Final answer:
The statement is false as natural law theory states that moral precepts, in the form of natural laws, existed prior to and independently of God's special revelations; they can be known through human reason, according to Thomas Aquinas.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "According to natural law, moral precepts did not exist prior to God's commands that were given through special revelation" is false. Natural law theory, especially as developed by medieval philosopher Thomas Aquinas, suggests that natural laws are inherent in the natural world and can be discovered through human reason. Divine laws, according to Aquinas, are those that are beyond natural laws and are revealed by God through special revelations, such as scriptures.
Aquinas's natural law theory posits the existence of eternal, natural, human, and divine laws. Natural laws, under this model, are accessible through human reason and are considered objective. Divine laws are revealed to humans and are meant to guide them towards salvation. Thus, moral precepts, in the form of natural laws, can be discerned independently of God's special revelations, though divine laws require such revelations.