Catechism
Heidelberg Catechism
Zacharias Ursinus; Reformed Church in America translationComplete Q1-Q129 import from the Wikisource rendered page transcluding the 1879 Reformed Church in America translation.
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Author: Zacharias Ursinus; Reformed Church in America translation
Kind: Catechism
Tradition: reformed
Original work: Public-domain historical catechism
Digital source: Wikisource transcription
Edition status: Edition comparison pending
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Source provider: Wikisource
Edition citation: Heidelberg Catechism, Reformed Church in America translation printed with Biblical proof-texts in 1879, Wikisource digital text, accessed 2026-07-04.
Contents
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129 sectionsLord's Day 12
Lord's Day 23
Lord's Day 33
Q. 6. Did God then create man so wicked and perverse?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 3 / Q. 6Q. 7. Whence then proceeds this depravity of human nature?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 3 / Q. 7Q. 8. Are we then so corrupt that we are wholly incapable of doing any good, and inclined to all wickedness?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 3 / Q. 8
Lord's Day 43
Q. 9. Doth not God then do injustice to man by requiring from him, in his law, that which he cannot perform? —(Gal. 3;10).Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 4 / Q. 9Q. 10. Will God suffer such disobedience and rebellion to go unpunished?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 4 / Q. 10Q. 11. Is not God then also merciful?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 4 / Q. 11
Lord's Day 54
Q. 12. Since then, by the righteous judgment of God, we deserve temporal and eternal punishment, is there no way by which we can escape that punishment, and be again received into favor?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 5 / Q. 12Q. 13. Can we ourselves then make this satisfaction?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 5 / Q. 13Q. 14. Can there then be found anywhere one, who is a mere creature, able to satisfy for us?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 5 / Q. 14Q. 15. What sort of mediator and deliverer, then, must we seek for?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 5 / Q. 15
Lord's Day 64
Q. 16. Why must he be very man, and also perfectly righteous?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 6 / Q. 16Q. 17. Why must he in one person be also very God?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 6 / Q. 17Q. 18. Who then is that mediator who is in one person both very God, and a real righteous man?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 6 / Q. 18Q. 19. Whence knowest thou this?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 6 / Q. 19
Lord's Day 74
Q. 20. Are all men, then, as they perished in Adam, saved by Christ?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 7 / Q. 20Q. 21. What is true faith?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 7 / Q. 21Q. 22. What is then necessary for a Christian to believe?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 7 / Q. 22Q. 23. What are these articles?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 7 / Q. 23
Lord's Day 82
Lord's Day 102
Lord's Day 112
Lord's Day 122
Lord's Day 132
Lord's Day 142
Lord's Day 153
Q. 37. What dost thou understand by the words, He suffered?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 15 / Q. 37Q. 38. Why did Christ suffer under Pontius Pilate, as his judge?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 15 / Q. 38Q. 39. Is there anything more in his being crucified than if he had died some other death?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 15 / Q. 39
Lord's Day 165
Q. 40. Why was it necessary for Christ to humble himself even unto death?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 16 / Q. 40Q. 41. Why was he also “buried”?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 16 / Q. 41Q. 42. Since then Christ died for us, why must we also die?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 16 / Q. 42Q. 43. What further benefit do we receive from the sacrifice and death of Christ on the cross?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 16 / Q. 43Q. 44. Why is there added, “He descended into Hell?”Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 16 / Q. 44
Lord's Day 171
Lord's Day 184
Q. 46. How dost thou understand these words, He ascended into heaven?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 18 / Q. 46Q. 47. Is not Christ then with us, even to the end of the world, as he hath promised?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 18 / Q. 47Q. 48. But if his human nature is not present wherever his Godhead is, are then these two natures in Christ separated from one another?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 18 / Q. 48Q. 49. Of what advantage to us is Christ’s ascension into heaven?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 18 / Q. 49
Lord's Day 193
Q. 50. Why is it added, And sitteth at the right hand of God?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 19 / Q. 50Q. 51. What profit is this glory of Christ, our head, unto us?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 19 / Q. 51Q. 52. What comfort is it to thee, that Christ shall come again to judge the quick and the dead?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 19 / Q. 52
Lord's Day 201
Lord's Day 213
Q. 54. What believest thou concerning the “Holy Catholic Church” of Christ?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 21 / Q. 54Q. 55. What do you understand by, “The Communion of Saints?”Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 21 / Q. 55Q. 56. What believest thou concerning, “The Forgiveness of sins?”Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 21 / Q. 56
Lord's Day 222
Lord's Day 233
Q. 59. But what doth it profit thee now that thou believest all this?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 23 / Q. 59Q. 60. How art thou righteous before God?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 23 / Q. 60Q. 61. What sayest thou that thou art righteous by faith only?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 23 / Q. 61
Lord's Day 243
Q. 62. But why cannot our good works be the whole or part of our righteousness before God?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 24 / Q. 62Q. 63. What! do not our good works merit, which yet God will reward in this and a future life?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 24 / Q. 63Q. 64. But doth not this doctrine make men careless and profane?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 24 / Q. 64
Lord's Day 254
