Melville Divinity Hall
ST509 · 3 credits · Graduate

Christian Ethics: The Decalogue in the Larger Catechism and the Heidelberg Catechism

Syllabus

  1. Lectures Listen to the lectures in order. Those marked supplementary are optional.

    • Larger Catechism: Questions 101-110 (preface to the Ten Commandments and the first two) Camden Bucey (reader) 8 min (mp3 duration read with ffprobe from the episode page's audio file) Open source Primary text Reformed Forum Reads the OPC (American) text of the Larger Catechism. The 1647 text of WLC 109 lists 'tolerating a false religion' among the sins forbidden by the second commandment; the American text omits it. Keep as primary-text with the note; the 1757 Glasgow printing is the reference wording and the Standards reader must show...
    • Calvin and the Sabbath (Christ the Center) Richard B. Gaffin Jr. 58 min (mp3 duration read with ffprobe from the episode page's audio file) Open source Doctrinal Orthodox Presbyterian Church; Westminster Theological Seminary (emeritus)
    • The Synod of Dort's Deliverance on the Sabbath (Christ the Center) Daniel R. Hyde 63 min (mp3 duration read with ffprobe from the episode page's audio file) Open source Doctrinal Oceanside URC, Oceanside, California (United Reformed Churches; Three Forms)
    • The Rule of Love: Broken, Fulfilled and Applied (Christ the Center, with John Fesko) John V. Fesko (with the Christ the Center panel) 53 min (mp3 duration read with ffprobe from the episode page's audio file) Open source Doctrinal Westminster Seminary California (academic dean at the time), OPC American subscribers (1788 text). None of their items in this stream touches WCF 20.4, 23 or 31. No comparison heading needed in this stream; keep the standing note on the page.
    • The Roots of Reformed Moral Theology (Christ the Center, with Bruce Baugus) Bruce Baugus 71 min (mp3 duration read with ffprobe from the episode page's audio file) Open source Supplementary Reformation Heritage Books author; church affiliation not stated on the page Affiliation could not be confirmed this session (the WebSearch budget was exhausted and the institutional pages probed did not state it). Kept only in history or supplementary roles; confirm before any doctrinal use.
    • Van Til and the Foundation of Christian Ethics (Christ the Center) Scott J. Hatch 66 min (mp3 duration read with ffprobe from the episode page's audio file) Open source Supplementary Reformed Forum author; church affiliation not stated on the page Affiliation could not be confirmed this session (the WebSearch budget was exhausted and the institutional pages probed did not state it). Kept only in history or supplementary roles; confirm before any doctrinal use.

    Total: 5.3 hours

  2. Reading Read in the order given. Public-domain and free texts are linked; purchases are optional and never required.

    Total: 7 pages

  3. Assignment Write a research paper of 30 pages on a topic drawn from the lectures and readings of this course. Argue from Scripture, the Westminster Standards (1647 text) and the Three Forms of Unity, cite the primary sources you read, and state the points on which the sources differ.

    Open the assignment

  4. In Spanish (supplementary) Spanish-language lectures and readings, supplementary. The English lectures above remain the core; strong English lectures are translated rather than replaced by weaker Spanish ones.

    • R.C. Sproul, La ley de Dios y el cristiano (Renovando Tu Mente series) R.C. Sproul 15 episodes (corrected from 16: the series page links 15 episode pages, 'Cuanto amo tu ley' through 'Ten contentamiento') Open source Supplementary Ministerios Ligonier (Spanish) PCA minister (American text). The Decalogue series' 'Descansa' episode does not teach the WCF 21.7-8 / Directory Sabbath and the second-commandment episodes do not teach exclusive psalmody or Dort art. 69. No Spanish advocate of exclusive psalmody, of the Dort 69 position, of the establishment principle or of...
    • R.C. Sproul, Juramentos y votos (Renovando Tu Mente series) R.C. Sproul 6 episodes (verified: 'Si o no' through 'Cumpliendo la promesa') Open source Supplementary Ministerios Ligonier (Spanish) PCA minister (American text). The Decalogue series' 'Descansa' episode does not teach the WCF 21.7-8 / Directory Sabbath and the second-commandment episodes do not teach exclusive psalmody or Dort art. 69. No Spanish advocate of exclusive psalmody, of the Dort 69 position, of the establishment principle or of...
    • El Catecismo Mayor de Westminster (questions 91-148) trans. CLIR (2010), published by Ministerios Ligonier WLC 91-148 Open source Supplementary 2010 translation. Free PCA minister (American text). The Decalogue series' 'Descansa' episode does not teach the WCF 21.7-8 / Directory Sabbath and the second-commandment episodes do not teach exclusive psalmody or Dort art. 69. No Spanish advocate of exclusive psalmody, of the Dort 69 position, of the establishment principle or of...
    • El Catecismo de Heidelberg (Lord's Days 34-44 on the Decalogue) Lord's Days 34-44 Open source Supplementary 2020 translation. Free

Every lecture and reading carries its role. "Under review" means the teacher's subscription to the Westminster Standards or the Three Forms of Unity is not yet established; "Read as comparison" means the material teaches the 1788 American text of WCF 20.4, 23 or 31 or of Larger Catechism Q.109, which the school reads beside the 1647 text. Nothing has been removed.