The Catechism and the Bible.
1. The little book we have before us is called the _Small Catechism._
The word "catechism" means _instruction._ This little book gives us
instruction in a brief and simple form, such as even a child can
understand. It teaches us what every Christian, as a child of God,
should believe, and how every Christian, as a child of God, should
live.--This book is called the _Small Catechism_ not only because it
is a small book, but mainly because we have also a _Large Catechism_ for
older people.
2. The _Small Catechism_ was written by _Dr. Martin Luther, the great
Reformer of the Church._ Luther was born at Eisleben, a small town in
Germany, November 10, 1483, and died at the same place, February 18,
1546. He published his _Small Catechism in the year 1529,_ for the
benefit of the common people and the children, who are most in need of
such instruction.
3. Our Catechism is a small book, indeed, but it is a most precious
little book. It does not contain Luther's thoughts and doctrines or
those of any other wise and learned man; it contains _God's own words_
revealed to us for our salvation. It does not teach us _all_ the
doctrines of God's Word, but those that every Christian must know in
order _to believe rightly, to lead a godly life, and when his last hour
is come to depart in peace._ Our Catechism teaches these doctrines in a
short form, in plain and simple words.
4. _Our Catechism teaches God's Word._ How do we prove this? Luther has
taken the contents of his Catechism from the Bible, and the Bible is the
Word of God.--The Word "Bible" means _book._ We call our Bible "the
book" because it really is the Book of books, the book in comparison
with which no other book is worthy to be called by that name, the most
important and valuable book.--The Bible is also called _the
Scriptures,_ or _Scripture,_ which means something written, a written
word. The Bible was written by _holy men of God._ These holy men did not
write the Bible of their own will. _"Holy men of God spake"_ (and wrote)
_"as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."_ 2 Pet. 1,21. God Himself moved
His holy men to write the Bible.
5. The Bible contains many _different books,_ written at different
times. We divide the books of our Bible into _two chief parts._ The
first we call the _Old Testament._ To it belong all the books written by
the prophets of God, by Moses, Samuel, David, Isaiah, and others, before
our Savior was born.--The second part we call the _New Testament,_
which contains all the books written by the evangelists and apostles,
such as Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter, and others, after our
Savior came into this world. _Both Testaments teach us the same things
and doctrines._ In what respect do they differ?
6. The Bible is the written Word of God. It is true, holy men have
written the Bible, but they wrote being moved by the Holy Ghost, and
moreover, they wrote what God told them to write, they wrote by
inspiration of God. _"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God."_
2 Tim. 3,16. God inspired His prophets and apostles, that is, He taught
and told them what to write, He taught and gave them the very words
which they were to use. When a teacher dictates to his pupils, the
children, indeed, write the words; yet they do not write their own
words, but the words of their teacher. In a similar manner, God, as it
were, dictated His Word to the holy men; He told them what to write,
and how to write it. So the whole Bible is God's Word. Therefore it is
wholly _free from every error,_ it is _infallible._ Everything it tells
us is the truth. God will not and cannot tell us an untruth.
7. _For what purpose did God give us His Word in the Bible?_ The Holy
Scriptures _"are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith
which is in Christ Jesus."_ 2 Tim. 3,15. God's Word is to make us
_wise,_ not wise unto the things of this world, unto our daily life and
work, but _wise unto salvation._ It teaches us how we who are sinners
can be saved from damnation. Nobody can teach us this but God in His
Word.--Our salvation is in Christ Jesus. We are saved solely by faith
in Him who has taken away the sins of the world. The Scriptures testify
of Christ.--The Word of God is _able_ to make us wise unto salvation.
In it we find all we must know, all that is necessary to save us, to
give us eternal life. _"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto
my path."_ Ps. 119,105.
8. _How should we use the Scriptures?_ Our Savior says: _"Search the
Scriptures; for in them, ye think ye have eternal life; and they are
they which testify of Me."_ 3 John 5,39. We should _search_ the
Scriptures, that is, we should read and study them diligently. We hear
God's Word preached in our churches, we learn it in our schools, we
should read it daily in our homes. We should not only read, but _study_
it _with earnest prayer to God_ that He would open our eyes that we may
understand His Word.--We should read it so as _to seek and to find in
it Christ,_ our Lord and Savior, and through faith in Him have eternal
life. _"Blessed are they that hear the Word of God, and keep it,"_ Luke
11,28.
9. From the Word of God our Catechism is taken. Luther took the most
important doctrines from the Bible for his Catechism. _It may be called
a small Bible._ Gladly should we study this little book. As new-born
babes long and cry for their milk and grow thereby to become strong men
or women, so children of God, newly born in Holy Baptism, should desire
the pure milk of the Word set before them in their Catechism and grow
thereby in knowledge and faith unto salvation. 1 Pet. 2,2.