An Introduction to the Heidelberg Catechism

Sources, History, and Theology

With a Translation of the Smaller and Larger Catechisms of Zacharias Ursinus

Lyle D. Bierma

with Charles D. Gunnoe Jr.,

Karin Y. Maag, and Paul W. Fields

Baker Academic

Grand Rapids, Michigan

© 2005 by Lyle D. Bierma

Published by Baker Academic

a division of Baker Publishing Group

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.bakeracademic.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Bierma, Lyle D.

An introduction to the Heidelberg Catechism: sources, history, and theology: with a translation of the smaller and larger catechisms of Zacharias Ursinus / Lyle D. Bierma; with Charles D. Gunnoe, Karin Maag, Paul W. Fields.

p. cm.—(Texts and studies in Reformation and post-Reformation thought)

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 0-8010-3117-6 (pbk.)

1. Heidelberger Katechismus. 2. Reformed Church—Catechisms—History and criticism. I. Gunnoe, Charles D., 1963–II. Maag, Karin. III. Fields, Paul W., 1953–V. Ursinus, Zacharias, 1534–1583. Catechesis minor. English. V. Ursinus, Zacharias, 1534–1583. Catechesis maior. English. VI. Title. VII. Series.

BX9428.B54 2005

238′.42–dc22

2005045345

Table of Contents

Contributors

Series Preface

Preface

Part 1: Historical Introduction

1. The Reformation of the Palatinate and the Origins of the Heidelberg Catechism, 1500–1562

Charles D. Gunnoe Jr.

2. The Purpose and Authorship of the Heidelberg Catechism

Lyle D. Bierma

3. The Sources and Theological Orientation of the Heidelberg Catechism

Lyle D. Bierma

4. Early Editions and Translations of the Heidelberg Catechism

Karin Y. Maag

5. Bibliography of Research on the Heidelberg Catechism since 1900

Paul W. Fields

Part 2: Translations of Ursinus’s Catechisms

Introduction

Lyle D. Bierma

The Smaller Catechism

The Larger Catechism

Contributors

LYLE D. BIERMA (Ph.D., Duke University) is Professor of Systematic Theology at Calvin Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan, and editor of the Calvin Theological Journal.

PAUL W. FIELDS (M.L.S., Syracuse University) is Theological Librarian and curator of the H. Henry Meeter Center for Calvin Studies at Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

CHARLES D. GUNNOE JR. (Ph.D., University of Virginia) is Associate Professor of History and chairperson of the Department of History, Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

KARIN Y. MAAG (Ph.D., University of St. Andrews) is director of the H. Henry Meeter Center for Calvin Studies at Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary and Associate Professor of History at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan.