The Heidelberg Catechism
'The Heidelberg Catechism ' Summary
Elector Frederick III, sovereign of the Electoral Palatinate from 1559 to 1576, commissioned the composition of a new Catechism for his territory. While the catechism's introduction credits the "entire theological faculty here" (at the University of Heidelberg) and "all the superintendents and prominent servants of the church" for the composition of the catechism, Zacharius Ursinus (1534–83) is commonly regarded as the catechism's principal author. Caspar Olevianus (1536–87) was formerly asserted as a co-author of the document, though this theory has been largely discarded by modern scholarship. Johann Sylvan, Adam Neuser, Johannes Willing, Thomas Erastus, Michael Diller, Johannes Brunner, Tilemann Mumius, Petrus Macheropoeus, Johannes Eisenmenger, Immanuel Tremellius and Pierre Boquin are all likely to have contributed to the Catechism in some way. Frederick himself wrote the preface to the Catechism and closely oversaw its composition and publication.
Frederick, who was officially Lutheran but had strong Calvinist leanings, wanted to even out the religious situation of his highly Lutheran territory within the primarily Catholic Holy Roman Empire. The Council of Trent had just finished its work with its conclusions and decrees against the Protestant faiths, and the Peace of Augsburg had only granted toleration for Lutheranism within the empire where the ruler was Lutheran. One of the aims of the catechism was to counteract the teachings of the Catholic Church as well as Anabaptists and "strict" Gnesio-Lutherans like Tilemann Heshusius (recently elevated to general superintendent of the university) and Matthias Flacius, who were resisting Frederick's Reformed influences, particularly on the matter of the Eucharist.
The Catechism based each of its statements on Biblical source texts (although some may call them "proof-texts" which can have a negative connotation), but the "strict" Lutherans continued to attack it, the assault being still led by Heshusius and Flacius. Frederick himself defended it at the 1566 Diet of Augsburg as based in scripture rather than based in Calvinism when he was called to answer to charges, brought by Maximilian II, of violating the Peace of Augsburg. Afterwards, the catechism quickly became widely accepted.
The Catechism is divided into fifty-two sections, called "Lord's Days," which were designed to be taught on each of the 52 Sundays of the year. A synod in Heidelberg approved the catechism in 1563. In the Netherlands, the Catechism was approved by the Synods of Wesel (1568), Emden (1571), Dort (1578), the Hague (1586), as well as the great Synod of Dort of 1618–19, which adopted it as one of the Three Forms of Unity, together with the Belgic Confession and the Canons of Dort. Elders and deacons were required to subscribe and adhere to it, and ministers were required to preach on a section of the Catechism each Sunday so as to increase the often poor theological knowledge of the church members. In many Reformed denominations originating from the Netherlands, this practice is still continued.
Book Details
Language
EnglishOriginal Language
GermanPublished In
1563Genre/Category
Tags/Keywords
Authors
Zacharias Ursinus
German
Zacharias Ursinus was a sixteenth-century German Reformed theologian and Protestant reformer, born Zacharias Baer in Breslau (now Wrocław, Poland). He became the leading theologian of the Reformed Pro...
Books by Zacharias UrsinusListen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books
On the Incarnation by Athanasius of Alexandria
It is a defense of the orthodox Christian doctrine of the incarnation, which holds that Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully human. The book was...
The Art of Prophesying by William Perkins
A treatise concerning the sacred and only true manner and method of preaching. To the faithful ministers of the gospel and to all that are desirous of...
Children's Bible by Henry A. Sherman
This book, "Children's Bible" by Henry A. Sherman, presents a collection of Bible stories tailored for young readers. It simplifies complex biblical n...
Selected Letters of Saint Jane Frances de Chantal by Saint Jane Frances de Chantal
Delve into the intimate world of Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, a woman whose unwavering faith and profound wisdom illuminated the path of countless o...
Sermons on Several Occasions, Second Series by John Wesley
This collection of sermons, originally delivered between 1740 and 1749, explores key Christian doctrines and practices as envisioned by John Wesley, a...
A Treatise of Earthly-mindedness by Jeremiah Burroughs
Of Earthly-mindedness, Wherein is shewed, 1. What Earthly-mindedness is. 2. The Evils of Earthly-mindedness. 3. Several Convincements of Earthly-mind...
Bible (Reina Valera) NT 18: Epístola de Pablo a Filemón by Reina-Valera
La Epístola de Pablo a Filemón, una breve carta personal escrita por el apóstol Pablo, explora temas de perdón, reconciliación y la transformación del...
Commentary on the Gospel of Luke, Sermons 66-80 by Cyril of Alexandria
This volume contains sermons 66 through 80 from Cyril of Alexandria's Commentary on the Gospel of Luke, covering the Gospel of Luke 10:22 to 11:18. Cy...
Bible (ASV) NT 11: Philippians by American Standard Version
The Epistle to Philippians (or just Philippians) is a book included in the New Testament of the Bible. It is a letter from St. Paul to the church of P...
The Hexaemeron by Basil of Caesarea
The term Hexameron refers either to the genre of theological treatise that describes God's work on the six days of creation or to the six days of crea...
Reviews for The Heidelberg Catechism
No reviews posted or approved, yet...