 Although it is uncertain what role the Ten Commandments played in early Christian worship , evidence suggests they were recited during some services and used in Christian education . For example , the Commandments are included in one of the earliest Christian writings , known as the Teaching of the Twelve Apostles or the Didache . Scholars contend that the Commandments were highly regarded by the early Church as a summary of God 's law . The Protestant scholar Klaus Bockmuehl believes that the Church replaced the Commandments with lists of virtues and vices , such as the seven deadly sins , from 400 – 1200 . Other scholars contend that throughout Church history the Commandments have been used as an examination of conscience and that many theologians have written about them . While evidence exists that the Commandments were part of catechesis in monasteries and other venues , there was no official Church position to promote specific methods of religious instruction during the Middle Ages . The Fourth Lateran Council ( 1215 ) was the first attempt to remedy this problem . Surviving evidence reveals that some bishops ' efforts to implement the Council 's resolutions included special emphasis on teaching the Commandments in their respective dioceses . Centuries later , the lack of instruction in them by some dioceses formed the basis of one of the criticisms launched against the Church by Protestant reformers . 
 Although it <a href='drop_aux' title='1'><mark>is</mark></a>uncertain what role the Ten Commandments played in early Christian worship , evidence <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>suggests</mark></a> they <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> recited during some services and used in Christian education . For example , the Commandments are included in one of the earliest Christian writings , known as the Teaching of the Twelve Apostles or the Didache . Scholars contend that the Commandments <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> highly regarded by the early Church as a summary of God <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>law . The Protestant scholar Klaus Bockmuehl <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>believes</mark></a> that the Church replaced the Commandments with lists of virtues and vices , such as the seven deadly sins , from 400 – 1200 . Other scholars contend that throughout Church history the Commandments <a href='been_done' title='7'><mark>have</mark></a> been used as an examination of conscience and that many theologians <a href='been_done' title='8'><mark>have</mark></a> written about them . While evidence <a href='uninflect' title='9'><mark>exists</mark></a> that the Commandments <a href='uninflect' title='10'><mark>were</mark></a> part of catechesis in monasteries and other venues , <a href='dey_it' title='11'><mark>there</mark></a> was no official Church position to promote specific methods of religious instruction during the Middle Ages . The Fourth Lateran Council ( 1215 ) was the first attempt to remedy this problem . Surviving evidence <a href='uninflect' title='12'><mark>reveals</mark></a> that some bishops <a href='null_genetive' title='13'><mark>'</mark></a>efforts to implement the Council <a href='null_genetive' title='14'><mark>'s</mark></a>resolutions included special emphasis on teaching the Commandments in their respective dioceses . Centuries later , the lack of instruction in them by some dioceses formed the basis of one of the criticisms launched against the Church by Protestant reformers . 
Although it uncertain what role da Ten Commandments played in early Christian worship , evidence suggest they was recited durin sum services and used in Christian education . For example , tdaCommandments are included in one of thdaarliest Christian writings , known as the teachin of the Twelve Apostles or the Didache . Scholars contend dat thedammandments was highly regarded by the early Church as a summary of God  law . The Protestant scholar Klaus Bockmuehl believe that the darch replaced the Commandments with lists of virtues and vices , such as the seven deadly sins , from 400 – 1200 . Other scholars contend tdatthroughout Church history the Commandments done been used as an examination of conscience and thdatany theologians done written abt them . While evidence exist that the Cdaandments was part of catechesis in monasteries and other venues , it was no official Church position to promote specific methods of religious instruction ddurinthe Middle Ages . The Fourth Lateran Council ( 1215 ) was the first attempt to remedy this problem . Surviving evidence reveal thadatumbishops  efforts to implement the Codail  resolutions included special emphasis on teaching the Comdadments in their respective dioceses . Centuries later , the lack of instruction in em by some dioceses formed the basidaf one of the criticisms launched against the Church by Protestant reformers .