Understanding the Apostle Paul’s Perspective on the Ten Commandments

Many people worldwide believe that our beloved Apostle Paul taught that the LORD God had “done away” ── or rather, “nailed to the cross” ── the Ten Commandments. But, is this truly what God’s living word teaches? What did the Apostle Paul actually teach concerning them?

Let us learn TODAY what is truly taught concerning the LORD our God’s very relevant and righteous Ten Commandments. 

In all of God’s Scripture, there is only one verse that uses the phrase, “nailing it to His cross” – and I find it in the King James Version as well as the New English Bible, along with others I have in my library ──

“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross.” – Colossians 2:14, KJV. 

Was it the Ten Commandments that were “nailed to His cross”? No, it was the Old Covenant that was “nailed to the cross.” Replaced with the New Covenant – emphasizing our Lord Jesus Christ and His glorious promises. It wasn’t the holy and righteous Ten Commandments that were “the note of debt against us with the decrees of our sins, which was contrary to us.”

A New English Translation Bible by Minister Fred R. Coulter has an asterisk at the bottom of the page of this verse ── 

* Verse 14 does not in any way mean that the commandments of God were nailed to the cross. The phrase “note of debt against us with the decrees of our sins” means the note of debt, or the listing of our sins against God. Our sins and the debt of our sins were nailed to the cross when Jesus Christ was crucified and died. Upon true repentance of sins to God the Father, Jesus Christ blots out the note of debt through the remission of our sins. Jesus Christ, Who knew no sin, was made sin for us. He was nailed to the cross as a sin offering for the sins of the whole world. The note of debt of our sins was symbolically nailed to the cross, not the commandments of God which stand forever. 1

The Apostle Paul ── along with every other apostle of Christ ── taught the Ten Commandments. Notice ──

1st Commandment: “’ You shall have no other gods before Me.’” – Exodus 20:3. 

“ … TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: 24) God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, … 27) … seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.” – Acts 17:23, 24, 27.

“But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship THE GOD OF MY FATHERS, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.” – Acts 24:14. 

“But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature ARE NOT GODS.” – Galatians 4:8.

“And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?” ── think of this, Mr. Dennis Diehl! 😢     

16) And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? …” – 2 Corinthians 6:15, 16. 

“For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve THE LIVING AND TRUE GOD.” – 1 Thessalonians 1:9. 

“Let NO ONE deceive you by any means; for that Day [speaking of the terrible and dreadful end-time Day of the Lord] will not come unless the falling away come first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4) who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” – 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4. 

2nd Commandment: “’ You shall not make for yourself a carved image ──’” – Exodus 20:4.

“ … abstain from things polluted by idols, …” – Acts 15:20. 

“Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. … 22) Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, ‘Men of Athens, … 24) God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25) Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything.’” – Acts 17:16, 22, 24-25. 

“Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23) and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man ── and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.” – Romans 1:22-23. 

“But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, OR AN IDOLATER, …” – 1 Corinthians 5:11.

“Do you not know that the unrighteous WILL NOT inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, NOR IDOLATERS, … 10) … will inherit the kingdom of God.” – 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10.

“And do not become idolaters as were some of them. … 14) Therefore, my beloved, FLEE IDOLATRY.” – 1 Corinthians 10:7, 14.

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: … 20) IDOLATRY, …” – Galatians 5:19, 20.

“For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.” – Ephesians 5:5. 

“Therefore PUT TO DEATH your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” – Colossians 3:5. 

3rd Commandment: “’ You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, …’” – Exodus 20:7. 

“What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks [Gentiles] that they are all under sin. … 14) ‘Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.’” – Romans 3:9, 14.

In ancient Rome, profanity was not just the domain of modern language. Swearing and cursing were common in literature, poetry, and graffiti. Roman obscenities were often hurled as insults, and sometimes had a religious role. I am repulsed when I hear our Lord Jesus Christ’s glorious, holy, righteous, and powerful name being used in a vulgar manner. 

“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, AND EVIL SPEAKING be put away from you, …” – Ephesians 4:31.

“But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, FILTHY LANGUAGE OUT OF YOUR MOUTH.” – Colossians 3:8. 

“of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander [surely, Alexander the Coppersmith 2 Tim. 4:14], whom I delivered to Satan that THEY MAY LEARN NOT TO BLASPHEME.” – 1 Timothy 1:20. 

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2) For men will be … BLASPHEMERS, …” – 2 Timothy 3:1, 2.

4th Commandment: “’ Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.’” – Exodus 20:8. 

“Then Paul, as his custom was, …” ── Paul, originally known as Saul of Tarsus, had been a devout Jew and a Pharisee before his conversion to Christianity. “ … went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures.” – Acts 17:2.

“And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.” – Acts 18:4.

“But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. … 27) For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. … 42) So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. … 44) On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.” – Acts 13:14, 27, 42, 44. 

“There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10) For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his work as God did from His.” – Hebrews 4:9-10. 

“For He has spoken in a certain place of THE SEVENTH DAY in this way: ‘And God rested on the seventh day from all His works’.” – Hebrews 4:4.

5th Commandment: “’ Honor your father and your mother, …” – Exodus 20:12. 

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a [reprobate] mind, to do the things which are not fitting; … 30) … DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS.” – Romans 1:28, 30.

“Children, OBEY YOUR PARENTS in the Lord, for this is right. 2) ‘Honor your father and mother,’ which is the first commandment with promise: 3) ‘that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.’” – Ephesians 6:1-3; Colossians 3:20. 

