II. La loi — Le 23e dimanche
The Prohibition of Idolatry
The second commandment forbids the creation of images intended to represent God or to serve as objects of worship.
The second commandment. Of images and the adoration of them 143. M: State the second commandment. E: "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, nor any likeness of the things that are in heaven above, or on the earth below, or in the waters that are under the earth. You shall not honor them.1 " 144. M: Is he forbidding the creation of any images at all? E: No, but he forbids making any image either to represent God or to worship.
The Incomprehensible Nature of God
God cannot be represented by material images because He is an eternal, incomprehensible Spirit.
145. Master: Why isn't it lawful to represent God in a visible form? Student: Because there is no likeness between Him—who is an eternal, incomprehensible Spirit—and physical matter that is dead, corruptible, and visible (Deuteronomy 4:15; Isaiah 41:7; Romans 6:7; Acts 17:24–25). 146. M: So you understand that it dishonors His Majesty to want to represent Him that way. C: Yes.2
Defining True Worship
True worship avoids all superstitious, fleshly, and idolatrous practices, focusing instead on the spiritual form God requires.
Adoration of images 147. Minister: What kind of adoration is condemned here? Elders: It is presenting yourself before an image to pray, kneeling before it, or making some other sign of reverence, as if God were revealing himself to us there. What painting is forbidden 148.3 M: So we must not take this to mean that all carving or painting is forbidden in general, but only every image made to serve God, or to honor him in visible things, or else to misuse it for idolatry in any way at all. S: That's right.4 149. M: What is the purpose of this commandment? E: Just as in the first commandment God declared that he alone, with no other, is the one we must worship, so now he also shows us what the right form is, in order to draw us away from all superstitions and fleshly ways.
Read the original Latin
Le second commandement. Des images et adoration d'icelles 143. M : Dis le second commandement. E : « Tu ne te feras image taillée, ni semblante aucune des choses qui sont au ciel là-sus, ou en la terre ci-bas, ou ès eaux qui sont sous la terre. Tu ne les honoreras point. »
144. M : Veut-il du tout défendre de faire aucune image? E : Non, mais il défend de faire aucune image, ou pour figurer Dieu, ou pour adorer.
145. M : Pourquoi est-ce qu'il n'est point licite de représenter Dieu visiblement? E : Parce qu'il n'y a nulle convenance entre lui, qui est Esprit éternel, incompréhensible, et une matière corporelle, morte, corruptible et visible (Deutéronome 4:15 ; Ésaïe 41:7 ; Romains 6:7 ; Actes 17:24, 25).
146. M : Tu entends donc que c'est faire déshonneur à sa Majesté de la vouloir représenter ainsi. E : Voire.
Adoration aux images 147. M : Quelle forme d'adoration est ici condamnée? E : C'est de se présenter devant une image pour faire son oraison, de fléchir le genou devant icelle ou faire quelque autre signe de révérence, comme si Dieu se démontrait là à nous.
Quelle peinture et défendue 148. M : Il ne faut pas donc entendre que toute taillure ou peinture soit défendue en général, mais seulement toutes images qui se font pour servir Dieu, ou l'honorer en choses visibles, ou bien pour en abuser à idolâtrie en quelque sorte que ce soit. E : II est ainsi.
149. M : A quelle fin réduirons-nous ce commandement? E : Comme au premier Dieu a déclaré qu'il était seul, sans autre, qu'on doit adorer, aussi maintenant il nous démontre quelle est la droite forme, afin de nous retirer de toutes superstitions et façons charnelles.
Notes
- 1 ↩French honoreras is broader than bow down/serve; rendered honor to stay faithful to the catechism wording rather than assimilating to common English Exodus phrasing.
- 2 ↩French 'Voire' is a firm affirmative in this catechetical dialogue (Yes / Indeed / Quite so), not the modern concessive sense 'or even'.
- 3 ↩Source reads «Quelle peinture et défendue»; rendered as the intended «Quelle peinture est défendue» (what painting is forbidden).
- 4 ↩Source «II est ainsi» treated as «Il est ainsi» (capital I misread as II).
Catechism of the Church of Geneva (Le catéchisme de l'Église de Genève) companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit