Happy Birthday to the Heidelberg Catechism

A belated Happy Birthday to the Heidelberg Catechism. On 19 January 1563 (Julian Calendar) the first edition of the catechism was adopted by the Palatinate Church.  Though earlier scholarship thought and wrote about the catechism as if it were the product of . . . Continue reading →

Which English Translation of the Heidelberg Catechism?

There are a several English-language translations of the Heidelberg Catechism. The most popular of these is probably the translation published by the Christian Reformed Church in 1976. There are alternatives, however, which those who intend to use the catechism frequently (which should . . . Continue reading →

Happy Birthday to the Heidelberg Catechism

As several others have noted, today is the birthday of the Heidelberg Catechism. On this date, in 1563, the Heidelberg Catechism was published. Westminster Seminary California student Jared Beaird has a nice summary and some resource links. What is a catechism? It’s . . . Continue reading →

Ursinus on What Is the Sum and Substance of Scripture

In the prolegomena (prefatory remarks) to his published lectures on the Heidelberg Catechism, Zacharias Ursinus (1534–83), the primary author of the catechism and the one authorized by Frederick III to explain the catechism wrote: “The doctrine of the church consists of two . . . Continue reading →

2013 Faculty Conference-The Whole Armor of God: The Belgic Confession and Heidelberg Catechism for Today

2012 was the 450th anniversary of the Belgic Confession. The Belgic was written by Guy (or Guido) de Bres (1522–67), a French-speaking Reformed from the southern Netherlands who was martyred for the gospel. He modeled the Belgic after the French (Gallic) Confession . . . Continue reading →

Happy Birthday to the Heidelberger!

In January, 1563 the Heidelberg Catechism was adopted by the Palatinate Church (the German Reformed Church). That means that the Heidelberg Catechism, or the Heidelberger as it’s sometimes known, is 450 years years old this year. As with Calvin in 2009 there . . . Continue reading →