Luther:S Catechisms-4 SO Years Ess~s Commemorating the Small and Large Catechisms of 0[ Martin Luther

Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne, Indiana

0[ David P Scaer, Editor 0[ Robert D. Preus, Editor

CONCORDIA THEOLOG ICAL SEMINARY LIBRARY

FORT WAYNE, IN DIANA 46825

Luther's Catechisms - 450 Years

Essays Commemorating the Small and Large Catechisms of Dr. Martin Luther

© 1979 Concordia Theological Seminary Press Fort Wayne, Indiana

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Notes on the Authors , Page ii

Foreword, Page iii David P. Scaer

Luther's Small Catechism and the Heidelberg Catechism, Page 1 Ulrich Asendorf

The Evangelical Character of Luther's Catechism, Page 8 Edward C. Fredrich

The Layman's Bible: The Use of Luther's Catechisms in the German Late Reformation, Page 16 Robert Kolb

Baptism and Faith according to Luther's Catechisms and other teachings , Page 27 Uuras Saarnivaara

The New Translation of Luther's Small Catechism: Is it Faithful to Luther's Spirit?, Page 32 David P. Scaer

The Large Catechism: A Pastoral Tool , Page 41 James L. Schaaf

Forerunners of the Catechism: A view of Catechetical Instruction at the Dawn of the Reformation, Page 47 N. S. Tjernagel

Luther's Use of Scripture in the Small Catechism, Page 55 James W. Voelz

Early Christian Catechetics: An Historical and Theological ·construction, Page 64 William C. Weinrich

Notes, Page 74

FOREWORD

The years 1977, 1979, and 1980 are jubilee years for Lutherans in which they can reflect on their confessional heritage in celebrating the anniver­saries of the Formula of Concord (1577). the Small and Large Catechisms (1529), the Augsburg Confession (1530), and the Book of Concord (1580) . Of all of the specifically Lutheran Confessions none has been as influential as the Small Catechism of Dr. Martin Luther. Its words have been committed to memory by children in preparation for confirmation and prayed by the dying . Its phrases have been recited from pulpits to punctuate Biblical truth and incorporated in prayers and hymns as responses by worshipping Christians. Luther's Small Catechism is the very material from which the devotional life of the Lutheran Church is constructed . Just as small children recite its words, theologians reflect upon its concepts. In the history of western theological thought, it has earned its place as a milestone. In its articulation of the Lutheran faith it remains unsurpassed in its 450-year history.

The Second Annual Symposium on the Lutheran Confessions sponsored by Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, in January 1979 commemorated by its essays the 450th anniversary of both the Small and Large Catechisms of Dr. Luther . In pointoftimetheyare

the earliest writings among the historic Lutheran Confessions though they were only fully recognized as confessional after Luther's death . Since the Small Catechism is used chiefly in the education of the youth, its theological depth and profundity is not always fully appreciated. The essays offered at the symposium were given to highlight the theological importance of both Catechisms and to awake a renewed interest in their theology and message. Participants in the symposium included clergymen from The American Lutheran Church , The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod , Evangelical Lutheran Synod , the Church of Finland (Lutheran) and the Church of Hannover (Lutheran). Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, is grateful to all the participants for their essays and to Lutheran Brotherhood, a fraternal benefit society, for making their publication and distribution possible among a wider audience.

David P. Scaer Editor

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