My church just started a study on the Heidelberg Catechism this fall. This is a CRC church, and the pastor is using a version/translation of the Heidelberg put out by the denomination’s publishing house – Faith Alive. It think it uses a translation from the 1980s or 90s. I’ve heard it mentioned on some of the blogs that there are some problems with these more recent translations and that the better one is from the early 20th century. Have you posted any articles that describe the nature of these problems? Thanks.
Mike
Hi
I probably have somewhere. The short story is that the ’76 edition vitiates the rhythm of the catechism. The ’76 edn is not for memorizing. It also replaced key theological terms such as “merit” with less precise terms. I don’t recommend it. There are good, workable translations. The RCUS 1978 edn is fine or the CRC ’59 edn works.
Dr. Clark,
My church just started a study on the Heidelberg Catechism this fall. This is a CRC church, and the pastor is using a version/translation of the Heidelberg put out by the denomination’s publishing house – Faith Alive. It think it uses a translation from the 1980s or 90s. I’ve heard it mentioned on some of the blogs that there are some problems with these more recent translations and that the better one is from the early 20th century. Have you posted any articles that describe the nature of these problems? Thanks.
Mike
Hi
I probably have somewhere. The short story is that the ’76 edition vitiates the rhythm of the catechism. The ’76 edn is not for memorizing. It also replaced key theological terms such as “merit” with less precise terms. I don’t recommend it. There are good, workable translations. The RCUS 1978 edn is fine or the CRC ’59 edn works.
Thanks!
Mike