Which Pope Changed the 2nd Commandment? Unpacking the History and Interpretation

Which Pope Changed the 2nd Commandment? Unpacking the History and Interpretation

The question of "Which pope changed the 2nd Commandment?" is one that often arises when discussing religious history and biblical interpretation. However, the premise of the question itself is a bit of a misunderstanding. No pope has ever officially "changed" or altered the text of the Ten Commandments as found in the Bible. The Ten Commandments are considered divinely inspired scripture, and their wording, as preserved in various biblical texts (primarily Exodus and Deuteronomy), has remained consistent throughout Christian history.

What has evolved, and what sometimes leads to this question, is the way in which the commandments are enumerated and interpreted by different Christian traditions. The way the commandments are numbered and grouped can vary, leading to the perception that something has been changed.

Understanding the Different Numberings

The core issue lies in how the ancient Jewish tradition and subsequent Christian traditions have divided and grouped the commandments. The Bible itself doesn't explicitly number them from one to ten. Instead, it presents a series of divine pronouncements.

Let's look at the relevant biblical texts:

• Exodus 20:3-5 (NIV): "You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God..."
• Deuteronomy 5:7-9 (NIV): "You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image... You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God..."

The Catholic and Lutheran Division

Many people who ask about a changed commandment are often referring to the way the Catholic Church and some Lutheran churches present the commandments. In these traditions, the first two verses of Exodus 20 (or Deuteronomy 5) are often combined into a single "First Commandment." This combined commandment encompasses both the prohibition against having other gods and the prohibition against making and worshiping idols.

In this system, the numbering proceeds as follows:

1. You shall have no other gods before me.
2. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God... (This is often seen as one commandment in Catholic and Lutheran traditions)
3. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God...
4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy...
5. Honor your father and your mother...
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet...

Therefore, what Protestants and Jews typically consider the "Second Commandment" (against graven images) is, in the Catholic and Lutheran tradition, incorporated into the "First Commandment." This is why some may believe the Second Commandment was "changed" or removed, when in reality, it was simply grouped differently.

The Protestant and Jewish Division

In contrast, many Protestant denominations and the Jewish tradition typically separate the first two prohibitions into distinct commandments. This results in a numbering system that aligns more directly with the sequence of the prohibitions in the biblical text:

1. You shall have no other gods before me. (First Commandment)
2. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God... (Second Commandment)
3. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God... (Third Commandment)
4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy... (Fourth Commandment)
5. Honor your father and your mother... (Fifth Commandment)
6. You shall not murder. (Sixth Commandment)
7. You shall not commit adultery. (Seventh Commandment)
8. You shall not steal. (Eighth Commandment)
9. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. (Ninth Commandment)
10. You shall not covet... (Tenth Commandment)

The difference in numbering primarily affects the first few commandments. The way the commandments about coveting are handled also leads to variations, with some traditions splitting the prohibition against coveting a neighbor's house from the prohibition against coveting a neighbor's spouse into two separate commandments (the Tenth Commandment).

Historical Roots of the Division

These different ways of numbering and categorizing the commandments have historical roots. The division used by Catholic and Lutheran traditions is largely attributed to Augustine of Hippo in the 4th century. He grouped the commandments based on their object: the first three deal with our duties to God, and the last seven deal with our duties to our neighbor. This theological approach led to the combining of the first two prohibitions into one.

The division used by most Protestants and Jews is often traced back to the Jewish scholar Philo of Alexandria in the 1st century, and later adopted by other Jewish authorities and many Protestant reformers. This approach tends to follow the literal sequence of prohibitions in the biblical text more closely.

It is crucial to understand that the theological substance and the divine instruction remain the same across these traditions. The difference lies in categorization and enumeration, not in the fundamental divine law itself.

Therefore, to directly answer the question: No pope changed the 2nd Commandment. The perceived change is a result of differing traditions in how the Ten Commandments are numbered and organized, a practice that has been in place for centuries and predates the role of the papacy as many people understand it today in its current form.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How did this numbering difference come about?

The differing numbering systems have historical origins. The Catholic and Lutheran system is largely based on the theological interpretations of St. Augustine, who grouped the commandments by their focus: duties to God and duties to neighbor. Other traditions, including many Protestant denominations and Judaism, follow a numbering system that more closely adheres to the literal sequence of the prohibitions as presented in the Bible, often attributed to early Jewish scholars like Philo of Alexandria.

Why do some Bibles present the commandments differently?

Bibles themselves don't typically "present" the commandments with a specific numbering that deviates from standard textual transmission. The variation arises in catechisms, theological explanations, and devotional materials that accompany biblical study. Different denominations teach their adherents a particular way of understanding and enumerating the commandments, leading to the perceived differences.

Does this numbering difference affect the meaning of the commandments?

No, the numbering difference does not affect the core meaning or divine authority of the commandments. The divine instruction against idolatry (what is often considered the 2nd Commandment) remains a foundational teaching in all Christian traditions, whether it's presented as a separate commandment or as part of the broader first commandment concerning devotion to God alone.