
12. Whether Naaman might bow in the house of Rimmon or not? 100
13. Of mixtures of religion 104
14. Of the motives which moved the heathen to worship idols 108
15. Whether things idolatrous may be converted to any use either in the service of God, or may we convert them to our own use 111
16. The reason why the Lord will not suffer idolatry 117
17. The punishment for the breach of the Second Commandment 122
18. Of the extent of God’s justice, and his mercy to those who break and keep his commandments 131-38
Weemes (c. 1579–1636) was a Scottish divine.
Downame, George – The Second Commandment in An Abstract of the Duties Commanded, and Sins Forbidden in the Law of God (1635) no page numbers 18 pp.
Fisher, Edward – The Marrow of Modern Divinity (1646), pt. 2 This is in the form of a dialogue. Evangelista is the good guy; Nomista is the legalist.
Wherein the First and Second Commandment differ 278
Wherein the Second and Third Commandment differ 283-91
Despagne, Jean – Second Commandment in New Observations upon the Decalogue… (London, 1652), pp. 49-74 ToC
Despagne (1591-1659) was a French, reformed minister.
Leigh, Edward – ch. 3, ‘Of the Second Commandment’ in A System or Body of Divinity… (London, A.M., 1654), bk. 9, pp. 749-57
Durham, James – ‘The Second Commandment’ in The Law Unsealed, or a Practical Exposition of the Ten Commandments (†1658), pp. 50-120
Durham was a leading Scottish covenanter during the 2nd Reformation in Scotland.
*** – ‘Whatever Durham has written is very precious. He has the pen of a ready writer, and indites good matter.’
Barrow, Isaac – Second Commandment in ‘An Exposition of the Decalogue’ in A Brief Exposition of the Lord’s Prayer and the Decalogue, to which is Added the Doctrine of the Sacraments (d. 1677; London, 1681), pp. 90-121
Barrow (1630-1677) was an Anglican Christian theologian and mathematician who discovered the fundamental theorem of calculus. Isaac Newton was a student of his.
Baxter, Richard – ch. 35, ‘Of the Second Commandment’ in The Catechizing of Families, a Teacher of Householders how to Teach their Households (London: Parkhurst, 1683), pp. 251-62
Turretin, Francis – Institutes of Elenctic Theology, tr. George M. Giger, ed. James Dennison Jr. (1679–1685; P&R, 1994), vol. 2, 11th Topic
9. ‘Is it lawful to religiously worship images of God, the holy Trinity, Christ, the virgin and other saints? We deny against the papists.’ 51
10. ‘Whether not only the worship, but also the formation and use of religious images in sacred places is prohibited by the Second Commandment. We affirm against the Lutherans.’ 62
Watson, Thomas – ‘Of the Second Commandment’ in Body of Practical Divinity (†1686), pp. 251-69
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1700’s
à Brakel, Wilhelmus – ch. 47, ‘The Second Commandment’ in The Christian’s Reasonable Service, vol. 3 ed. Joel Beeke, trans. Bartel Elshout Buy (1700; RHB, 1992/1999), pp. 105-19
a Brakel (1635-1711) was a contemporary of Voet and Witsius and a major representative of the Dutch Further Reformation.
Edwards, John – The Second Commandment in 3rd Part, ‘Of the Ten Commandments’ in Theologia Reformata: or, The Body and Substance of the Christian Religion, comprised in distinct discourses or treatises… (1713), vol. 2, pp. 325-410
John Edwards (1637–1716) was an influential reformed Anglican during the early 1700’s, and the son of Thomas Edwards, who wrote the famed book ‘Gangraena’ in the 1640’s.
Hole, Matthew – Discourses 6-7 in A Practical Exposition of the Church Catechism, vol. 2 (†1730; 1731), pp. 402-17
Hole (1640-1730) was a divine in the Church England.
Boston, Thomas – ‘Of the Second Commandment’ ToC in An Illustration of the Doctrines of the Christian Religion… in The Whole Works… ed. Samuel M’Millan (Aberdeen: King, 1848), vol. 2, pp. 127-57
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1900’s
Vos, Johannes – Questions 107-110 in The Westminster Larger Catechism, a Commentary ed. G.I. Williamson (1946-49; P&R, 2002), pp. 281-301
Vos was a mid-western pastor in the RPCNA. This is the most accessible and usable commentary on the Larger Catechism. It is a medium level treatment and is in the format of questions and answers, which is well done.
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Confessions, Official Catechisms, etc.
Article
1500’s
Hungarian Catholic Confession (1562) – ‘Second Commandment’ in ed. James Dennison, Jr., Reformed Confessions… (RHB, 2010), vol. 2, pp. 639-40
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Quote
1500’s
Heidelberg Catechism
“96. Q. What does God require in the second commandment?
