Maimonides’ Principles: The Fundamentals of Torah Faith

This is an excellent anthology by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan of writings by Maimonides (Rambam) on the  fundamental principles of Torah. He draws from several sources, including Rambam’s Mishneh Torah and his Commentary on the Mishnah. The sources are compiled with emphasis on more in-depth explanations of what is known as the Thirteen Principles of Faith. The section on each Principle ends with a list of thought-provoking questions. They lead the reader in the direction of expanding and extending his conceptions of these 13 Principles.

This book is out of print, but used copies can be purchased here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B01FIW9ATQ

To read the full text of Maimonides’ exposition of these 13 Principles, CLICK HERE

A list of the 13 Principles (with clarifications for Noahides):

The First Foundation is to believe in the existence of G-d, the Creator, blessed be He.

The Second Foundation is the unity of G-d, Blessed be His Name.

The Third Foundation is that G-d is not physical.

The Fourth Foundation is that G-d is the absolute first.

The Fifth Foundation is that it is proper to serve G-d, blessed be He, to ascribe to Him greatness, to make known His greatness, and to fulfill His commandments – as they apply to each person.

The Sixth Foundation is prophecy from G-d.

The Seventh Foundation is the uniquely distinguished prophecy of Moses our teacher.

The Eighth Foundation is that the Torah of Moses is entirely from the word of the Al-mighty.

The Ninth Foundation is the transcription, meaning that this Torah of Moses, and no other, was transcribed by Moses from G-d, the Creator, and we may not add to it or remove from it – not in the Written Torah or the Oral Torah – as it says, “…you shall not add to it, nor diminish from it” (Deuteronomy 13:1).

The Tenth Foundation is that G-d, blessed be He, knows the actions of mankind and does not turn His attention from them.

The Eleventh Foundation is that G-d, blessed be He, gives reward to a person who obeys the commandments of the Torah [i.e., the particular commandments which are commanded or obligatory for that particular person] and punishes a person who violates its prohibitions [but doesn’t repent – i.e., for the particular prohibitions which are prohibited or not proper for that particular person].

The Twelfth Foundation is the time that will begin with the coming of the Messiah (Moshiach – literally, the anointed [king]).

The Thirteenth Foundation is that there will be the resurrection of the righteous people who have died.

What are the minimum principles of faith for Gentiles?

In The Divine Code, Rabbi Moshe Weiner lists Rambam’s three categories of “deviant believer” (min in Hebrew), “scorner,” (epicurus in Hebrew), and “denier of Torah.” He also lists the principles of faith that people in each of these categories reject. Those are the principles that a Gentile is obligated to accept when he knows about the truth of Torah. That acceptance is necessary for being worthy to have a part in the future eternal World to Come as a Pious Gentile (Hassid Umot Ha’olom in Hebrew). To learn more about those basic principles, click here.