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Becky Parker
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My 16 year old son was in conversation with a protestant man who explained to him that the Catholics changed the 10 commandments. He said we took out the 2nd commandment, regarding graven images, and divided the final commandment about coveting thy neighbors wife and they neighbors goods. So, this son came home and checked the Catholic Bible we have (Douay-Rheims), in order to prove this man wrong. But, now he's just confused because according to the wording of the Bible, it looks as though the man he was speaking to is correct, and the Catholic teaching is wrong.
I'm very upset by this because I don't want my son to doubt his faith, but the worst of it is I don't have an answer for him. Can anyone help me with this?
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Becky
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JodieLyn
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Everything is there in both versions.. we just number them differently.
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MaryM
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First, you might want to point out that the Ten Commandments are not numbered in scripture and if you used verse number you would have more than 10 anyway. They are just listed and it is true that they have been grouped together in different ways for numbering by different groups. The graven images directive is part of "You shall have no other gods before me" commandment.
I know I read a really good explanation of this difference between the numbers for Catholics and Protestants. I'll look for that.
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Michaela
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The 10 Commandments are listed in two books of the Bible. Exodus 20: 1-20 and Deuteronomy 5:1-21. Did you and your son check both?
Catholics and Lutherans use Deut. most Protestants use Exodus.
Here is something I found at Catholic Answers (The 9th Q & A on this page)
Why is there a difference between the Catholic version of the Ten Commandments and the Protestant one?
”A: Differences between Christians over the enumeration of the Ten Commandments shouldn't surprise us. The Bible itself gives slightly different versions of the Decalogue in Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21.
In Exodus, a man's wife is ranked with his possessions as part of his household. In Deuteronomy, the wife is distinguished from a man's possessions. If you follow Exodus, the prohibitions against coveting a neighbor's wife and his property could be counted as one commandment. If you follow Deuteronomy, they could be counted as two separate commandments. This is mainly a difference in emphasis.
If the biblical number ten is to be maintained (Dt 4:13; 10:4; Ex 34:28), then what is given as a single commandment in one book must be divided into two in the other. Catholics and Lutherans generally follow Deuteronomy in counting prohibitions against coveting another's wife and property as two separate commandments.
Most Protestants count these together and regard the prohibitions against idols and the worship of false gods as two distinct commandments, which Catholics and Lutherans regard as one.
Interestingly enough, modern Jews take a third route. They separate the introductory phrase "I am the Lord your God" (Ex 20:2; Dt 5:6) from the prohibition against false gods and idols, which they count as one commandment. The commandments against coveting a neighbor's wife and his property are listed as one prohibiting covetousness.
Catholics, Protestants, and Jews accept the entire Decalogue. What they differ on is how its components should be numbered, something which, in view of what is held in common by these three groups, is unimportant.
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MaryM
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| Posted: Feb 03 2010 at 4:41pm | IP Logged
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Thanks, Michaela - that is one source I was remembering and also there is this explanation at EWTN. It has a nice visual of the two texts (Exodus vs. Deuteronomy) side by side as well as a visual of the Catholic numeration and Protestant numeration of the 10 Commandments side by side.
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Mary M. in Denver
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Michaela
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The comparison chart that Mary shared is what came to mind, but I had no idea where I had seen it. Thanks for linking it, Mary! 
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Michaela
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: Feb 04 2010 at 5:56am | IP Logged
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Thanks Ladies!
This is all very helpful. Phew! Not the big deal I thought it was going to be.
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Becky
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Help with 10 Commandments question
