BibleProject

The 10 Commandments Q+R (E16) — How do modern artistic depictions of God and Jesus relate to the 2nd Commandment? How do we honor aging parents well or honor abusive and dangerous parents? And how do the 10 Commandments stand apart from other ancient Near Eastern law codes? In this episode, Tim and Jon respond to your questions from the 10 Commandments series. Thank you to our audience for your thoughtful contributions to this episode!

CHAPTERS

Intro (0:00-1:23)

How Do the 10 Commandments Stand Apart From Other Ancient Near Eastern Law Codes? (1:23-10:50)

How Do Modern Artistic Depictions of God and Jesus Relate to the 2nd Commandment? (10:50-18:24)

Can We Diminish God by How We Talk About Him (Like Saying, “God Is Love”)? (18:24-25:17)

How Do We Honor Aging Parents Well or Honor Abusive and Dangerous Parents? (25:17-34:56)

How Does the 6th Commandment Apply to Killing in Military Combat? (34:56-52:52)

What Are Other Positive Implications of the 8th Commandment? (52:52-58:03)

Conclusion (58:03-1:01:29)

OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

View this episode’s official transcript.

REFERENCED RESOURCES

In the first question, Tim references our Biblical Law video and the following podcast episodes:

The Purpose of the Law

The Law as a Covenantal Partnership

God's Wisdom in the Law

The Law as a Revolution

Jesus Fulfills the Law

Law Q+R



In the first question, Tim references other ancient law codes, such as the Babylonian Code of Hammurabi and the Mesopotamian Laws of Eshnunna.

Created Equal: How the Bible Broke with Ancient Political Thought by Joshua A. Berman

In the second question, Tim references our 2015 Covenants video as an example of a time when we revised a video after further reflection. Originally, God was depicted as an old man with a beard, and we later updated the video to show only hands representing God.

Language for God in Patristic Tradition: Wrestling with Biblical Anthropomorphism by Mark Sheridan

War, Peace, and Violence: Four Christian Views, edited by Paul Copan

Fight: A Christian Case for Nonviolence by Preston Sprinkle

The Ten Commandments: Interpretation: Resources for the Use of Scripture in the Church by Patrick D. Miller

Find the 10 Commandments full collection of video, podcast, and written resources here.

Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.

SHOW MUSIC

BibleProject theme song by TENTS 

SHOW CREDITS

Production of today’s episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer, who also edited today’s episode and provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty writes the show notes. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The 10 Commandments Hyperlink Episode (E15) — Sometimes at the close of a series, we’ll dig through the podcast archives to find clips that discuss similar ideas from a different perspective. In this 10 Commandments series, we explored how trusting in God's wisdom leads to true life and flourishing, while building lives on our own terms often leads to pain. So in this hyperlink episode, we’ll listen to three clips that explore this theme further. First, Jon and Tim break down the literary structure of the stories surrounding the 10 Commandments, which highlight humanity’s reluctance to wait on God's commands. Second, Jon, Tim, and former BibleProject scholar Carissa Quinn look at how the golden calf story in Exodus 32 relates to the 10 Commandments. And finally, Jon, Tim, and Carissa discuss how all of the Bible’s poems, narratives, laws, and letters are wisdom for us.

CHAPTERS

The Literary Structure of Exodus 19-24 (0:00-11:32)

Obeying God on Our Terms (11:32-31:10)

Commandments in a Modern Context (31:10-47:10)

REFERENCED RESOURCES

Find the 10 Commandments full collection of resources here.

Clip 1 is from “Testing at Mount Sinai,” episode 6 in our 2022 series, Exodus Scroll.

Clip 2 is from “A God of Our Own Making,” episode 2 in our 2020 series, Character of God.

Tim reads quotes from both the Talmud (sometimes referred to as the Babylonian Talmud) and Midrash Exodus Rabbah in the discussion about the golden calf of Exodus 32.



Clip 3 is from “Wisdom for Life’s Complexity,” episode 8 in our 2021 series, The Paradigm.

Find the 10 Commandments full collection of video, podcast, and written resources here.

Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.

SHOW MUSIC

“The Shepherd” by Lofi Sunday feat. Marc Vanparla

“Just Truth” by Lofi Sunday feat. Yoni Charis

BibleProject theme song by TENTS 

SHOW CREDITS

Production of today’s episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey and Aaron Olsen edited today’s episode and provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty writes the show notes. Our host for today is Michelle Jones. Our creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The 10 Commandments E14 — We’ve come to the end of our series on the 10 Commandments, which are known in the Bible as the 10 Words. All throughout this series, we’ve returned to the idea that these commands are not rules to check off a list, but rather God’s wisdom that leads to true life and flourishing. In this episode, Jon and Tim reflect on some final insights about how to approach the 10 Words (and all of biblical law) as wisdom literature, just as Jesus did.