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2) For men will be … DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS, …” – 2 Timothy 3:1, 2. 

6th Commandment: “’ You shall not murder.’” – Exodus 20:13.

“being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, MURDER, …” – Romans 1:29.

“For the commandments, … ‘You shall not murder,’ …” – Romans 13:9. 

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: … 21) … MURDERS, …” – Galatians 5:19, 21. 

“knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the … for MURDERERS OF FATHERS AND MURDERERS OF MOTHERS, FOR MANSLAYERS.” – 1 Timothy 1:9. 

In Latin, it’s called parricida. One who murders his or her father, mother, or a close relative ── parricide.  😢    

7th Commandment: “’ You shall not commit adultery.’” – Exodus 20:14. 

“So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; …” – Romans 7:3. 

We have another word for a woman who marries another man while her husband is still alive ── a polygamist! Polygamy is illegal in the United States of America under federal law and in all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.

Also, since our Lord Jesus Christ spiritualized the Ten Commandments within the New Covenant ── committing adultery is also considered a spiritual act ── i.e., the worship of false gods and goddesses, hence IDOLATRY.

“For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ …” – Romans 13:9. 

“But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is SEXUALLY IMMORAL, …”  – 1 Corinthians 5:11.

Sexual immorality is a term used to describe sexual acts that violate the LORD God’s laws and are morally objectionable.

“ … Neither … ADULTERERS, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, … 10) … will inherit the kingdom of God.” – 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10. 

“FLEE SEXUAL IMMORALITY, Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.” – 1 Corinthians 6:18. 

“Nor let us commit SEXUAL IMMORALITY, as some of them did, …” – 1 Corinthians 10:8. 

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: … ADULTERY, FORNICATION, UNCLEANNESS, LEWDNESS, …” – Galatians 5:19.

“For this you know, that NO FORNICATOR, UNCLEAN PERSON, … has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.” – Ephesians 5:5. 

“knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the … 10) FORNICATORS, FOR SODOMITES, …” – 1 Timothy 1:9, 10. 

“Marriage is honorable among all, and THE BED UNDEFILED; but FORNICATORS AND ADULTERERS GOD WILL JUDGE.” – Hebrews 13:4. 

8th Commandment: “’ You shall not steal.’” – Exodus 20:15.

“For the commandments, … ‘You shall not steal,’ …” – Romans 13:9. 

“nor THIEVES, … will inherit the kingdom of God.” – 1 Corinthians 6:10. 

9th Commandment: “’ You shall not bear false witness …” – Exodus 20:16. 

“For the commandments, … ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ …” – Romans 13:9.

“(Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I DO NOT LIE.)” – Galatians 1:20.

“Therefore, putting away LYING, ‘Let each of you speak truth with his neighbor,’ …” – Ephesians 4:25.

“DO NOT LIE TO ONE ANOTHER, …” – Colossians 3:9.  

“knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the … 10) LIARS, FOR PERJURERS, …” – 1 Timothy 1:9, 10.

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2) SPEAKING LIES IN HYPOCRISY, …” – 1 Timothy 4:1, 2.

10th Commandment: “’ You shall not covet …’” – Exodus 20:17.

“being filled with all unrighteousness, … COVETOUSNESS, …” – Romans 1:29. 

“ … On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the Law. For I would not have known COVETOUSNESS unless the Law said, ‘You shall not covet.’” – Romans 7:7. 

“But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is … or COVETOUS, …” – 1 Corinthians 5:11. 

“ … Do not be deceived. Neither … 10) nor COVETOUS … will inherit the kingdom of God.” – 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10. 

“ … we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.” – 1 Corinthians 10:6. 

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” – Galatians 5:16. 

So, the Apostle Paul clearly teaches us ── under divine inspiration of the Spirit of God ── that we are to obey and keep EVERY TEN COMMANDMENT! 

Also, notice this DIRE WARNING: “For if we sin WILLFULLY …” – in other words, ON PURPOSE! “ … after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27) but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation …” – Hebrews 10:26, 27. 

Also, “Let NO ONE DECEIVE YOU with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7) THEREFORE DO NOT BE PARTAKERS WITH THEM.” – Ephesians 5:6-7. 

Now, perhaps one of the most confusing to some people is ── and the KJV reads, “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in the ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16) And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.” – Ephesians 2:15-16. 

Again, from A New English Translation Bible by Minister Fred R. Coulter ──

“The key phrase in this inaccurate translation──which has caused a great deal of confusion──is “abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances.” What is the “law of commandments contained in ordinances”? Are these actually the commandments of God contained in the Old Testament, as most assume?

The word translated “ordinances” comes from the Greek, dogma (Col. 14, 20), which always refers to “decrees, ordinances, decisions, and commands of men” (Amdt and Gingrich). Paul is not referring here to the commandments of God contained in the Law of God. Moreover, not once in the New Testament is dogma used in reference to the laws and commandments of God.” 2

As the Apostle Paul writes Timothy and charges him that he teach “no other doctrine” but God’s living Word, Truth, and ultimate Plan, “nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.” And, he goes on and says, “the purpose of THE COMMANDMENT is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith.” – 1 Timothy 1:3-5. Let us, brethren, be of love from a pure heart, and from a good conscience, and let us be from a sincere faith! □       

1 Coulter R. F., The Holy Bible In Its Original Order A New English Translation, “Colossians 2:14 – “nailed to the cross” York Publishing Co., © 2009, p. 1198.

2 Ibid. (1) p.1383.