Sep
9
2024
Reading the Decalogue (4 online sessions)
2:00pm - 4:00pm

This Online Ethics Reading Group is now full. If you are interested, please contact .

Once a month from September to December, the Online Ethics Reading Group will be studying four classic Reformed and Lutheran expositions of the Ten Commandments. Written between 1529 and 1648, the texts cover a variety of genres (catechisms, a scholastic text, and a series of sermons). Some of them illustrate how the Reformed included consideration of the virtues in their expositions of the Decalogue, and thus show how law and virtue are related. Taken together, they provide rich theological and practical help in understanding, applying, and teaching the moral law as the God-given rule of Christian obedience.

The group is open to anyone interested in Christian ethics, but is especially intended to help pastors think about important ethical questions and to dig deeper into what they are reading. Together, we learn from the writings of wise guides about how to think about and teach important ethical topics in ways that help and enrich our congregations.

The group will be led by the Pastors’ Academy’s tutor in Christian Ethics, Matthew Mason. Please make sure you have read the assigned reading for each month, and come armed with questions and observations. The texts (which will be provided) are as follows.

– Martin Luther, ‘Large Catechism’ (1529)
– Heinrich Bullinger, Decades (1549-51), Second Decade, Sermons 1-10 and Third Decade, Sermons 1-4.
– Zacharius Ursinus, Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism (pub. posth., 1591), 488-618.
– Westminster Larger Catechism (1648) Questions 91-151

Schedule: The group meets on Zoom, on Monday afternoons, 2-4pm.

9 September 2024 First to Third Words
– Luther First and Second Commandments*
– Bullinger Vol. 1, pp. 193-253 (Second Decade, Sermons 1-3)
– Ursinus pp. 488-556
– WLC Questions 91-114

7th October 2024 Fourth and Fifth Words
– Luther Third and Fourth Commandments
– Bullinger Vol 1, pp. 253-298 (Second Decade, Sermons 4-5)
– Ursinus pp. 557-583
– WLC Questions 115-133

4th November 2024 Sixth and Seventh Words
– Luther Fifth and Sixth Commandments
– Bullinger Vol 1, pp. 293-435 (Second Decade, Sermons 6-10)
– Ursinus pp. 583-595
– WLC Questions 134-139

2nd December 2024 Eighth to Tenth Words
– Luther Seventh to Tenth Commandments
– Bullinger Vol 2, pp. 17-124 (Third Decade, Sermons 1-4)
– Ursinus pp. 595-618
– WLC Questions 140-15

* NB the Lutheran numbering of the Decalogue differs from the Reformed numbering.
Photo by Kim Traynor, under a Creative Commons Licence.