Q. 65. Since then we are made partakers of Christ, and all his benefits, by faith only, whence doth this faith proceed?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 25 / Q. 65Q. 66. What are the sacraments?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 25 / Q. 66Q. 67. Are both word and sacraments then ordained and appointed for this end, that they may direct our faith to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, on the cross, as the only ground of our salvation?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 25 / Q. 67Q. 68. How many sacraments has Christ instituted in the new covenant or testament?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 25 / Q. 68
Lord's Day 263
Q. 69. How art thou admonished and assured, by holy baptism, that the one sacrifice of Christ upon the cross is of real advantage to thee?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 26 / Q. 69Q. 70. What is it to be washed with the blood and the spirit of Christ?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 26 / Q. 70Q. 71. Where has Christ promised us that he will certainly wash us by his blood and Spirit, as we are washed with the water of baptism?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 26 / Q. 71
Lord's Day 273
Q. 72. Is then the external baptism with water, the washing away of sin itself?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 27 / Q. 72Q. 73. Why then doth the Holy Ghost call baptism “the washing of regeneration” and the washing away of sins?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 27 / Q. 73Q. 74. Are infants also to be baptized?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 27 / Q. 74
Lord's Day 283
Q. 75. How art thou admonished and assured in the Lord’s supper, that thou art a partaker of that one sacrifice of Christ, accomplished on the cross, of all his benefits?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 28 / Q. 75Q. 76. What is it to eat the crucified body, and drink the shed blood of Christ?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 28 / Q. 76Q. 77. Where has Christ promised, that he will as certainly feed and nourish believers with his body and blood, as they eat of this broken bread, and drink of this cup?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 28 / Q. 77
Lord's Day 292
Q. 78. Do then the bread and wine become the very body and blood of Christ?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 29 / Q. 78Q. 79. Why then doth Christ call the bread his body, and the cup his blood, or the new covenant in his blood, and Paul, the “communion of the body and blood of Christ?”Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 29 / Q. 79
Lord's Day 303
Q. 80. What difference is there between the Lord’s supper and the Popish mass?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 30 / Q. 80Q. 81. For whom is the Lord’s supper instituted?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 30 / Q. 81Q. 82. Are they also to be admitted to this supper, who, by confession and life, declare themselves infidels and ungodly?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 30 / Q. 82
Lord's Day 313
Q. 83. What are the keys of the kingdom of heaven?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 31 / Q. 83Q. 84. How is the kingdom of heaven opened and shut by the preaching of the holy gospel?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 31 / Q. 84Q. 85. How is the kingdom of heaven shut and opened by Christian discipline?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 31 / Q. 85
Lord's Day 322
Q. 86. Since then we are delivered from our misery, merely of grace through Christ, without any merit of ours, why must we still do good works?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 32 / Q. 86Q. 87. Cannot they then be saved, who, continuing in their wicked and ungrateful lives, are not converted to God?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 32 / Q. 87
Lord's Day 334
Q. 88. In how many parts doth the true conversion of man consist?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 33 / Q. 88Q. 89. What is the mortification of the old man?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 33 / Q. 89Q. 90. What is the quickening of the new man?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 33 / Q. 90Q. 91. But what are good works?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 33 / Q. 91
Lord's Day 344
Q. 92. What is the Law of God?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 34 / Q. 92Q. 93. How are these ten commandments divided?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 34 / Q. 93Q. 94. What doth God enjoin in the first command?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 34 / Q. 94Q. 95. What is idolatry?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 34 / Q. 95
Lord's Day 353
Q. 96. What doth God require in the second command?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 35 / Q. 96Q. 97. Are images then not at all to be made?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 35 / Q. 97Q. 98. But may not images be tolerated in the churches, as books to the laity?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 35 / Q. 98
Lord's Day 362
Q. 99. What is required in the third command?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 36 / Q. 99Q. 100. Is then the profaning of God’s name, by swearing and cursing, so heinous a sin, that his wrath is kindled against those who do not endeavour, as much as in them lies, to prevent and forbid such cursing and swearing?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 36 / Q. 100
Lord's Day 372
Lord's Day 381
Lord's Day 391
Lord's Day 403
Q. 105. What doth God require in the sixth command?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 40 / Q. 105Q. 106. But this command seems only to speak of murder?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 40 / Q. 106Q. 107. But is it enough that we do not kill any man in the manner mentioned above?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 40 / Q. 107
Lord's Day 412
Lord's Day 422
Lord's Day 431
Lord's Day 443
Q. 113. What doth the tenth command require of us?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 44 / Q. 113Q. 114. But can those who are converted to God, perfectly keep these commandments?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 44 / Q. 114Q. 115. Why will God then have the ten commands so strictly preached, since no man in this life can keep them?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 44 / Q. 115
Lord's Day 454
Q. 116. Why is prayer necessary for Christians?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 45 / Q. 116Q. 117. What are the requisites of that prayer, which is acceptable to God, and which he will hear?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 45 / Q. 117Q. 118. What hath God commanded us to ask of him?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 45 / Q. 118Q. 119. What are the words of that Prayer?Heidelberg Catechism / Lord's Day 45 / Q. 119