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    The Small Catechism
    The Small Catechism
    The Small Catechism
    Ebook45 pages23 minutes

    The Small Catechism

    By Martin Luther

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    First published in 1529, Martin Luther’s “The Small Catechism” was written for the education of children in religious doctrine. It reviews The Ten Commandments, The Lord’s Prayer, the Sacraments of Baptism, the Alter and the Eucharist, along with other important religious and biblical tenets in a clear, concise and easy to understand format. It has long been considered as one of Martin’s most important writings and is seen as an authoritative text on the beliefs of the Lutheran Church. “The Small Catechism” was required reading for confirmation into the church for centuries. Luther distilled the Church’s teachings down to their most essential elements so that pastors and parents alike can pass the Lutheran doctrine and tradition down to the next generation. Remarkable for its wealth of information in a condensed and accessible form, Luther’s masterpiece of religious instruction has continued to provide guidance and answers to both the young and old. “The Small Catechism” remains an important and essential addition to any collection of religious literature, as well as a useful and practical daily prayer book for families and churches. This edition includes a biographical afterword.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDigireads.com Publishing
    Release dateMay 31, 2020
    ISBN9781420969054
    Author

    Martin Luther

    Martin Luther (1483–1546) was a German theologian and one of the most influential figures in the Protestant Reformation. Some of Luther’s best-known works are the Ninety-Five Theses, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” and his translation of the Bible into German. 

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    • 3/5
      I'd learned some of this back in 7th and 8th grade confirmation classes but we used a different book, and I hadn't reviewed it in some time. It was interesting to see the scripture passages that were used to develop some of the ideas in the Lutheran church.

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    The Small Catechism - Martin Luther

    cover.jpg

    THE SMALL CATECHISM

    By MARTIN LUTHER

    The Small Catechism

    By Martin Luther

    Print ISBN 13: 978-1-4209-6904-7

    eBook ISBN 13: 978-1-4209-6905-4

    This edition copyright © 2020. Digireads.com Publishing.

    All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

    Cover Image: a detail of a portrait of Martin Luther, c. 16th century / G. Dagli Orti /De Agostini Picture Library / Bridgeman Images.

    Please visit www.digireads.com

    CONTENTS

    LUTHER’S PREFACE TO THE SMALL CATECHISM

    I. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

    II. THE CREED

    III. THE LORD’S PRAYER

    IV. THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY BAPTISM

    V. CONFESSION

    VI. THE SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR

    APPENDIX I.

    Biographical Afterword

    LUTHER’S PREFACE TO THE SMALL CATECHISM

    Martin Luther to All Faithful and Godly Pastors and Preachers:

    Grace, Mercy, and Peace in Jesus Christ, our Lord.

    The deplorable, miserable condition which I discovered lately when I, too, was a visitor, has forced and urged me to prepare [publish] this Catechism, or Christian doctrine, in this small, plain, simple form. Mercy! Good God! what manifold misery I beheld! The common people, especially in the villages, have no knowledge whatever of Christian doctrine, and, alas! many pastors are altogether incapable and incompetent to teach [so much so, that one is ashamed to speak of it]. Nevertheless, all maintain that they are Christians, have been baptized and receive the [common] holy Sacraments. Yet they [do not understand and] cannot [even] recite either the Lord’s Prayer, or the Creed, or the Ten Commandments; they live like dumb brutes and irrational hogs; and yet, now that the Gospel has come, they have nicely learned to abuse all liberty like experts.

    O ye bishops! [to whom this charge has been committed by God,] what will ye ever answer to Christ for having so shamefully neglected the people and never for a moment discharged your office? [You are the persons to whom alone this ruin of the Christian religion is due. You have permitted men to err so shamefully; yours is the guilt; for you have ever done anything rather than what your office required you to do.] May all misfortune flee you! [I do not wish at this place to invoke evil on your heads.] You command the Sacrament in one form [but is not this the highest ungodliness coupled with the greatest impudence that you are insisting on the administration of the Sacrament in one form only, and on your traditions] and insist on your human laws, and yet at the same time you do not care in the least [while you are utterly without scruple and concern] whether the people know the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, the Ten Commandments, or any part of the Word of God.

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