From the Adult Class at Christ Reformed URC in Santee (HT: Water is Thicker Than Blood)
R. Scott Clark
R.Scott Clark is the President of the Heidelberg Reformation Association, the author and editor of, and contributor to several books and the author of many articles. He is professor emeritus of church history and historical theology at Westminster Seminary California, where he taught for 29 years. He also taught at Wheaton College, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Concordia University. He has hosted the Heidelblog since 2007 and the Heidelcast since 2009.
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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