Part Second. On the Precepts of the Decalogue

130. The Decalogue (hoi deka logoi) is contained twice in Sacred Scripture.² Concerning its division there is not one opinion among doctors. St. Augustine is the first to enumerate the ten precepts according to the manner which the Catholic Church afterwards preserved.³

a. The supreme importance which belongs to the precepts of the Decalogue is already gathered from the solemn manner in which God commanded the Decalogue to be promulgated and preserved. And indeed it contains the first precepts of the natural law, which, two excepted, oblige all men of all times and places.⁴ The precepts which are called of the first table (the first three) order man to God; and the precepts which are called of the second table (the remaining seven) order man to neighbors, the fourth indeed to superior neighbors, among whom parents obtain the first place, but the remaining six to equal neighbors. The precepts of the Decalogue themselves, as St. Augustine well notes,⁵ blossom forth, as it were from their own seed, from the two precepts concerning the love of God and neighbor.⁶

b. In the precepts of the Decalogue there is supreme social and political importance, since they constitute the foundations of any society and state and protect their highest goods. The first three precepts protect the worship of the supreme Deity, the religious foundation of kingdoms; the fifth and eighth precepts protect the life and reputation of the neighbor; the seventh and tenth the right of property; the fourth, authority, the foundation of the family; the sixth and ninth protect marriage.

Book First. On the First Precept of the Decalogue

"I am the Lord your God ... You shall not have strange gods before Me." Ex. 20:2-3.

This precept, insofar as it is affirmative, commands that the one sole true God be worshiped; therefore it commands acts of the virtue of religion. But insofar as it is negative, it prohibits the worship owed to the true God from being denied, or from being attributed to another besides God; therefore it prohibits sins opposed to the virtue of religion.

¹ St. Alphonsus, bk. 3, nn. 1-1003; Thomas Sanchez, Opus morale in praecepta decalogi, bks. 2-4; Sporer-Bierbaum, Theologia moralis decalogalis, Paderborn: Typographia Bonifaciana, 1901, tr. 2-6; Thomas Tamburini, Explicatio decalogi, bks. 2-40; Ballerini-Palmieri, Opus theologicum morale, 3rd ed., Prato: Giachetti, 1899, II, tr. 6, De praeceptis decalogi.

² Ex. 20:2-17; Deut. 5:6-21.

³ Quaestiones in Exodum, q. 71.

⁴ The precept concerning not making a graven thing, and concerning the observance of the Sabbath, insofar as it is ceremonial, pertained only to the Jewish people.

⁵ Quaestiones in Exodum, q. 140.

⁶ Cf. Kirchenlexikon, 2nd ed., "Decalog"; Simar, Lehrbuch der Moraltheologie, 2nd ed., Freiburg: Herder, 1893, p. 39.

