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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
iii
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