Question regarding the nature of the moral law

[John The Baptist]

Hey friends,
Been reading through Westminster standards and am currently in LC section about the 10 commandments. I understand that the Decalogue is a summary of the moral law, ‘contextualized’ for Israel, but I have a question about all the other ‘moral’ commandments in the OT and NT.

Reading all of the things required and all the things forbidden in each commandment in the LC really got me thinking:

Is it proper to say that all of the commandments in scripture that are inherently moral (vs ceremonial or civil in the OT) are ‘subsumed,’ or maybe ‘exist,’ under/within the 10 commandments? I’m trying to find wording to speaking about the fact that the 10 commandments are a summary, but in the other direction, if that makes sense.

It seems like having this kind of language could be useful for those who reject certain moral commands in the OT because they are ceremonial/civil (e.g., homosexuality). They could be directed to the relationship between the 7th commandment and homosexuality.

Growing up the 10 commandments were never described as the summary of the moral law but it makes a lot of sense and helps me see every command in scripture differently.

So, is the language of ‘subsumed,’ or ‘exists in,’ or anything similar appropriate and/useful?

Thanks

 

[mpinckard]

Yes, I think it's proper to use language along those lines. If the Decalogue is a comprehensive summary of the moral law, then every duty or prohibition must be contained within it somewhere, else it's not really comprehensive.

Incidentally, I believe that the CRC's ruling that the sinfulness of homosexuality is a confessional issue with which churches/officers may not disagree stems from the HC's explanation of the 7th Commandment.

 

[Charles Johnson]

‘contextualized’ for Israel,

The contextualization is very limited. It's basically the preface "that led you out of the land of Egypt," the mention of donkeys and not Ford F-150s as objects of covetousness, and the mention of a Saturday (and not Sunday) sabbath. Nothing that really gets at the substance of any command.
Thus, the commands are repeated almost verbatim to the Gentiles in Romans 13:9 and elsewhere.

 

[CathH]

So, is the language of ‘subsumed,’ or ‘exists in,’ or anything similar appropriate and/useful?

Yes, or 'included' or 'understood' or 'implied.' Looking back at LC 99, a couple of its sub-points are along these lines, eg, "Under one sin or duty, all of the same kind are forbidden or commanded." Perhaps the reverse of a summary would be the idea of duties "of the same kind."

James Durham in his book, "Exposition of the Ten Commandments" makes some comments which follow the LC. He uses terms like "implied" and "comprehended under."

He says:
Where any thing is commanded as a duty, all duties of that kind are commanded, as keeping holy the Lord's Day is commanded in the fourth Commandment: there hearing, praying, watchfulness all the week over, and all things belonging unto the Worship of God that day, such as Tythes, that is, maintenance for a Ministry, calling of fit Ministers, building Churches, &c. are required, though they be not all duties of that day.
...
Where great sins are forbidden, all the lesser of that sort are forbidden also: as under Adultery, Murder, and Idolatry, all light, obscene whorish words, wanton looks, unchaste thoughts, revenge, rash anger, wordly affections, &c. are forbidden; and they are comprehended and prohibited under the grossest terms, to make them the more detestable, odious, and dreadful.
(Pulled from the 1700s version available here, but Naphtali Press has printed a better version.)

 

[MW]

Is it proper to say that all of the commandments in scripture that are inherently moral (vs ceremonial or civil in the OT) are ‘subsumed,’ or maybe ‘exist,’ under/within the 10 commandments? I’m trying to find wording to speaking about the fact that the 10 commandments are a summary, but in the other direction, if that makes sense.

Thomas Boston: "The ten commandments are the heads of all the duties of the law largely contained in the whole Bible... There is nothing that God requires but may be reduced to one of these commandments."