The Ten Commandments through the Ages

by Sara M. Koenig

Overview

Discover what the Ten Commandments have meant to people throughout history
 
The Ten Commandments are among the best-known teachings in the Bible. As the first laws given by God at Mt. Sinai, they occupy a special place in the biblical narrative, yet they have exerted remarkable influence in other contexts too. They have shaped religious instruction, sparked debates in educational and political circles, inspired film and television productions, and much more. In light of all this, it is worth asking: why have the Ten Commandments had such an enduring influence? And how have people's interpretations of them changed over time?
 
Old Testament scholar Sara M. Koenig takes up these questions in The Ten Commandments through the Ages, surveying how the commandments have been understood and applied throughout the centuries in Judaism, Christianity, and the secular world. She devotes a chapter to each of the commandments, providing fascinating examples of how they have been interpreted across differing social and historical contexts. Readers will come away with a richer sense of the significance of the Ten Commandments for past generations, and heightened interest in how they might apply the commandments to their own situations today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781467464857
Publisher:	Eerdmans, William B. Publishing Company
Publication date:	10/02/2025
Sold by:	Bookwire
Format:	eBook
Pages:	288
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Sara M. Koenig is professor of biblical studies at Seattle Pacific University. Her research interests include Old Testament studies, reception history, hermeneutics, and the literary features and ethical implications of the biblical text. She is the author of Bathsheba Survives and coeditor of The Usefulness of Scripture.
Sara M. Koenig is professor of biblical studies at Seattle Pacific University. Her research interests include Old Testament studies, reception history, hermeneutics, and the literary features and ethical implications of the biblical text. She is the author of Bathsheba Survives and The Ten Commandments through the Ages.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Introduction
1. "I Am the LORD Your God"
2. "No Other Gods, No Idols"
3. "God's Name"
4. "Sabbath"
5. "Honor Your Father and Mother"
6. "Don't Kill"
7. "Don't Commit Adultery"
8. "Don't Steal"
9. "Don't Bear False Witness"
10. "Don't Covet"
Conclusion

Acknowledgments 
Selected Bibliography 
Index of Authors 
Index of Subjects 
Index of Scripture

Editorial Reviews

This timely contribution addresses a hot topic in American public discourse. The volume encourages its readers to think with a wide selection of Christian and Jewish interpreters from different centuries about each one of the Ten Commandments. Doing so enables readers to engage with the chain of interpreters and participate in the conversation. The book shows that the wide variety of possible interpretations, many of which are related to the times and social groups of the interpreters, is not a hindrance to understanding but rather an essential part of an ongoing process of reading and applying the commandments in various contexts. This volume will be particularly helpful for learning groups, for individuals seeking to deepen their understanding of the Ten Commandments, and as a textbook or key resource for undergraduate courses on the reception history of the commandments.”
—Ehud Ben Zvi, professor emeritus of history, classics, and religion, University of Alberta

“Sara Koenig’s new book on the Ten Commandments is an eminently readable and entirely fascinating tour of the Decalogue and its almost stupefying range of interpretation throughout the ages. Not afraid to offer something of a ‘scrapbook’ that focuses in especially on themes, Koenig’s selection is nevertheless remarkably thorough in scope even as she pays close attention to the smallest of exegetical details. This will be the first book I consult on the meaning(s) of the Ten Commandments in the history of reception.”
—Brent A. Strawn, D. Moody Smith Distinguished Professor of Old Testament and Professor of Law, Duke University

“Koenig’s illumination of the Ten Commandments through their history of reception across thousands of years, covering a wide array of cultural contexts and media, offers readers a rich, nuanced exploration of these unimaginably generative texts. By examining how each commandment has been interpreted and applied across different religious traditions and historical contexts, Koenig reveals their remarkable adaptability and enduring relevance. This scholarly yet accessible work demonstrates how these ancient principles continue to shape our world today, and invites readers to engage thoughtfully with their own understanding of the Ten Commandments. This is an instant classic for anyone interested in biblical interpretation, religious history, and ethical reflection.”
—Brennan Breed, associate professor of Old Testament, Columbia Theological Seminary

“In this tour de force, Koenig offers a close reading of the Ten Commandments and surveys their reception and interpretation across history. This book is an essential and timely resource for those interested in the complex nature of the commandments’ reception along with their value for modern readers today.”
—Jenny Matheny, associate professor of Christian Scriptures, George W. Truett Theological Seminary

“Once again, Sara Koenig presents her readers with a treasure trove of insights into an Old Testament text’s reception history within the Jewish and Christian traditions. Sifting a mountain of potentially relevant literature, Koenig’s lucid, charitable, and well-paced prose provides just the right balance of scholarly depth and digestibility. For anyone who aims to interpret the Ten Commandments in a fresh context, this worthy volume proves an enriching investment whose dividends are guaranteed.”
—Daniel J. D. Stulac, assistant professor of the Old Testament, Briercrest College

“Sara Koenig has dug deeply into the reception history of the Decalogue. This wide-ranging exploration of Jewish and Christian interpretation of the Commandments is a rich and inspiring feast for both scholarly and lay readers.”
—J. Richard Middleton, professor emeritus of biblical worldview and exegesis, Northeastern Seminary at Roberts Wesleyan University

From the Publisher