Early Christian Beliefs About The Ten Commandments and Christian Obedience

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Direct teaching

And all will live to God who keep these commandments, and walk in them.

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Direct teaching

and whosoever shall hear and keep these commandments, shall live to God.

Clement of Rome, Second Epistle (attributed) Direct teaching

Wherefore, brethren, by doing the will of the Father, and keeping the flesh holy, and observing the commandments of the Lord, we shall obtain eternal life.

Mark 10:19 Background

Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

Luke 18:20 Background

Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

Romans 10:5 Background

For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.

John 15:10 Background

If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

Origen, Commentary on Matthew Direct teaching

But let us return to the subject before us. In it, the Savior shortened and explained two commandments from the law: one from the Ten Commandments in Exodus, and the other from Leviticus, or from one of the other books of the Pentateuch. Since we have explained how they set aside the word of God that says, "Honor your father and your mother," by saying, "Whoever says to his father or mother, 'It is a gift, whatever you might have received from me,' you shall not honor your father or your mother," someone may ask whether these words, "He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die," Matthew 15:4, do not seem out of place. For even if the man who dedicates as Corban what should have been given to honor his father and mother does fail to honor them, how does the tradition of the Pharisees set aside the word that says, "He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die"? But perhaps when someone said to his father or his mother, "It is a gift, whatever you might have received from me," Matthew 15:5, he was, in a sense, speaking abusively to his father or mother, as if he were calling his parents sacrilegious for taking from him what had been consecrated as Corban.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching

And the Ten Commandments, seen as an image of heaven, include the sun and moon, stars, clouds, light, wind, water, air, darkness, and fire. This is the physical Decalogue of heaven.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

for the law contains those precepts which were spoken by the Lord God before the people fell into idolatry, and made a calf like the Egyptian Apis — that is, the ten commandments.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

Now the law is the Decalogue, which the Lord proclaimed to them with an audible voice before the people made that calf which represented the Egyptian Apis. And the law is righteous, and therefore it is called law, because judgments are made from it according to the law of nature. The followers of Simon misuse this, thinking they will not be judged by it and so will escape punishment. This law is good and holy, and it places no compulsion in positive matters. For He says, "If you will make me an altar, you shall make it of earth." He does not say, "Make one," but, "If you will make." He does not impose necessity, but gives permission to their own free choice. For God does not need sacrifices, since by nature He is above all need. But He knew that in former times Abel, beloved by God, and Noah and Abraham, and those who came after them, offered sacrifice to God from a thankful mind, without being required, but moved only by themselves through the law of nature. So now He permitted it to the Hebrews, not commanding it, but allowing it if they wished. And if they offered from a right intention, He showed Himself pleased with their sacrifices. Therefore He says: If you desire to offer,

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

XX . Now the law is the decalogue, which the Lord promulgated to them with an audible voice, before the people made that calf which represented the Egyptian Apis.

Deuteronomy 10:4 Background

And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the LORD spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the LORD gave them unto me.

Deuteronomy 4:13 Background

And he declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments, and he wrote them on two tablets of stone.

Exodus 24:12 Background

And the Lord said to Moses, Come up to me into the mountain, and be there; and I will give thee the tables of stone, the law and the commandments, which I have written to give them laws.

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Direct teaching

...rything: "As you would want people to do to you, do the same to them." Luke 6:31. We can sum up the commandments in two, as the Lord says: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength; and your neighbor as yourself." Then from these He concludes, "On these hang the law and the prophets." Further, to the one who asked, "What good thing shall I do, that I may inherit eternal life?" He answered, "You know the commandments?" And when the man replied, "Yes," He said, "Do this, and you shall be saved." The love of the Instructor is especially clear in the different commands that bring salvation, so that discovery may be easier through the richness and arrangement of the Scriptures. We have the Ten Commandments given by Moses. By a basic principle, simple and of one kind, they identify sins in a way that leads to salvation: "You shall not commit adultery. You shall not worship idols. You shall not corrupt boys. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness. Honor your father and your mother." Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5. And so on. These things must be kept, along with whatever else is commanded in reading the Bible. And by

