CATECHISM · 1529 AD · LUTHERAN

Luther's Small Catechism

WRITTEN

1529 AD

TRADITION

Lutheran

QUESTIONS

48

PROOF-TEXTS

QUOTED IN THE BEREAN TEXT

2 quotations in this document are given in the Berean Standard Bible. 6 more are left in the document's own older wording, each marked where it stands.

CONTENTS

Preamble

LUTHER'S SMALL CATECHISM. A.D. 1529. Dr. Martin Luther's Enchiridion, or Small Catechism.

Part I.

SECTION I

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, As they should be clearly and simply explained to every household by the head of the family.

The First Commandment.

Thou shalt have no other gods.

What does this mean? Answer:

We should fear and love God, and trust in him, above all things.

The Second Commandment.

Thou shalt not take the name of thy God in vain.

What does this mean? Answer:

We should so fear and love God as not to curse, swear, conjure, lie, or deceive, by his name; but call upon it in every time of need, pray, praise and give thanks.

The Third Commandment.

Thou shalt keep holy the Sabbath day.

What does this mean? Answer:

We should so fear and love God as not to despise preaching and his Word, but deem it holy, and willingly hear and learn it.

The Fourth Commandment.

Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother.

What does this mean? Answer:

We should so fear and love God as not to despise nor provoke our parents and rulers, but honor, serve, obey, love, and esteem them.

The Fifth Commandment.

Thou shalt not kill.

What does this mean? Answer:

We should so fear and love God as not to do our neighbor any injury or harm in his body, but help and befriend him in all bodily troubles.

The Sixth Commandment.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

What does this mean? Answer:

We should so fear and love God as to be chaste and pure in our words and deeds, and that husband and wife should love and honor each other.

The Seventh Commandment.

Thou shalt not steal.

What does this mean? Answer:

We should so fear and love God as not to take our neighbor's money or property, nor get it by false ware or dealing, but help him to improve and protect his property and livelihood.

The Eighth Commandment.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

What does this mean? Answer:

We should so fear and love God as not to belie, betray, or slander our neighbor, nor injure his character, but defend him, speak well of him, and make the best of all he does.

The Ninth Commandment.

Thou shall not covet thy neighbor's house.

What does this mean? Answer:

We should so fear and love God as not to try to defraud our neighbor of his inheritance or home, nor obtain it under pretext of a legal right, but aid and assist him to keep it.

The Tenth Commandment.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his cattle, nor any thing that is his own.

What does this mean? Answer:

We should so fear and love God as not to detach, extort, or alienate from our neighbor his wife, servants, or cattle, but induce them to stay and do their duty. What does God say about all these Commandments? He says this: I the Lord, thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.

What does this mean? Answer:

God threatens to punish all who transgress these Commandments: we should, therefore, fear his anger, and do nothing against such Commandments. But he promises grace and every blessing to all who keep them: we should, therefore, love and trust in him, and gladly obey his Commandments.

Part II.

SECTION II

THE CREED, As it should be clearly and simply explained to every household by the head of the family.

The First Article.

Of Creation. I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

THIS TEXT AND ITS SOURCES

  • Berean Standard Bible Public domain

The document's own wording is unchanged apart from the quoted verses described above. Its proof-text references were resolved against this site's own copy of the Berean Standard Bible; the references it does not carry would be shown as references with no verse words.

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