Heidelberg Catechism
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The Heidelberg Catechism
The Catechism. Method of Instruction in the Christian Religion, As the Same is Taught in the Reformed Churches and Schools.
- Heidelberg Catechism, Part 1 (Q.1-32)
- Heidelberg Catechism, Part 2 (Q.33-66)
- Heidelberg Catechism, Part 3 (Q.67-91)
- Heidelberg Catechism, Part 4 (Q.92-115)
- Heidelberg Catechism, Part 5 (Q.116-129)
The Heidelberg Catechism, Extended:
The Heidelberg Catechism: The Catechism. Method of Instruction in the Christian Religion, As the Same is Taught in the Reformed Churches and Schools (With the Scripture Verses Written Out).
1. What is thy only comfort in life and death?
2. How many things are necessary for thee to know, that thou, enjoying this comfort, mayest live and die happily?
3. Whence knowest thou thy misery?
4. What does the law of God require of us?
5. Canst thou keep all these things perfectly?
6. Did God then create man so wicked and perverse?
7. Whence then proceeds this depravity of human nature?
8. Are we then so corrupt that we are wholly incapable of doing any good, and inclined to all wickedness?
9. Does not God then do injustice to man, by requiring from him in his law, that which he cannot perform?
10. Will God suffer such disobedience and rebellion to go unpunished?
11. Is not God then also merciful?
12. Since then, by the righteous judgment of God, we deserve temporal and eternal punishment; is there no way by which we may escape that punishment, and be again received into favour?
13. Can we ourselves then make this satisfaction?
14. Can there be found anywhere, one, who is a mere creature, able to satisfy for us?
15. What sort of a mediator and deliverer then must we seek for?
16. Why must he be very man, and also perfectly righteous?
17. Why must he in one person be also very God?
18. Who then is that Mediator, who is in one person both very God, and a real, righteous man?
19. Whence knowest thou this?
20. Are all men, then, as they perished in Adam, saved by Christ?
21. What is true faith?
22. What is then necessary for a christian to believe?
23. What are these articles?
24. How are these articles divided?
25. Since there is but one only divine essence, why speakest thou of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost?
26. What believest thou when thou sayest, "I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth"?
27. What dost thou mean by the providence of God?
28. What advantage is it to us to know that God has created, and by his providence does still uphold all things?
29. Why is the Son of God called "Jesus", that is a Saviour?
30. Do such then believe in Jesus the only Saviour, who seek their salvation and welfare of saints, of themselves, or anyone else?
31. Why is he called "Christ" that is annointed?
32. But why art thou called a Christian?
33. Why is Christ called the "only begotten Son" of God, since we arealso the children of God?
34. Wherefore callest thou him "our Lord"?
35. What is the meaning of these words "He was conceived by the Holy ghost, born of the virgin Mary"?
36. What profit dost thou receive by Christ's holy conception and nativity?
37. What dost thou understand by the words, "He suffered"?
38. Why did he suffer "under Pontius Pilate, as judge"?
39. Is there anything more in his being "crucified", than if he had died some other death?
40. Why was it necessary for Christ to humble himself even "unto death"?
41. Why was he also "buried"?
42. Since then Christ died for us, why must we also die?
43. What further benefit do we receive from the sacrifice and death of Christ on the cross?
44. Why is there added, "he descended into hell"?
45. What does the "resurrection" of Christ profit us?
46. How dost thou understand these words, "he ascended into heaven"?
47. Is not Christ then with us even to the end of the world, as he has promised?
48. But if his human nature is not present, wherever his Godhead is, are not then these two natures in Christ separated from one another?
49. Of what advantage to us is Christ's ascension into heaven?
50. Why is it added, "and sitteth at the right hand of God"?
51. What profit is this glory of Christ, our head, unto us?
52. What comfort is it to thee that "Christ shall come again to judge the quick and the dead"?
53. What dost thou believe concerning the Holy Ghost?
54. What believest thou concerning the "holy catholic church" of Christ?
55. What do you understand by "the communion of saints"?
56. What believest thou concerning "the forgiveness of sins"?
57. What comfort does the "resurrection of the body" afford thee?
58. What comfort takest thou from the article of "life everlasting"?
59. But what does it profit thee now that thou believest all this?
60. How are thou righteous before God?
61. Why sayest thou, that thou art righteous by faith only?
62. But why cannot our good works be the whole, or part of our righteousness before God?
63. What! do not our good works merit, which yet God will reward in this and in a future life?
64. But does not this doctrine make men careless and profane?
65. Since then we are made partakers of Christ and all his benefits by faith only, whence does this faith proceed?
66. What are the sacraments?
67. Are both word and sacraments, then, ordained and appointed for this end, that they may direct our faith to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, as the only ground of our salvation?
