LUTHER’S CATECHISMS
“catechism” – an
instruction in the
essentials of the faith
ENCHIRIDION
D: 41 & 42
MOTIVATION
• Visitation of Saxon parishes, winter of
1528-1529
• Conditions among the clergy and
people
– Devotional materials
– Clerical illiteracy
– ignorance, apathy,
intransigence
PREPARATION
• The medieval inheritance: texts and
sermons on three chief parts
• Luther’s use of the inheritance
– Annual sermons on chief parts, 1516-1528
– Expositions of chief parts: 1519, 1520, 1523,
etc.
– 1528: three sermon series: 5:18-30; 9:14-25;
11:30-12:19
• This work furnished Luther with the
vocabulary for quick composition of the
catechisms.
Excerpts from the final series of 1528
• 3rd Commandment: Do not despise the
preaching and do not neglect the Word of God.
See to it that you speak of it seriously, hear it,
sing it, read it, use it, and learn it.
• 1st Article: I believe that God has given to me
body and soul, the five senses, clothing, food,
shelter, wife, child, cattle, land. It follows from
this that I should serve, obey, praise, and thank
him.
• 2nd Article: What a price he paid for it, namely,
not with gold, silver, or an army of knights, but
with his own self, that, with his own body.
• Baptism: Baptism is water comprehended and
sanctified with God’s commandment and Word,
that is, a divine and holy water because of God’s
commandment.
PRODUCTION
The catechisms were written simultaneously.
1. Five chief parts of Small Catechism in form of charts
for hanging in homes and classrooms, by March 16,
1529
“Enchiridion” – a booklet small enough to be “carried in
the hand.”
2. Large Catechism completed about April 10, 1529;
Small Catechism in May.
3. Second edition of catechisms: pictures are added,
taken chiefly from Bible stories
4. Section on Confession added later in 1529 as
another chief part
5. Office of Keys section (not written by Luther) added
in 1531
6. Table of Duties wipes out the medieval double
standard for Christian life, as if the priesthood and
monastic life were superior to other social classes.
MERITS OF THE ENCHIRIDION
1. No militancy or polemics
2. Evangelical quality, e.g. we fear and love
God as Christians
3. Mastery of language: much alliteration
facilitates memorization
4. Invites the attitude of prayer
5. The catechisms are Luther’s great gift to
strong, loving, devotional family life.
The Small Catechism:
Preface
•
“…what misery I beheld!”
1. Avoid changes or variations in the text
2. Teach understanding
3. Then take up a longer catechism
•
Preach so people compel us to give
them the sacrament.
The Large Catechism:
Preface
• “Each morning I do as a child and recite the
catechism.”
• The Psalms are exercises based on the
First Commandment.
The First and Second
Commandments
• “A god is the term for that to which we are to
look for all good…”
• The First Commandment is the
fountainhead of all the commandments.
• An oath in court is in praise of God and is
proper.
• “…this lovely virtue that whenever we
commit a wrong we like to cover it…”
D: 43
The Third Commandment
• “According to its outward meaning the
(Third Commandment) does not
concern us Christians.”
• The New Testament repeats all the
commandments and tells us to keep
them, but does not require rest on the
Sabbath.
• “We Christians ought to make every
day such a holy day… and occupy
ourselves daily with God’s Word…”
D: 44 & 45
The Fourth Commandment
• Not only to love parents but to honor
them.
• “The Commandment is the golden chain
around the neck, yes, the crown on the
head, which shows me how and why I
should honor this particular flesh and
blood.”
• The promise refers to having things that
contribute to a long life, such as peace
and happiness.
• When families are strong society is strong.
• “We must not think only of amassing
money and property for (our children).”
The Fifth Commandment
• You are not to commit murder.
• “Neither God nor the government
is included in this commandment.”
• This commandment is violated
also when we fail to do good.
D: 46 & 47
The Sixth Commandment
• The Sixth Commandment needs to be stressed
today.
• For a family to be strong, marriage must be
strong.
The Seventh and Eighth
Commandments
• Luther considers commandments 5
to 8 as protection commandments.
• “The whole world… is nothing but a
big, wide stable full of great thieves.”
• A good name is the immediate jewel
of the soul.
• Jealousy is the green-eyed monster.
• A person in authority must investigate
sin in an official capacity.
• “Honor and good name are easily
taken away but not easily restored.”
• In our private dealings, often silence
is the most powerful.
The Ninth and Tenth Commandments
and the Conclusion
• “No one wants someone else to have as
much as he or she does.”
• These commandments are addressed “to
people who wish to be commended as
honest and virtuous because they have
not offended against the preceding
commandments.”
• There is so much to do in the Ten
Commandments that we don’t need to
invent more.
• The conclusion is attached to the First
Commandment but is intended to apply
to all.
• “The First Commandment is to illuminate
and impart its splendor to all the others.”
The Creed
• “I believe that there is on earth a holy little flock
and community of pure saints under one head,
Christ.” (404:51)
• “When we hear the word Fleisch we think no
farther than the butcher shop.” (405:60)
The Lord’s Prayer
• We forgive in spite of our sinfulness. If this
is possible, let that be an assurance that
God forgives us. (419:92)
Baptism
• “It is not simply plain water, but
water placed in the setting of
God’s Word and commandment
and made holy by them.” 424:14
• “God himself has honored (the
water) by both words and deeds
and has confirmed it by miracles
from heaven.” 425:21
• “Baptism is not a work that we
do but it is a treasure that God
gives us and faith grasps.”
427:37
• “My faith does not make baptism; rather, it
receives baptism.” 428:53
• “We bring the child with the intent and
hope that it may believe, and we pray God
to grant it faith. But we do not baptize on
this basis, but solely on the command of
God. Why? Because we know that God
does not lie.” 429:57
• “Those who fall out (of the ship) should
immediately see to it that they swim to the
ship and hold fast to it.” 431:82
The Sacrament of the Altar
• “What shall I do if I cannot feel this need… for
the sacrament?” 439:75
• Put your hands to your bosom and “determine
whether they are made of flesh and blood…if
you cannot feel the need, at least believe the
Scriptures… Again, look around you and see
whether you are also in the world. If you do not
know, ask your neighbors about it…”