A. We are not to make an image of God in any way,[1] nor to worship Him in any other manner than He has commanded in His Word.[2]
[1] Deut. 4:15-19; Is. 40:18-25; Acts 17:29; Rom. 1:23. [2] Lev. 10:1-7; Deut. 12:30; I Sam. 15:22, 23; Matt. 15:9; John 4:23, 24.
97. Q. May we then not make any image at all?
A. God cannot and may not be visibly portrayed in any way. Creatures may be portrayed, but God forbids us to make or have any images of them in order to worship them or to serve God through them.[1]
[1] Ex. 34:13, 14, 17; Num. 33:52; II Kings 18:4, 5; Is. 40:25.”
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More Expositions of the Second Commandment
In Biblical Commentaries. See on Ex. 20:3:
Whole Old Testament Commentaries 60
Whole Old Testament Commentaries 11
Old Testament Commentaries see commentaries on the Pentateuch (6) and on Exodus (9)
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In Catechisms & Commentaries Thereon
Heidelberg Catechism Questions 91-115
See also Commentaries on the Heidelberg Catechism
Westminster Shorter Catechism Questions 39-82
See also Commentaries on the Shorter Catechism 151
Westminster Larger Catechism Questions 91-152
See also Commentaries on the Larger Catechism (4) and Commentaries on the Westminster Confession and Catechisms (3)
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In Systematic Theologies
Many systematic theologies (especially from the Reformation and Puritan eras) contain an exposition of God’s Moral Law, the 10 Commandments. See:
Every Reformed Systematic Theology Online
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Quote
2000’s
Travis Fentiman
“Editor’s Extended Introduction” in English Puritans, A Refutation of the Errors of Separatists (1604; RBO, 2025), p. 50
“Nor can the context of public worship be completely divorced from the ethical sphere of common life, because the most fundamental law of nature is to pursue good and avoid
evil (Ps. 34:14; Amos 5:14; 1 Pet. 3:11). This natural law, inherent to us, falls under moral obedience to God in the First Commandment. But public worship ordinances, being ceremonial in nature, and the Regulative Principle of Worship, are secondary to that and less fundamental, flowing out of the Second Commandment.
Further, the good of persons’ salvation, besides being grounded in the First Commandment, also derives in significant part from the moral Sixth Commandment, both of which may override the ceremonies of the First Table of the Law. Thus moral obedience and serving the good of the cause of the Gospel (including through the principles we have been discussing) underlies, penetrates, takes precedence over and foundationally supports public worship. To deny this and affirm the opposite is to wrench the Great Commission backwards (Mt. 28:18–20).”
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Latin
1500’s
Zanchi, Girolamo – Of the Fall of the First Man, of Sin & of the Law in The Theological Works, vol. 4 (d. 1590; Stephanus Gamonetus, 1613)
14. An Explication of the Second Precept… and of shunning images, and of external worship 362
15. Of Images 380
Thesis 1. It is permitted to us to make no image respecting God by which He is represented. 382
Thesis 2. It is not prohibited by the law of God that images, of whatever visible thing outside the use of religion, are able to made. 384
Thesis 3. Images, which have been customarily adored, and hence are able to be easily adored yet by some in churches and chapels where they are customarily set out for worship, ought not to be borne with. 387
To the exucses of the Papists and Lutherans which have images in churches. 397
Thesis 4. It is not of private men to remove images from churches and public places, but rather of their magistrates which in those places have right and authority. 405
Thesis 5. They are so to remove images which have been set out for worship that they are not able restored any more in the churches. 410
16. Of the External Worship of God 410
Question 1, Thesis 1. Although God especially and per se takes pleasure in our internal piety, and certainly pious works, yet not from that thing, but what follows, because of that previous thing, He has even instituted exercises of piety, by which He wills from us worship 411
Question 2. Whether external worship pertains to the law of nature, or to the ceremonial? And hence how far those Christian men are bound, and how far they are not bound?
Thesis. The external worship of God pertains partly to the law of nature unto all gentiles commonly, partly and properly to the specific religion of any people.
Question 3. What is this external worship of God, and what are its parts?
Thesis 1. The true worship [cultu] of God is an action proceeding from piety, by which acting from the Holy Spirit, God being adored by the highest reverence, we serve Him from his will revealed in the Word: presenting that which He offers to receive, believing his promises with certain faith, and presenting that which is stipulated from us, having been in turn promised, and which He enjoins, and all that to his glory, to the edification of the Church and our neighbor, and our salvation. 418
[Zanchi defines worship’s four causes in this section, the efficient, material, formal and end causes.]
