The Heidelberg Catechism

Reviewing the old Heidelberg Catechism.  (I know, I'm obsessed with old writing! But this is really special.)

It was written in 1563 - the year before Shakespeare was born.

Catechism means "question and answer teaching." 

The Heidelberg Catechism was used to teach the important beliefs of the church to children and adults. It is still used today, in dozens of languages.

It is divided into 52 lessons - one for each Lord's Day. And each lesson had accompanying Bible verses to be learned.

Here is the first part -

                                 LORD'S DAY #1

Question: What is your only comfort in life and in death?

Answer: That I am not my own, but belong - body and soul, in life and in death, to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. 

He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.

Because I belong to Him, Christ, by His Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for Him.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Romans 14:7-9

I Peter 1:18-19

1 John 1:7-9, 2:2

John 8:34-36; Hebrews 2:14-15

2 Thessalonians 3:3

1 Peter 1:5

Matthew 10:29-31; Luke 21:16-18

Romans 8:15-17, 28

2 Corinthians 1:21-22; 5:5

Ephesians 1:13-14