68. How many sacraments has Christ instituted in the new covenant, or testament?
69. How art thou admonished and assured by holy baptism, that the one sacrifice of Christ upon the cross is of real advantage to thee?
70. What is it to be washed with the blood and Spirit of Christ?
71. Where has Christ promised us, that he will as certainly wash us by his blood and Spirit, as we are washed with the water of baptism?
72. Is then the external baptism with water the washing away of sin itself?
73. Why then does the Holy Ghost call baptism "the washing of regeneration," and "the washing away of sins"?
74. Are infants also to be baptized?
75. How art thou admonished and assured in the Lord's Supper, that thou art a partaker of that one sacrifice of Christ, accomplished on the cross, and of all his benefits?
76. What is it then to eat the crucified body, and drink the shed blood of Christ?
77. Where has Christ promised that he will as certainly feed and nourish believers with his body and bleed, as they eat of this broken bread, and drink of this cup?
78. Do then the bread and wine become the very body and blood of Christ?
79. Why then doth Christ call the bread "his body", and the cup "his blood", or "the new covenant in his blood"; and Paul the "communion of body and blood of Christ"?
80. What difference is there between the Lord's supper and the popish mass?
81. For whom is the Lord's supper instituted?
82. Are they also to be admitted to this supper, who, by confession and life, declare themselves unbelieving and ungodly?
83. What are the keys of the kingdom of heaven?
84. How is the kingdom of heaven opened and shut by the preaching of the holy gospel?
85. How is the kingdom of heaven shut and opened by christian discipline?
86. Since then we are delivered from our misery, merely of grace, through Christ, without any merit of ours, why must we still do good works?
87. Cannot they then be saved, who, continuing in their wicked and ungrateful lives, are not converted to God?
88. Of how many parts does the true conversion of man consist?
89. What is the mortification of the old man?
90. What is the quickening of the new man?
91. But what are good works?
92. What is the law of God?
93. How are these commandments divided?
94. What does God enjoin in the first commandment?
95. What is idolatry?
96. What does God require in the second commandment?
97. Are images then not at all to be made?
98. But may not images be tolerated in the churches, as books to the laity?
99. What is required in the third commandment?
100. Is then the profaning of God's name, by swearing and cursing, so heinous a sin, that his wrath is kindled against those who do not endeavour, as much as in them lies, to prevent and forbid such cursing and swearing?
101. May we then swear religiously by the name of God?
102. May we also swear by saints or any other creatures?
103. What does God require in the fourth commandment?
104. What does God require in the fifth commandment?
105. What does God require in the sixth commandment?
106. But this commandment seems only to speak of murder?
107. But is it enough that we do not kill any man in the manner mentioned above?
108. What does the seventh commandment teach us?
109. Does God forbid in this commandment, only adultery, and such like gross sins?
110. What does God forbid in the eighth commandment?
111. But what does God require in this commandment?
112. What is required in the ninth commandment?
113. What does the tenth commandment require of us?
114. But can those who are converted to God perfectly keep these commandments?
115. Why will God then have the ten commandments so strictly preached, since no man in this life can keep them?
116. Why is prayer necessary for christians?
117. What are the requisites of that prayer, which is acceptable to God, and which he will hear?
118. What has God commanded us to ask of him?
119. What are the words of that prayer?
120. Why has Christ commanded us to address God thus: "Our Father"?
121. Why is it here added, "Which art in heaven"?
122. Which is the first petition?
123. Which is the second petition?
124. Which is the third petition?
125. Which is the fourth petition?
126. Which is the fifth petition?
127. Which is the sixth petition?
128. How dost thou conclude thy prayer?
129. What does the word "Amen" signify?
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