The Commandments of God

Within this part

Question First. On the Nature of Religionnn. 131–134
Question Second. On the Acts of Religionnn. 135–147
- Article First. On Adorationnn. 135–137
- Article Second. On Prayernn. 138–147
Question Third. On Sins Against Religionnn. 148–200
- Article Second. On Idolatrynn. 151–152
- Article Third. On Divinationnn. 153–158
- Article Fourth. On Vain Observancenn. 159–162
- Article Fifth. On Magic and Maleficenn. 163–170
  - On Recent Magicnn. 167–170
- Article Sixth. On Tempting Godnn. 171–173
- Article Seventh. On Sacrilegenn. 174–180
- Article Eighth. On Simonynn. 181–200
  - On Simony in Beneficiary Mattersnn. 188–200
Question First. On the Vain Assumption of the Name of Godn. 201
Question Second. On Blasphemynn. 202–208
- Article First. On Blasphemy Itselfnn. 202–207
- Article Second. On Cursesn. 208
Question Third. On Vownn. 209–242
- Article First. On the Nature of Vownn. 209–217
- Article Third. On the Obligation of Vownn. 218–242
  - Section 1. On Simple Cessationn. 227
  - Section 2. On the Irritation of Vownn. 228–232
  - Section 3. On the Dispensation of Vownn. 233–239
  - Section 4. On the Commutation of Vownn. 240–242
Question Fourth. On Oathnn. 243–259
- Article First. On Oath Itself and Its Liceitynn. 243–245
- Article Second. On the Conditions Required for an Oathnn. 246–248
- Article Third. On the Promissory Oathnn. 249–253
- Article Fourth. On Perjurynn. 254–256
- Article Fifth. On Adjurationnn. 257–259
Book Third. On the Third Precept of the Decaloguenn. 260–277
- Question First. On the Sanctification of Feast Daysnn. 260–261
- Question Second. On Hearing Massnn. 262–267
  - Article Second. On the Causes Excusing from Massn. 267
- Question Third. On the Prohibition of Servile Worksnn. 268–277
  - Article First. On Prohibited Worksnn. 268–272
  - Article Second. On the Causes Excusing from Labornn. 273–277
Book Fourth. On the Fourth Precept of the Decaloguenn. 278–325
- Question First. On Piety, Observance, and Obediencenn. 278–280
- Question Second. On Obligations in Domestic Societynn. 281–308
  - On the Emancipation of Womennn. 285–286
  - Article Second. On the Obligations of Children and Parentsnn. 287–299
    Section 1. On the Obligations of Childrennn. 287–292
    Section 2. On the Obligations of Parentsnn. 293–299
    On Children to Be Sent to Non-Catholic Schoolsnn. 298–299
  - Article Third. On the Obligations of Servants and Mastersnn. 300–303
    Section 1. On the Obligations of Servantsnn. 300–302
    Section 2. On the Obligations of Mastersn. 303
  - Article Fourth. On the Obligations of Employers and Workersnn. 304–307
  - Article Fifth. On the Obligations of Pupils and Teachersn. 308
- Question Third. On Obligations in Civil Societynn. 309–325
  - Article First. On the Rulern. 310
  - Article Second. On Deputiesn. 311
  - Article Third. On the Obligation of Subjectionnn. 312–313
  - Article Fourth. On the Obligation of Paying Taxesnn. 314–318
  - Article Fifth. On the Obligation of Furnishing Military Servicenn. 319–322
  - Article Sixth. On the Obligation of Electing Deputiesnn. 323–325
Book Fifth. On the Fifth Precept of the Decaloguenn. 326–354
- Question First. On the Obligation of Preserving Lifen. 326
- Question Second. On the Killing and Mutilation of Oneselfnn. 327–329
- Question Third. On the Killing of a Criminalnn. 330–331
- Question Fourth. On the Killing of an Unjust Aggressornn. 332–335
- Question Fifth. On the Killing of an Innocent Personnn. 336–346
  - Article First. On Homicidenn. 336–340
  - Article Second. On the Procuring of Abortionnn. 341–346
- Question Sixth. On the Duelnn. 347–350
- Question Seventh. On Warnn. 351–354
Book Sixth. On the Seventh Precept of the Decaloguenn. 355–633
- Preliminary Question. On the Force of Civil Law in the Matter of Justicenn. 355–356
- Chapter First. On Ownershipnn. 357–407
  - Question First. On Ownership in Generalnn. 357–367
    Article First. On the Nature of Ownershipnn. 357–366
    Article Third. On the Subject of Ownershipn. 367
  - Question Second. On Ownership in External Thingsnn. 368–381
    Article First. On the Origin of Ownership in External Thingsn. 368
    Article Second. On Possessionnn. 369–371
    Article Third. On the Ownership of Sons Under Family Powernn. 372–375
    Article Fourth. On the Ownership of Spousesnn. 376–378
    Article Fifth. On the Ownership of Authorsn. 379
    Article Sixth. On the Ownership of Clericsnn. 380–381
  - Question Third. On the Acquisition of Ownershipnn. 382–407
    Article First. On Occupationnn. 383–396
    Article Fourth. On Labornn. 397–398
    Article Fifth. On Prescriptionnn. 399–407
- Chapter Second. On the Injury of Ownershipnn. 408–430
  - Question First. On Injury in Generalnn. 408–412
  - Question Second. On the Unjust Taking Away of a Thingnn. 413–428
    Article First. On the Nature of Theftnn. 414–428
    Section 1. Extreme Necessitynn. 424–425
    Section 2. Hidden Compensationnn. 426–428
  - Question Third. On Unjust Damagingnn. 429–430
