Часть третья. О любви
The Content of the Third Part
The third part of the Orthodox Confession discusses love for God and neighbor, which is encompassed by the Ten Commandments, a teaching affirmed and elaborated by Jesus Christ.
Question 1. What is contained in the third part of the Orthodox Confession? Answer. The third part of the Orthodox Confession discusses love for God and neighbor. This love is encompassed by the Divine Decalogue. And our Lord Jesus Christ affirmed the importance of the Decalogue in the New Testament, and revealed its teaching in greater perfection. He says, "Whoever breaks one of these least commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:19)
Understanding the Divine Commandments
To understand the divine commandments, one must first distinguish between good (virtue) and evil (sin), which will be discussed before delving into the Ten Commandments themselves.
Question 2. What is required to consider these Divine commandments? Answer. We must first understand that some of God's commandments order us to do good, while others forbid us to do evil. Therefore, anyone who wants to grasp these commandments must first learn what is good and what is evil. Good, in essence, is virtue; and evil, in essence, is sin. So, first we must speak about virtues and sins, and afterward about the ten commandments of our Lord and God.
Read the original Russian
Вопрос 1. Что содержится в третьей части Православного Исповедания?
Ответ. Третья часть Православного Исповедания рассуждает о любви к Богу и ближнему. Сию любовь вмещает в себе Божественное Десятословие. А важность Десятословия Господь наш Иисус Христос и в Новом Завете утвердил, и в большем совершенстве раскрыл учение оного. Он говорит: "Иже аще разорит едину заповедий сих малых и научит тако человеки, мний наречется в Царствии Небеснем: а иже сотворит и научит, сей велий наречется в Царствии Небеснем» (Мф. 5, 19)
Вопрос 2. Что требуется для рассмотрения сих Божественных заповедей?
Ответ. Должно наперед знать, что одни из заповедей Божиих повелевают нам делать добро, а другие запрещают делать зло. Посему, кто желает уразуметь сии заповеди, прежде должен познать, что есть добро, и что есть зло. Добро, собственно, есть добродетель; а зло, собственно, есть грех. Итак, предварительно мы должны сказать о добродетелях и грехах, а после – о десяти заповедях Господа и Бога нашего.
Orthodox Confession (Pravoslavnoe Ispovedanie) 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