Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism

by Martin Luther, Harold Ulrik Sverdrup, Erich Pontoppidan

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Genres: Christianity, Religion

130 pages, Print on Demand

First published June 1, 2004

About the author

Martin Luther (1483-1546) was a German monk, theologian, university professor and church reformer whose ideas inspired the Protestant Reformation and changed the course of Western civilization.

Luther's theology challenged the authority of the papacy by holding that the Bible is the only infallible source of religious authority and that all baptized Christians under Jesus are a spiritual priesthood. According to Luther, salvation was a free gift of God, received only by true repentance and faith in Jesus as the Messiah, a faith given by God and unmediated by the church.

Luther's confrontation with Charles V at the Diet of Worms over freedom of conscience in 1521 and his refusal to submit to the authority of the Emperor resulted in his being declared an outlaw of the state as he had been excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church. Because of the perceived unity of the medieval Church with the secular rulers of western Europe, the widespread acceptance of Luther's doctrines and popular vindication of his thinking on individual liberties were both phenomenal and unprecedented.

His translation of the Bible into the vernacular, making it more accessible to ordinary people, had a tremendous political impact on the church and on German culture. It furthered the development of a standard version of the German language, added several principles to the art of translation, and influenced the translation of the English King James Bible. His hymns inspired the development of congregational singing within Christianity. His marriage to Katharina von Bora set a model for the practice of clerical marriage within Protestantism.

Much scholarly debate has concentrated on Luther's writings about the Jews. His statements that Jews' homes should be destroyed, their synagogues burned, money confiscated and liberty curtailed were revived and used in propaganda by the Nazis in 1933–45. As a result of this and his revolutionary theological views, his legacy remains controversial.

Reviews

[Ricky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as a Presbyterian with Lutheran friends and sympathies. I found many interesting and helpful answers in here that, in my mind, close the gap between the Reformed and the Lutheran traditions. Still, there are some explanations or wordings that leave something to be desired, and honestly I am still unsure of the beliefs regarding the Eucharist, as I see different wordings and explanations from every source I go to. I found the one in this book agreeable, and not particularly at odds with what the Reformed believe, yet I see people constantly insisting that it is a great point of division between us. Then there is the Zwingli view, which as far as I can tell from his direct quotes, he doesn't hold that which people say he does but it closer to the reformed view. Perhaps I am missing some context, but I often feel as if people are looking for differences and controversies in theology. So much of it is the same belief but squabbling over semantics: words; which St. Paul warned us against.

But I digress, this book was helpful, despite a few odd typos where it appears lines got cut off early. I would recommend it to someone trying to better understand their Lutheran friends.

[Meghan Helzlsouer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this with my life-to-life group. I liked learning more about why we say what we say during worship. It was also a great reminder of my personal relationship with Christ.

[Connor Longaphie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic commentary

[Jonathan Teo Zin Han · Rating 4 out of 5]

My only issue with this is the Reformed Sabbatarian position he takes in his explanation of the Third Commandment

[Royce Ratterman · Rating 4 out of 5]

An historical work that is fine for meditative reading; contains straight-forward, easy to comprehend, answers to questions based on a Scriptural content overview from the Bible's sixty-six books: The Ten Commandments, Creeds, Articles of Faith, the Lord's Prayer, and more. Overlap and repeat of topical Scriptures expands the horizon of thoughtful contemplation for the reader. "A well-known and widely used Epitome of Pontoppidan’s Explanation was made by Rev. H. U. Sverdrup, pastor, during 1849–1883, of Balestrand parish in Sogn, Norway. This received royal authorization in 1865."

- - Sample Excerpts:

147. When was this Saviour first promised to the world?
Immediately after the fall.
Gen. 3:15. The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent’s head.
148. When was Christ sent into the world?
In the fulness of time, that is, at the time which God Himself had determined and prepared.
Gal. 4:4. When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman.

149. What do you mean by saying that you believe in Jesus Christ?
That, with the confidence of my whole heart, I resign myself to Him as my only Saviour from sin, death and the power of the devil.
Acts 4:12. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

154. How do the Scriptures show that Christ is both God and man?
They say: “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” John 1:14.
155. Why must the Son of God become true man?
So that He could suffer and die for us men.
156. Why must our Saviour be true God?
So that His death and blood could have infinite power of atonement.
Heb. 2:14. He partook of flesh and blood, that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.
Rom. 1:3–4. Jesus Christ was declared to be the Son of God with power, by the resurrection from the dead.

John 3:5. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
1 Pet. 1:23. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.

232. Can the believer, then, by his own good works, be justified before God and be saved?
No; for this purpose our best works are of no use at all; we build the hope of our salvation alone upon Christ and His merits.
Luke 17:10. When ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, we are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

- Other historical works that may be of interest to you:

The Other Friars: The Carmelite, Augustinian, Sack & Pied Friars in the Middle Ages by Frances Andrews

The Coming of the Friars by Augustus Jessopp

The Mission of Friar William of Rubruck: His Journey to the Court of the Great Khan Moengke, 1253-1255 by Peter Jackson

[Joel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the greatest catechism, but this was foundational to the faith of generations of Norwegian Lutherans.