Are the Ten Commandments the covenant that governs Christians?
Subject: Covenants and the Sabbath
Claim examined: The covenant written on stone remains the binding covenant for Christians, independently of Christ’s New Testament.
Scriptural Answer
Second Corinthians 3 contrasts the ministry written on stone with the ministry of the Spirit. Hebrews 8 describes a new covenant and calls the former covenant old. The question is covenant authority, not whether murder, adultery or dishonesty have become acceptable.
The New Testament restates moral obligations under Christ, including prohibitions of adultery, killing and stealing in Romans 13. Christians obey those teachings as disciples of Christ. Restating a command does not reinstate every ordinance of the Mosaic covenant.
Biblical Connections — Scripture comparison
Recognize the former covenant → Receive the new covenant in Christ → Obey moral commands taught in the New Testament → Do not restore the Mosaic covenant as a whole
These connections summarize the study. An arrow alone does not establish chronology or authority; examine the cited passages.
KJV Scriptures Used
- 2 Corinthians 3:6–11 →
Read KJV passage
6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
- Hebrews 8:6–13 →
Read KJV passage
6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
- Romans 13:8–10 →
Read KJV passage
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Read each passage in its chapter and compare the Scriptures together.
Further Publisher Studies
- Sabbath and covenant studies — The Interactive Bible (Bible.ca) ↗
- AP Doctrinal Matters — Covenants and the Sabbath — Apologetics Press ↗
- Answering the Error — Gospel Broadcasting Network ↗
- GBN tract library — Gospel Broadcasting Network ↗
These outside studies remain with their publishers. They are additional reading, not the authority for this answer. Compare every claim with Scripture.