The Heidelberg Catechism

From Discipleship Weekly

(a publication of the Presbyterian Church of Islip)

Table of Contents

Return to Home

A Word from Our Sponsor

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

-- John 1:1

Introduction

This catechism, one of the documents from our Book of Confessions, was completed in 1562. It was written in Heidelberg, Germany, by twenty-eight year-old Zacharius Ursinus, professor of theology at the Heidelberg University, and twenty-six year-old Caspar Olevianus, preacher at the court of Frederick III, ruler of the most influential German province, the Palatinate. Like other catechisms, this one was designed to help instruct young believers, and to guide pastors and teachers in their ministries. The Catechism was divided into fifty-two sections, so that a section of the Catechism could be explained to the churches each Sunday of the year.

We would like to invite you to take each section as a topic for discussion at home, with your family or study group. As you go through the fifty-two "Question and Answer" sections, the Catechism will allow you to explore three important concepts in the Reformed Tradition, of which the Presbyterian Church USA is a part.

Part 1- Of Man's Misery

Week 2: The Law as Teacher

Week 3: Original Sin

Week 4: God's Justice & Mercy

Part 2- Of Man's Redemption

Week 5: Our Need of a Redeemer	Week 14: Of God the Son	Week 23: True Righteousness
Week 6: Our need of a Redeemer	Week 15: Of God the Son	Week 24: True Righteousness
Week 7: True Faith	Week 16: Of God the Son	Week 25: The Holy Sacraments
Week 8: The Trinity	Week 17: The Holy Spirit	Week 26: Holy Baptism
Week 9: Of God the Father	Week 18: Of God the Son	Week 27: Holy Baptism
Week 10: Of God the Father	Week 19: The Holy Sacraments	Week 28: The Holy Supper
Week 11: Of God the Son	Week 20: The Holy Spirit	Week 29: The Holy Supper
Week 12: Of God the Son	Week 21: The Church	Week 30: The Holy Supper
Week 13: Of God the Son	Week 22: Resurrection & The Afterlife	Week 31: Church Authority & Discipline

Part 3- Thankfulness

Week 32: Repentance & Good Works	Week 39: The Fifth Commandment	Week 46: Our Lord's Prayer
Week 33: Repentance & Good Works	Week 40: The Sixth Commandment	Week 47: "Hallowed be Thy name"
Week 34: The Law of God	Week 41: The Seventh Commandment	Week 48: "Thy Kingdom come"
Week 35: The Second Commandment	Week 42: The Eighth Commandment	Week 49: "Thy will be done"
Week 36: The Third Commandment	Week 43: The Ninth Commandment	Week 50: "Give us...our daily bread"
Week 37: The Third Commandment	Week 44: The Tenth Commandment	Week 51: "And forgive us our debts..."
Week 38: The Fourth Commandment	Week 45: Prayer & The Christian Life	Week 52: "And lead us not into temptation. . .Amen."