Some of you will know that my Dad was a minister, and even though he died when I was only 17, most of what I know about theology, I learned from him. When I was about nine or ten, he started teaching me the Heidelberg Catechism. This is worth a special series.
Yesterday's post about Meredith Kline reminded me of catechism class when I was a kid. I distinctly remember the lesson on Lord's Day 34:
Question 93: How are these commandments divided?
Answer: Into two tables; the first of which teaches us how we must behave towards God; the second, what duties we owe to our neighbour.
I was taught at the time that, in fact, the two tablets of the Decalogue [literally "Ten Words", usually called the "Ten Commandments"] were duplicates: both tablets contained the whole set of commandments.
It was only later, of course, that I learned that this idea came from Meredith Kline. His theory was that the Decalogue is modelled on Ancient Near Eastern treaty documents. The Decalogue is more than just a set of commandments – it starts with an identification of the "Suzerain" and a historical preamble ("I am YHWH your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt") and also contains threat and promises. As was the common practice in those days, both the lord and his vassal would receive a copy.
So there you go – I was influenced by Kline's thinking even at the age of ten.
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