Thesis 2. The whole worship of God, by multifold partition, follows. 419
Thesis 3. The external and ceremonial worship of God is a sacred action proceeding from piety, by which acting by the Holy Spirit, adoring God with the highest reverence, we serve Him from his will revealed in the Word, by words and deeds, receiving sacraments and offering sacrifices, to his glory, the edification of the Church and our salvation. 421
Of the Ceremonial Worship amongst the Jews 421
Of the Sacraments of the Jews 422
Of Circumcision 423
Of the Passover 423
Of the Sacrifices of the Jews 424
Of the Adjuncts of Worship, ie. of Sacred Things 428
Of the External Worship of the Christian Church, which has been laid down in the Sacraments 433
Of Baptism 437
Of the Lord’s Supper 444
Definition of the Supper 445
Explanation of the Definition 446
Of Christian Sacrifices 475
Question 4. Whether it is lawful for Christians to worship God by other rites than what He has prescribed. 487
Thesis. No other kind of external and ceremonial worship is permitted to worship God than that which itself is in the sacred letters for us to worship Him by and to serve Him. 488-98
17. Of the Corruptions of the External Part of True Worship 498-547
Thesis 1. There are two primary corruptions by which in truth worship is defective: the contempt of external religion and by superstition. 494
Thesis 2. Of Anti-Worship there are Five Species in All 495
Thesis 3. Sacrilege properly pertains to Anti-Worship 497
Thesis 4. Simony is a corruption and a sin diametrically fighting with religion, pertaining to anti-worship 498
Of Superstition 501
Thesis 5. Superstition flows in two primary species: in idolatry and in will-worship 501
Of Idolatry 502
Thesis 1. Idolatry flows in two primary kinds: in that by which fictitious or (as Scripture speaks) foreign gods are worshipped, and in that by which images of whatever God are worshipped. 508
Thesis 2. He which by images, whether to the true God or to false representations having been posited, bows himself and worships them, admits idolatry. 509
Thesis 3. Idolatry is if any, at any time, knows and worships the Spirit for God, yet by what He is not, whom the sacred letters declare is the maker of all things, Elohim in three persons subsisting and having been manifested in the eternal Father, the eternal Son and the eteranl Holy Spirit, one and the same God. 512
Thesis 4. 513
Thesis 5. 513
Thesis 6. 520
Thesis 7. 520
Thesis 8. 523
Thesis 9. 530
Thesis 10. 531
Thesis 11. 533
Thesis 12. 540-47
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1600’s
Bachoff, Reinhard – Catechism of the Christian Religion, which is Taught in the Churches & Schools of the Palitinate (Hanau, 1603), pp. 423-30
Q. 95,‘What is Idolatry?’
Q. 96,‘What does the 2nd Commandment Postulate?’
Q. 97
Q. 98,‘Whether indeed images, which are for books for the ignorant multitude, are not able to be tolerated?’
Bachoff (1544-1614)
Polanus, Amandus – ‘Second Commandment’ in A System of Theology (Hanau, 1609; 1615), vol. 2, bk. 8, ch. 1, col. 2280-2307
Chamier, Daniel – Panstratiae Catholicae, or a Body of the Controversies of Religion Against the Papists (Geneva: Roverian, 1626), vol. 2, pt. 2, ‘Of Worship’, Inquiry 4, ‘Of Images’
bk. 21,‘Of Images’, pp. 814-63
ch. 1, ‘State of the Question on Images of God’, pp. 814-15
ch. 2, ‘Concerning that God ought to be Pictured, the Arguments of the Papists’, pp. 815-17
ch. 3, ‘That God ought Not to be Pictured’, pp. 817-22
ch. 4, ‘State of the Controversy on the Veneration of Images’, pp. 822-23
ch. 5, ‘Whether the Scriptures teach to Adore Images’, pp. 823-26
ch. 6, ‘Whether it is proved by reasons that images ought to be adored’, pp. 826-31
ch. 7, ‘Whether Ancient Christians Taught to Adore Images’, pp. 831-33
ch. 8, ‘Of the Dividing of the Precepts of the Decalogue’, pp. 833-36
ch. 9, ‘On the Difference between an Idol, an Image & a Similitude’, pp. 836-41
ch. 10, ‘Whether All Images are Prohibited by the Second Commandment’, pp. 841-44
ch. 11, ‘On the Specific Difference of Idolatry’, pp. 844-47
ch. 12, ‘Images are Not to be Adored, neither for the thing, nor for the exemplar’, pp. 847-51
ch. 13, ‘On Councils Prohibiting Images’, pp. 851-55
ch. 14, ‘The Exceptions of Papists Against the Preceding Synods’, pp. 855-59
ch. 15, ‘Testimonies of the Fathers Against the Adoration of Images’, pp. 859-63
bk. 22,‘Of the Cross & Images in Church Buildings’, pp. 864-89
ch. 1, ‘Whether Images of the Cross were in Use before Constantine’, pp. 864-67
ch. 2, ‘On the Adoration which the Papists bestow on the Cross’, pp. 867-68
ch. 3, ‘Arguments of Papists from Scripture for the Adoration of the Cross’, pp. 869-71
ch. 4, ‘Arguments of Papists besides Scripture for the Adoration of the Cross’, pp. 871-75
ch. 5, ‘Of Adoring Images of the Cross’, pp. 875-78
ch. 6, ‘Of the Adoration of the Sign of the Cross’, pp. 878-79
ch. 7, ‘On Setting up Images in Church Buildings: Arguments of the Papists’, pp. 879-82
ch. 8, ‘Images are Not to be Set up in Church Buildings’, pp. 882-85
ch. 9, ‘Of Epiphanius’ [d. 403, a leading iconoclast], pp. 885-89
Voet, Gisbert
1-2 Commandments in Syllabus of Theological Problems (Utrecht, 1643), pt. 1, section 2, tract 1 Abbr.