- Chapter Third. On the Reparation of Injured Ownershipnn. 431–522
  - Question First. On Restitution in Generalnn. 431–452
    Article First. On the Possessor in Good Faithnn. 437–442
    Article Second. On the Possessor in Bad Faithnn. 443–449
    Article Third. On the Possessor in Doubtful Faithnn. 450–452
  - Question Third. On Restitution Because of Unjust Damagingnn. 453–476
    Article First. Required Conditionsnn. 454–459
    Section 1. A Truly Unjust Actionn. 455
    Section 2. An Efficacious Cause of Damagenn. 456–457
    Section 3. Theologically Culpablenn. 458–459
    Article Second. On Doubtful Damaging or Damaging Performed with Errornn. 460–463
    Article Third. On Certain Acts of Damaging in Particularnn. 464–476
    Section 1. On Damaging in Spiritual Goodsn. 464
    Section 2. On Damaging Because of Homicidenn. 465–468
    Section 3. On Damaging Because of Stuprum or Fornicationnn. 469–471
    Section 4. On Damaging Because of Adulterynn. 472–474
    Section 5. On Damaging Because of Injured Law of Military Servicen. 475
    Section 6. On Damaging Because of Defrauded Taxesn. 476
  - Question Fourth. On Restitution Because of Unjust Cooperationnn. 477–501
    Article First. On Unjust Cooperation in Generalnn. 477–479
    Article Second. On the One Commandingnn. 480–482
    Article Third. On the One Counselingnn. 483–488
    Article Fourth. On the One Consentingnn. 489–491
    Article Fifth. On the Flatterer, the Receiver, and the Participantnn. 492–494
    Article Sixth. On Negative Cooperationsnn. 495–501
    Section 1. On the Quantity of Restitutionnn. 498–499
    Section 2. On the Order of Restitutionnn. 500–501
  - Question Fifth. On the Circumstances of Restitutionnn. 502–513
    Article Second. In What Order Restitution Must Be Madenn. 505–508
    Section 1. The Order Among Creditors from Positive Lawnn. 505–506
    Section 2. The Order Among Creditors from Natural Lawnn. 507–508
    Article Third. How Restitution Must Be Madenn. 509–512
    Article Fourth. When Restitution Must Be Maden. 513
  - Question Sixth. On Causes Excusing from Restitutionnn. 514–522
    Article First. On Condonationn. 515
    Article Second. On Impotencenn. 516–517
    Article Third. On Cession of Goodsnn. 518–519
    Article Fourth. On Compositionnn. 520–522
- Chapter Fourth. On Contractsnn. 523–633
  - Question First. On Contracts in Generalnn. 523–617
    Article First. On the Nature of Contractsnn. 523–524
    Article Second. On the Matter of Contractsnn. 525–527
    Article Third. On Capable Personsnn. 528–537
    Section 1. On the Qualities of Consentnn. 530–533
    Section 2. On the Vices of Consentnn. 534–537
    Article Fifth. On the Cause of Consentn. 538
    Article Sixth. On the Obligation of Contractsnn. 539–545
    Article First. On Promisenn. 546–547
    Article Second. On Donationnn. 548–563
    Section 1. On Hereditary Successionnn. 552–555
    Section 2. On Last Wills Themselvesnn. 556–559
    Section 3. On Testaments Themselvesnn. 560–563
    Article First. On Depositnn. 564–567
    Article Second. On Commodatumnn. 568–570
    Article Third. On Mandatenn. 571–574
    Article Fourth. On Mutuumnn. 575–586
    Section 1. On the Nature of Mutuumnn. 575–578
    Section 2. On Pecuniary Mutuumnn. 579–581
    Section 3. On Interest and Usurynn. 582–584
    Section 4. On the Prohibition of Usurynn. 585–586
    Article Fifth. On Purchase and Salenn. 587–606
    Section 1. On Purchase and Sale in Generalnn. 587–588
    Section 2. On the Obligations of Seller and Buyernn. 589–593
    Section 3. On the Just Pricenn. 594–599
    Section 4. On Sales in Speciesnn. 600–606
    Article Sixth. On Locationnn. 607–613
    Section 1. On Locationn. 608
    Section 2. On Hiringnn. 609–612
    Section 3. On Hiring of a Workn. 613
    Article Seventh. On the Contract of Partnershipnn. 614–615
    Article Eighth. On Exchange of Moneynn. 616–617
  - Question Fourth. On Aleatory Contractsnn. 618–633
    Article First. On Wageringnn. 619–621
    Article Second. On Gamenn. 622–624
    Article Third. On Lotterynn. 625–626
    Article Fourth. On Insurancenn. 627–631
    On Life Insurancenn. 630–631
    Article Fifth. On Stock-Exchange Speculationsnn. 632–633
Book Seventh. On the Eighth Precept of the Decaloguenn. 634–672
- Question First. On Veracity and Fidelitynn. 634–635
- Question Second. On Lesion of Truthnn. 636–641
  - Article First. On Lyingnn. 636–638
  - Article Second. On Amphibology and Mental Restrictionnn. 639–641
- Question Third. On Lesion of Reputationnn. 642–657
  - Article First. On the Right to Honor and Reputationnn. 642–643
  - Article Second. On Detraction and Calumnynn. 644–648
  - Article Third. On the Licit Revelation of Another's Crimenn. 649–653
  - Article Fourth. On One Hearing Detractionn. 654
  - Article Fifth. On Restitution of Reputationnn. 655–657
- Question Fourth. On Injury to Honornn. 658–665
  - Article First. On Rash Judgmentnn. 658–661
  - Article Second. On Insultnn. 662–665
- Question Fifth. On Violation of Secretnn. 666–672
  - On the Letters of Othersnn. 671–672