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Alexander Whyte on the Second Commandment
THE SECOND COMMANDMENT. II3 Q. 49. Which is the second commandment? A. The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not…
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Zacharias Ursinus on the Second Commandment
The following is an excerpt from Zacharias Ursinus’ Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism (link to book). THIRTY-FIFTH LORD’S DAY. Question 96. What does God require in the second command? Answer. That we in nowise represent God by images, nor worship him in any other way than he has commanded in his word. EXPOSITION. Two things…
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Second Helvetic Confession on Images
The following is CHAPTER IV of the Second Helvetic Confession (1562, revised 1564) “Of Idols or Images of God, Christ and The Saints” (link to Confession) Adopted by the Reformed Church not only in Switzerland but in Scotland (1566), Hungary (1567), France (1571), and Poland (1578). IMAGES OF GOD. Since God as Spirit is in…
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John Whitecross on the Second Commandment
John Whitecross’ work “The Shorter Catechism Illustrated” (Qs49&50)(Q51)(Q52) has a number of anecdotes related to the catechism questions we have been studying. This work may be especially useful for children and others who find reading strictly theological works difficult. Enjoy! -TurretinFan To God be the Glory!
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Matthew Henry on the Second Commandment
The following are selections from Matthew Henry’s “A Scripture Catechism in the Method of the Assembly’s” (Q49)(Q50)(Q51)(Q52) Q. 49.What is the second commandment?A. The second commandment is, Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath; or…
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Francis R. Beattie on the Second Commandment
The following is an excerpt from Francis R. Beattie’s, “The Presbyterian Standards,” chapter 23: “The Means of Grace: the Word: the First Table” (1896). II. The Second Commandment.This command is much longer in its terms than the first, and has some important reasons attached to it. It is as follows: “Thou shalt not make unto…
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John Flavel on the Second Commandment
The following is excerpted from An Exposition of the Assembly’s Shorter Catechism, by John Flavel (1628-1691) Of the Second Commandment. Q. 49. Which is the second commandment?A. The second commandment is, [Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing, that is in heaven above, or that is in…
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Catechism of the Church at Geneva on the Second Commandment
Master: Let us pass to the second head. Scholar: Thou shalt not sculpture to thyself the image, or form any of those things which are either in heaven above or on the earth beneath, or in the waters under the earth. Thou shalt not adore nor serve them. M. Does it entirely prohibit us from…
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Fisher’s Catechism on the Second Commandment
James Fisher, Ralph Erskine, and Ebenezer Erskine produced a meta-catechism, a catechism designed to explain and explicate the Westminster Shorter Catechism. It was originally released in 1753, though it was revised and ultimately released in the form below by James Fisher in 1765. As explained in the introduction, while these three men were involved, they…
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Westminster Shorter and Larger Catechisms on the Second Commandment
From the Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 49. Which is the second commandment?A. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to…