The Lutheran Catechism: Law, Gospel, Discipleship

Historically, the term “catechism” did not refer to a particular type of book but to a collection of traditional formulations of the basic teachings of the Christian faith. At the time of the Reformation, Martin Luther’s concern for the spiritual wellbeing of the laity prompted him to reorganize that material with a new sequence: first the law as summarized by the Ten Commandments, then the gospel as summarized by the Apostles’ Creed, and finally discipleship as summarized by the Lord’s Prayer and the biblical passages pertaining to Holy Baptism, confession, and the Sacrament of the Altar. His accompanying explanations constitute the Small and Large Catechisms, presenting each part “as the housefather should teach it in a simple way to his household.” This resource facilitates such usage by arranging Luther’s texts in parallel as a six-month daily devotional, with each pair of readings accompanied by a few questions for reflection and a brief prayer.