At face value, the Ten Commandments can seem intense and unforgiving. But Emanuel Swedenborg’s understanding of the internal sense of the Bible—spiritual meanings that lie beneath the literal words—can give us a new perspective on these familiar rules.

In this episode of their Swedenborg and Life web series, hosts Curtis Childs and Jonathan Rose study the inner meaning of the first commandment.

(References: Apocalypse Revealed 950; Arcana Coelestia 8864, 8865, 8868, 8869, 8875, 8878, 8879, 8880, 8881)

58. If this whole doctrinal statement is rewritten as follows, [the point just made] becomes clear, that it is true right down to the individual words, provided that rather than a “trinity of persons” we understand it to be referring to a “trinity within one person”:

For all who want to be saved, it is necessary that they hold the Christian faith. And the Christian faith is this: That we worship one God in trinity, and trinity in unity, neither confounding the three aspects within his person nor dividing his essence. The three aspects within him as one person are what are referred to as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The divinity of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is all one, the glory and majesty equal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit. The Father is uncreate, the Son is uncreate, and the Holy Spirit is uncreate. The Father is infinite, the Son is infinite, and the Holy Spirit is infinite. And yet there are not three infinite or three uncreated beings, but one uncreated and one infinite Being. So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son is almighty, and the Holy Spirit is almighty; and yet there are not three almighty beings, but one almighty Being. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God; and yet there are not three gods, but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, and the Holy Spirit is Lord; and yet there are not three lords, but one Lord. Now, as in Christian truth we acknowledge three aspects in one person who is God and Lord, so in Christian faith we can say one God and one Lord. The Father is made by none, neither created nor begotten. The Son is from the Father alone, not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Spirit is from the Father and from the Son, neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits. And in this trinity none is greatest or least; they are absolutely equal. So in all things, as said above, the unity in trinity and the trinity in unity is to be worshipped.