The Ten Commandments (Cantaro Library)

The Ten Commandments (1933) by Cornelius Van Til was an unpublished curriculum on Christian ethics taught at Westminster Theological Seminary before the arrival of John Murray. It is a must-read for any Christian seeking to understand God's law, its relevance today, and its necessity for Christian life and witness.

In his inimitable style, Cornelius Van Til begins his treatment of the Ten Commandments by reminding us that ethics must be rooted in the being and authority of the God of Scripture. The only alternative, Van Til says, is to base supposed ethical obligations on something other than God, that is, on something finite. Van Til pushes us to question whether ethical obligations or values based on finite authorities, hopes, or motives truly govern ethical behavior in any universally meaningful way. In other words, on this basis, is there something-even actions that may initially seem beautiful or cruel-that is right or wrong? Is there truly good or evil? Van Til's conclusion is clear: ethics must first be about God and His righteousness, or it is about nothing at all.

Cornelius Van Til (1895–1987) was born in Grootegast, the Netherlands, and immigrated with his family to America in 1905. He attended Calvin College and Calvin Seminary before completing his studies at Princeton Theological Seminary and Princeton University with the ThM and PhD degrees. Drawn to the pastorate, Van Til spent one year in the ministry before taking a leave of absence to teach apologetics at Princeton Seminary. When the seminary reorganized, he was persuaded to join the faculty of the newly founded Westminster Theological Seminary. He remained there as professor of apologetics until his retirement in 1975. Van Til wrote more than twenty books, in addition to more than thirty syllabi. Among his best-known titles are The Defense of the Faith, A Christian Theory of Knowledge, and An Introduction to Systematic Theology.