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The Catechism in Questions & Answers
- Introduction
- Contents
- 280. What is the function of God’s commandments?
- 281. With what attitude should human beings obey the commandments of God?
- 282. What is the greatest commandment?
- 283. What is the basis of man’s love for God?
- 284. What does the commandment to love God demand, and what does this require?
- 285. What is the commandment to love one’s neighbour?
- 286. What does the commandment to love one’s neighbour demand?
- 287. Who is this “neighbour”?
- 288. Did Jesus say anything else about the commandment to love one’s neighbour?
- 289. What does the “golden rule” state?
- 290. How is the love for one’s neighbour to be revealed in the congregation?
- 291. What does this “love for one another” produce in the congregation?
- 292. What is the text of the Ten Commandments?
- 293. To whom were the Ten Commandments given?
- 294. What significance did the Ten Commandments hold for the people of Israel?
- 295. Did Jesus and His Apostles comment on the Ten Commandments?
- 296. To whom do the Ten Commandments apply?
- 297. How are God’s commandments to be seen in relationship to the laws of the state?
- 298. What does it mean to violate the commandments of God?
- 299. How can the whole law be fulfilled?
- 300. What is the First Commandment?
- 301. What does the First Commandment mean?
- 302. What is the significance of the First Commandment in the Old Testament?
- 303. What does the prohibition to worship other gods imply?
- 304. How are we to understand the prohibition of producing and worshipping images?
- 305. Are we forbidden to paint pictures or take photographs?
- 306. What is the significance of the First Commandment in the New Testament?
- 307. What does the First Commandment mean for us today?
- 308. What is the Second Commandment?
- 309. What does the Second Commandment mean?
- 310. What is the significance of the Second Commandment in the Old Testament?
- 311. What is the significance of the Second Commandment in the New Testament?
- 312. What does the Second Commandment mean for us today?
- 313. How might one take the name of God in vain?
- 314. What is the consequence of violating the Second Commandment?
- 315. Is it a violation of the Second Commandment to swear while invoking the name of God?
- 316. What is the Third Commandment?
- 317. What is the meaning of the Third Commandment?
- 318. What is the significance of the Third Commandment in the Old Testament?
- 319. What is the significance of the Third Commandment in the New Testament?
- 320. Why do Christians hallow the Sunday as the “Sabbath”?
- 321. How do we keep the Sunday holy?
- 322. What is the Fourth Commandment?
- 323. What is the meaning of the Fourth Commandment?
- 324. What is the significance of the Fourth Commandment in the Old Testament?
- 325. What is the significance of the Fourth Commandment in the New Testament?
- 326. What does the Fourth Commandment mean for us today?
- 327. How is the promise of a “long life” to be understood today?
- 328. Does the Fourth Commandment also imply certain duties for the parents?
- 329. What is the Fifth Commandment?
- 330. What is the meaning of the Fifth Commandment?
- 331. What is the significance of the Fifth Commandment in the Old Testament?
- 332. What is the significance of the Fifth Commandment in the New Testament?
- 333. What is the significance of the Fifth Commandment for us today?
- 334. Is an abortion a violation of the Fifth Commandment?
- 335. Does the Fifth Commandment also apply to suicide?
- 336. Is killing in self-defence a violation of the Fifth Commandment?
- 337. What does the commandment say about killing in war?
- 338. Is euthanasia a violation of the Fifth Commandment?
- 339. How should the death penalty be assessed from the perspective of the Fifth Commandment?
- 340. Does the Fifth Commandment also apply to the killing of animals?
- 341. What is the Sixth Commandment?
- 342. What is the meaning of the Sixth Commandment?
- 343. What is the significance of the Sixth Commandment in the Old Testament?
- 344. What is the significance of the Sixth Commandment in the New Testament?
- 345. What does the New Testament have to say about divorce?
- 346. What does the Sixth Commandment mean for us today?
- 347. What is the position of the New Apostolic Church toward divorced individuals?
- 348. What is the Seventh Commandment?
- 349. What is the meaning of the Seventh Commandment?
- 350. What is the significance of the Seventh Commandment in the Old Testament?
- 351. What is the significance of the Seventh Commandment in the New Testament?
- 352. What does the Seventh Commandment mean for us today?
- 353. What is the Eighth Commandment?
- 354. What is the meaning of the Eighth Commandment?
- 355. What is the significance of the Eighth Commandment in the Old Testament?
- 356. What is the significance of the Eighth Commandment in the New Testament?
- 357. What does the Eighth Commandment mean for us today?
- 358. What duties result for Christians from the Eighth Commandment?
- 359. What are the Ninth and Tenth Commandments?
- 360. Why are the Ninth and Tenth Commandments often summarised into one?
- 361. What is the meaning of the Ninth and Tenth Commandments?
- 362. What is the significance of the Ninth and Tenth Commandments in the Old Testament?
- 363. What is the significance of the Ninth and Tenth Commandments in the New Testament?
- 364. What is the meaning of the Ninth and Tenth Commandments for us today?
310. What is the significance of the Second Commandment in the Old Testament?
When God identified Himself to Moses in the burning bush, He gave His name. “I AM WHO I AM.” Here the name is not merely a mark of distinction. This name also describes the being of its bearer. Thereby God announces that He is changeless and eternal in His being. Individual human beings experience God in different ways, but God nevertheless remains changeless.
The being and majesty of God must not be infringed in any way. Out of reverence, devout Jews never utter the name “I AM WHO I AM” (Hebrew: Yahweh) aloud. Thereby they seek to avoid any—even unintentional—misuse of God’s name.
“And God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you”’.”
Exodus 3: 14