FULL SHOW NOTES

For chapter-by-chapter summaries, biblical words, referenced Scriptures, and reflection questions, check out the full show notes for this episode.

CHAPTERS

Building a Moral Universe (0:00-11:39)

Wisdom Leading to Life (11:39-23:40)

Biblical Laws as Wisdom, Justice, Mercy, and Love (23:40-40:18)

Jesus as the Embodiment of Wisdom (40:18-53:42)

OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

View this episode’s official transcript.

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS BIBLEPROJECT TRANSLATION

View our full translation of the 10 Commandments.

REFERENCED RESOURCES

In chapter 3, Tim references episodes on biblical law from our How to Read the Bible series. Find those episodes here:

The Purpose of the Law

The Law as a Covenantal Partnership

God's Wisdom in the Law

The Law as a Revolution

Jesus Fulfills the Law

Law Q+R



Find the 10 Commandments full collection of video, podcast, and written resources here.

Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.

SHOW MUSIC

“Nice Day ft. Marc Vanparla, John Lee” by Lofi Sunday

“That Gospel ft. Bobcat” by Lofi Sunday

“Blissful Thoughts ft. TBabz” by Lofi Sunday

BibleProject theme song by TENTS 

SHOW CREDITS

Production of today’s episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer, who also edited today’s episode and provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty writes the show notes. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie. 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The 10 Commandments E13 — We’ve arrived at the 10th and final commandment, which feels very different from all the ones that came before it: “Do not desire … anything that belongs to your neighbor.” While most translations use the word “covet,” we simply find khamad, which is the general Hebrew word for desire. All the other commandments involve observable actions, but desire is entirely internal. So why does God warn us about desiring things that belong to our neighbor? In this episode, Jon and Tim finish the 10 Commandments by showing how this command works as an undercurrent beneath all the others.

FULL SHOW NOTES

For chapter-by-chapter summaries, biblical words, referenced Scriptures, and reflection questions, check out the full show notes for this episode.

CHAPTERS

The Meaning of “Desire” (0:00-21:13)

How the Hebrew Bible Talks About Desire (21:13-37:21)

What All Our Desires Point To (37:21-59:30)

OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

View this episode’s official transcript.

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS BIBLEPROJECT TRANSLATION

View our full translation of the 10 Commandments.

REFERENCED RESOURCES

Find the related animated video for this episode here.

Find the 10 Commandments full collection of resources here.

“The Twofold Center of Christian Ethics: Christian Freedom and God's Commandments” by Reinhard Hütter (essay in The Promise of Lutheran Ethics, edited by Karen L. Bloomquist and John R. Stumme)

The Ten Commandments: Interpretation: Resources for the Use of Scripture in the Church by Patrick D. Miller

Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books.

SHOW MUSIC

“Morning Light feat. Oly.Lo” by Lofi Sunday

“Hilltops feat. JK Beatbrook” by Lofi Sunday

BibleProject theme song by TENTS 

SHOW CREDITS

Production of today’s episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey and Aaron Olsen edited today’s episode and provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty writes the show notes. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The 10 Commandments E12 — The common summary of the 9th Commandment is “Do not lie,” a generic prohibition against all kinds of fibs. But the commandment actually reads “Do not bear false witness,” drawing attention to a very specific kind of lying in a communal, legal setting. Many of the other commandments are more general. So why does the 9th Commandment zoom in on truth telling in public, legal settings? In this episode, Jon and Tim explore the 9th Commandment, discovering its underlying value of upholding truth and justice in defense of the most vulnerable in society.

FULL SHOW NOTES

For chapter-by-chapter summaries, biblical words, referenced Scriptures, and reflection questions, check out the full show notes for this episode.

CHAPTERS

Meanings of “Bearing Witness” and “False” (0:00-23:51)

Case Studies in the 42 Commands (23:51-38:07)

The Value Beneath the Command (38:07-49:02)

OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

View this episode’s official transcript.

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS BIBLEPROJECT TRANSLATION

View our full translation of the 10 Commandments.

REFERENCED RESOURCES

Find the related animated video for this episode here.

Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books.

SHOW MUSIC

“Church Pews feat. Oly.Lo & wisdm” by Lofi Sunday

“Yo” by Lofi Sunday, Just Derrick

BibleProject theme song by TENTS

SHOW CREDITS

Production of today’s episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey and Aaron Olsen edited today’s episode and provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty writes the show notes. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.