The Ten Commandments

Catholic (Original Christian) Version
of the Ten Commandments
Not the ones in front of our parish but similar

One of my biggest pet peeves is the use of the wrong set of Ten Commandments at our church and school activities.  Almost every single entry in the Ten Commandments category at the school religion fairs at our parish school is the wrong ones.  Yes, there is more than one set of Ten Commandments, basically because they are not numbered 1,2,3,4, etc in the book of Exodus.  The Catholic church changed the Jewish ones slightly, changing the first two Jewish commandments into one, becoming the Christian version for over 1500 years.  (See a current version of all three below. *Lutherans use the same version as Catholics.  Source:  Biblical Heritage Center)
      Today, while admiring the set of Ten Commandments installed recently in front of our church, I overheard a couple of people discussing what was wrong with them.  I chuckled a little and interjected that our society is so used to seeing the Protestant version that they don't even recognize the original Christian version.  However, the people talking said that is not what their friend thought was wrong.  Their friend thought that it should still use the "Thou shalt" wording.  It really made me chuckle then because I couldn't believe the thees and thous were more important to some of the parishioners than the actual commandments and their meaning.
     One of the reasons I get so upset about which version at the religion fair is because the Catholic/original Christian version makes absolutely more sense in the symbolism and Christian doctrine of the Church.  The first three commandments refer to our duties to God, thus invoking the image of the Triune God; the last seven referring to our duties to our neighbor.  Seven is, of course, a reference to the seven days of creation.  The Christian Bible is rife with imagery, numbers, and symbols which connect the Old Testament law, prophets, and messianic images to the New Testament Law, prophet, and Messiah.  I am so happy we now have a copy of the original Christian version (in English, not Greek) in front of our parish.  I hope the children at the school will now start learning our version, along with our Catholic Christian Heritage.

	Jewish	Catholic	Protestant*
I	I am the Lord your G-d who has taken you out of the land of Egypt.	I, the Lord, am your God. You shall not have other gods besides me.	You shall have no other gods but me.
II	You shall have no other gods but me.	You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.	You shall not make unto you any graven images.
III	You shall not take the name of the Lord your G-d in vain.	Remember to keep holy the Lord's Day.	You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
IV	You shall remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy.	Honor your father and your mother.	You shall remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy.
V	Honor your mother and father.	You shall not kill.	Honor your mother and father.
VI	You shall not murder.	You shall not commit adultery.	You shall not murder.
VII	You shall not commit adultery.	You shall not steal.	You shall not commit adultery.
VIII	You shall not steal.	You shall not bear false witness.	You shall not steal.
IX	You shall not bear false witness.	You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.	You shall not bear false witness.
X	You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.	You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.	You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.