Theological Term of the Week: Heidelberg Catechism

Heidelberg Catechism
A Reformed confessional document published in 1563 in Heidelberg, consisting of a series of questions and answers used to teach Christian doctrine and practice.   

• From the Heidelberg Catechism:

1. Q. What is thy only comfort in life and death?

A. That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ; who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him. 

• From the preface to The Heidelberg Catechism with Scriptural Texts, written by Fred H. Klooster: 

An old tradition credits Zacharias Ursinus and Caspar Olevianus as the primary authors of the catechism. All we know for sure, however, is that the Heidelberg was a team project. In his preface, the Elector mentions no specific names but tells us that the theological faculty, the superintendents, and the chief officers of the Palatinate church all took part in the catechism’s production. Of course, a team project usually relies heavily on one of two persons who prepare preliminary drafts. Most authorities believe Ursinus had this leading role in composing the Heidelberg Catechism, though some think it may have been Olevianus.

Learn more:

1. Westminster Seminary California: Text of the Heidelberg Catechism
2. Justin Holcomb: The Heidelberg Catechism
3. R. Scott Clark: Introduction to the Heidelberg Catechism
4. Zacharias Ursinius: Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism
5. W. Robert Godfrey: Christ in the Heidelberg Catechism
6. Erik Raymond: Using the Heidelberg Catechism with Your Family
7. Daniel R. Hyde: Why I Love the Heidelberg Catechism

Related terms:

• Augsburg Confession
• Belgic Confession
• Canons of Dordt
• London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689
• Second Helvetic Confession
• Westminster Confession of Faith

Filed under Creeds and Confessions

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Sunday Hymn: Lord, Speak to Me

Lord, speak to me that I may speak
In liv­ing ech­oes of Thy tone;
As Thou has sought, so let me seek
Thine err­ing child­ren lost and lone.

O lead me, Lord, that I may lead
The wan­der­ing and the wa­ver­ing feet;
O feed me, Lord, that I may feed
Thy hun­ger­ing ones with man­na sweet.

O strength­en me, that while I stand
Firm on the rock, and strong in Thee,
I may stretch out a lov­ing hand
To wrest­lers with the trou­bled sea.

O teach me, Lord, that I may teach
The pre­cious things Thou dost im­part;
And wing my words, that they may reach
The hid­den depths of ma­ny a heart.

O give Thine own sweet rest to me,
That I may speak with sooth­ing pow­er
A word in sea­son, as from Thee,
To wea­ry ones in need­ful hour.

O fill me with Thy full­ness, Lord,
Until my ve­ry heart ov­er­flow
In kind­ling thought and glow­ing word,
Thy love to tell, Thy praise to show.

O use me, Lord, use ev­en me,
Just as Thou wilt, and when, and where,
Until Thy bless­èd face I see,
Thy rest, Thy joy, Thy glo­ry share.

—Frances Ridley Havergal

Sunday Hymn: I Am Trusting Thee

I am trust­ing Thee, Lord, Je­sus,
Trusting on­ly Thee;
Trusting Thee for full sal­va­tion,
Great and free.

I am trust­ing Thee for par­don;
At Thy feet I bow;
For Thy grace and ten­der mer­cy,
Trusting now.

I am trust­ing Thee for cleans­ing
In the crim­son flood;
Trusting Thee to make me ho­ly
By Thy blood.

I am trust­ing Thee to guide me;
Thou alone shalt lead;
Every day and hour sup­ply­ing
All my need.

I am trust­ing Thee for pow­er,
Thine can nev­er fail;
Words which Thou Thy­self shalt give me
Must pre­vail.

I am trust­ing Thee, Lord Je­sus;
Never let me fall;
I am trust­ing Thee for­ev­er,
And for all.

—Frances Ridley Havergal