Tatian, The Diatessaron Direct teaching

...mmandment is the greatest and has first place in the law?” Jesus said to him, “The first of all the commandments is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your thought, and with all your strength.’ This is the great and first commandment. And the second, which is like it, is, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these two. On these two commandments hang the law and the prophets.” The scribe said to him, “Excellent, my Master. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And that a man should love him with all his heart, with all his thought, with all his soul, and with all his strength, and that he should love his neighbor as himself, is better than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, and he answered and said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God. You have spoken rightly. Do this, and you shall live.” But he, because he wanted to justify himself, said to him, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus said to him, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and

Ignatius of Antioch, Connection to Matthew 22:40 Supporting witness

And again, "A new commandment give I unto you, that ye love one another. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Direct teaching

3. As in the law, therefore, and in the Gospel [likewise], the first and greatest commandment is, to love the Lord God with the whole heart, and then there follows a commandment like to it, to love one’s neighbour as one’s self;

Romans 13:9 Background

For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Matthew 22:40 Background

On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Galatians 5:14 Background

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Romans 13:10 Background

Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Direct teaching

...s than these shall he do; because I go to my Father"? And He further adds, "If you love me, keep my commandments; and I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter." After this He also adds, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him; and we will come to him, and make our home with him." Moreover, He also added this: "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send, He will teach you, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you." He also speaks that passage in which He shows Himself to be the Son, and rightly adds, "If you loved me, you would rejoice because I go to the Father: for the Father is greater than I." But what shall we say when He also continues with these words: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Every branch in me that bears no fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, so that it may bear more fruit"? He still goes on and adds, "As the Father has loved me, so I also have loved you: remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; just as I have kept the Father's commandments, and remain in His love." Further, He says

Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Supporting witness

...eater works than these, because I go to my Father"? And He goes on to say, "If you love me, keep my commandments; and I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter." After this He also adds, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him; and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him." Moreover, He also added this: "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send, He will teach you and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you." He also speaks that passage in which He shows Himself to be the Son, and rightly adds, "If you loved me, you would rejoice because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I." But what shall we say when He also continues with these words: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, so that it may bear more fruit"? He still continues and adds, "As the Father has loved me, so I also have loved you. Remain in my love. If you have kept my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept the Father's commandments and remain in His love." Furt

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Direct teaching

5. Now, that the law did beforehand teach mankind the necessity of following Christ, He does Himself make manifest, when He replied as follows to him who asked Him what he should do that he might inherit eternal life: “If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” But upon the other asking “Which?” again the Lord replies: “Do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honour father and mother, and thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,”—setting as an ascending series (velut gradus) before those who wished to follow Him, the precepts of the law, as the entrance into life;

Tatian, The Diatessaron Direct teaching

...l life?" Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments. If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." The young man said to him, "Which commandments?" Jesus said to him, "You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not kill. You shall not bear false witness. You shall not do injury. Honor your father and your mother. And, Love your neighbor as yourself." The young man said to him, "I have kept all these from my youth. What do I still lack?" Jesus looked intently at him, loved him, and said to him, "If you want to be perfect, you lack one thing: go and sell everything you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. And take up your cross, and follow me." But the young man frowned at this word and went away sad, for he was very rich. When Jesus saw his sadness, he looked toward his disciples and said to them, "How hard it is for those who have possessions to enter the kingdom of God!"

Tatian, The Diatessaron Supporting witness

Mark 10:19a You know the commandments. 45 If you would enter into life, keep the commandments.

Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness

Did Christ rescind the forementioned commandments: Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour your father and your mother?