Select Theological Disputations
vol. 3, 64. ‘On the Lamb of God’, pp. 934-46
vol. 4 (Utrecht, 1667), ‘On the 2nd Commandment’
Of instituted worship 780
“1. Whether every instituted worship and its parts and circumstances are prescribed by the Word of God? It is affirmed.
2. Whether any through pretended opinions, the authority of the Church or the power of the magistrate are able to impose these in part on consciences? It is denied.
3. Whether instituted worship is mutable? It is affirmed with a distinction.”
On the sacred 780
“1. Whether the sacred is founded in a special ordination and by divine mandate? It is affirmed.
2. Whether under the New Testament some things are relatively sacred, such as church-buildings, times (except the weekly Sabbath), utensils, tables, cups, lamps, pulpits, furnishings, cloths, garments of ministers? It is denied.
3. Whether under the New Testament, is the preaching of the Word, the water of baptism and the bread and wine in the eucharist sacred? It is affirmed.
4. Whether whatever external particular the Church has instituted is sacred? It is affirmed.
See the disputation on benedictions and sacramental things.”
Of rites & ceremonies 780
“1. Whether all rites which adhere in the exercise of religion or in divine worship, whether public or private, are sacred? It is denied.
2. Whether ceremonies or rites in public worship are to be multiplied, to excite greater devotion, attention or reverence in men? It is denied.
3. Whether some ceremonies, which are called indifferent, are to be imposed on unwilling churches and ministers, indeed, under the penalty of a most grave censure, even deposition? It is denied.
4. Whether ceremonies are rightly distinguished into divine and human? It is affirmed.
5. Whether divine things are necessary for observation, at least by a necessity of divine precept? It is affirmed.
For remaining questions on ceremonies, see Ecclesiastical Politics, bk. 2, tract 2.”
On consecrations and consecrated things 781
On benedictions in general & on sacraments in specific 781
On images 781
On the cross 782
On the canonization and worship of saints 782
On relics & pilgrimages 782
On consecrated things, the Lamb of God, blessed water, etc. 782
Rivet, Andrew – Theological Works (d. 1651; Rotterdam: Leers, 1651), vol. 1, Commentary on Exodus 20:4-6, 2nd Commandment
‘Whether the precept on images may be moral and perpetual?’, pp. 1251-53
‘Which images are prohibited by the precept?’, pp. 1253-54
‘Whether it may be lawful to picture God?’, pp. 1254-57
‘Whether it may be lawful to place images in church buildings, even outside of worship?’, pp. 1257-60
‘Whether and which religious images it may be lawful to break?’, pp. 1260-61
‘Dissertation on the Worship of Images’, pp. 1261-72
‘Appendix on the Worship of Images’, pp. 1272-74
Heidegger, Johann H.
Numerals 24-39 in The Marrow of Christian Theology: an Introductory Epitome of the Body of Theology (Zurich, 1713) Place 14, ‘Of the Decalogue’, pp. 310-16
Section 2, ‘Of the Decalog’, numerals 20-59 in A Body of Christian Theology, Exhibiting True Doctrine, which is according to Godliness, vol. 1 (Tigur, 1700), Place 14, ‘The Ten Commandments’, pp. 523-41
Heidegger (1633-1698)
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1700’s
De Moor, Bernard – A Continuous Commentary on John Marck’s Compendium of Didactic & Elenctic Christian Theology, vol. 2 (Leiden, 1761-71)
11. Of the Worship of God & the Regulating Rule of It, pp. 503-688
…
12. Of the Decalogue, & of Each Precept of It. The Second, sections 5-8, pp. 714-47
De Moor (1709-1780)
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Bibliography
1800’s
Malcom, Howard – ‘Second Commandment’ in Theological Index... (Boston, 1868), p. 411
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Related Pages
Natural vs. Instituted Worship
Expositions of the 1st Commandment
Expositions of the Ten Commandments
Regulative Principle of Worship