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Direct teaching

...e I was sitting in my house and praising the Lord for all that I had seen, I was thinking about the commandments: that they are excellent, powerful, glorious, and able to save a person's soul. I said to myself, "I will be blessed if I walk in these commandments, and everyone who walks in them will be blessed." While I was saying these things to myself, I suddenly saw him sitting beside me, and I heard him say this: "Why are you doubtful about the commandments that I gave you? They are excellent. Do not doubt them at all. Instead, put on faith in the Lord, and you will walk in them, for I will strengthen you in them. These commandments are useful for those who intend to repent. For if they do not walk in them, their repentance is in vain. Therefore, you who repent, throw away the wickedness of this world that wears you out. And by putting on all the virtues of a holy life, you will be able to keep these commandments, and you will no longer add to the number of your sins. Walk, therefore, in these commandments of mine, and you will live to God. All these things have been spoken to you by me." After he had said these words, he said to me, "Let us go into the fields, and I will show

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Direct teaching

...hen, man is lord over the creatures of God and rules over all, is he not able to be lord over these commandments also? For," he says, "the man who has the Lord in his heart can also be lord over all, and over every one of these commandments. But for those who have the Lord only on their lips, Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 15:8, while their hearts are hardened, John 12:40; 2 Corinthians 3:14, and who are far from the Lord, the commandments are hard and difficult. Therefore, you who are empty and unstable in your faith, put the Lord in your heart, and you will know that nothing is easier, sweeter, or more manageable than these commandments. Return, you who walk in the commandments of the devil, in harsh and bitter and savage licentiousness, and do not fear the devil. For he has no power against you, because I will be with you, the angel of repentance, who am lord over him. The devil has only fear, but his fear has no strength. So do not fear him, and he will flee from you."

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Direct teaching

...will accomplish much. For you will find favor among those who are going to repent, and they will listen to your words, because I will be with you and will compel them to obey you." I said to him, "Sir, these commandments are great, good, and glorious, and they are able to make glad the heart of the person who can keep them. But I do not know whether a human being can keep these commandments, because they are extremely hard." He answered and said to me, "If you settle it in your mind that they can be kept, then you will keep them easily, and they will not be hard. But if you begin to think that they cannot be kept by man, then you will not keep them. Now I say to you, if you do not keep them, but neglect them, you will not be saved, nor your children, nor your household, since you have already decided for yourself that these commandments cannot be kept by man."

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Direct teaching

... the Word must be kept with all our strength. Nothing at all must be done against the laws, and the commandments must not be weakened. For evil desire is called ὕβρις, insolence. And Plato called the horse of desire unruly when he read, "You became to me raging horses after females," Jeremiah 5:8. And those angels who came to Sodom will make the punishment of lust known to us. They burned those who wanted to treat them shamefully, together with the city, showing by this clear sign the fire that is the fruit of lust. For the things that happened to the people of old, as we said before, were written to warn us, so that we may not be held by the same sins, and may beware lest we fall into similar punishments. But we ought to regard boys as our children, and to look at other men's wives as their own daughters. For to restrain pleasures, and to rule the belly and the parts below the belly, belongs to the greatest mastery. For if reason does not allow the wise man even to move a finger carelessly, as the Stoics confess, how much more must those who pursue wisdom gain control over the part used in intercourse? And for this reason that part seems to be called the private part, because t

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Direct teaching

...ommands for life ought to remove every kind of excuse, so that he may place on men the necessity of obedience, not by force, but by shame, and yet still leave them freedom. Then a reward may be appointed for those who obey, because it was in their power not to obey if they wished; and punishment for those who do not obey, because it was in their power to obey if they wished. How then can excuse be removed unless the teacher practices what he teaches, and, as it were, goes before and holds out his hand to the one who is about to follow? But how can anyone practice what he teaches unless he is like the one whom he teaches? For if he is subject to no passion, a man may answer his teacher like this: It is my wish not to sin, but I am overcome, for I am clothed with frail and weak flesh. It is this flesh that desires, that becomes angry, that fears pain and death. And so I am carried along against my will, and I sin not because I want to, but because I am forced. I myself know that I sin, but the necessity laid on me by my weakness, which I cannot resist, drives me on. What will that teacher of righteousness say in reply to these things? How will he refute and convict a man who claim

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

And the keeping of them is the establishment of the commandments, from which immortality results. And immortality brings us near to God.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

And observance of the commandments, which is the innoxious keeping of them, is the attainment of a secure life.