An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism · Martin Luther
THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.
_Historical._ Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts. _Didactical._ Romans, I Corinthians, II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I Thessalonians, II Thessalonians, I Timothy, II Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, I Peter, II Peter, I John, II John, III John, Jude _Prophetical._ Revelation. The _historical_ books of the New Testament give an account of the life of our Lord Jesus Christ and of some of His apostles. The _didactical_ books (the epistles or letters) explain the Gospel of Christ more fully, and show how we are to believe in Him aright and live aright. The _prophetical_ book tells in figurative language what shall take place in the Church of Christ up to the time when there shall be new heavens and a new earth. CANONICAL BOOKS. The sixty-six books enumerated above are inspired, and are called the Canonical Books of the Old and New Testaments. The so-called Apocryphal Books, printed in some editions of the Bible, are not a part of the Bible: they are not inspired. OUR ENGLISH BIBLE. The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew, and the New Testament in Greek. Our English Bible is a translation from the Hebrew and the Greek. The English Bible which is in ordinary use is called the Authorized Version, or King James' Version. It is a translation made by a body of learned men and published in England in 1611, during the reign of James I. The Revised Version is an improved translation made by a body of learned men in England and America and published in 1881-1885. The Bible in whole or in part has been translated into more than three hundred languages.
QUESTIONS.--1. What is the Bible? 2. What does it tell us? 3. Why do we need it? 4. Why do we say that the Bible is the Word of God? 5. What is its object? 6. What does it contain? 7. Of what two parts does the Bible consist, and how far do they reach? 8. What do we mean by Law and Gospel, and where are they found? 9. What is the relation between the Old and New Testaments? 10. Name the books of the Old Testament. 11. What do the historical, poetical and prophetical books of the Old Testament contain. 12. Name the books of the New Testament. 13. What do the historical, didactical and prophetical books of the New Testament contain? 14. How many canonical books of the Bible are there? 15. In what languages was the Bible originally written? 16. Tell what you know about the English Bible? 17. Into how many languages has the Bible in whole or in part been translated? SCRIPTURE VERSES.--II Tim. 3:16, 17. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Matt. 6:33. Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Acts 16:30, 31. What must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. John 5:39. Search the Scriptures: for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. Ps. 19:1. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his handiwork. II Pet. 1:21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. II Tim. 3:15. From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Prov. 9:10. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Ps. 119:105. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Micah 6:8. He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. John 3:16. God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Heb. 1:1, 2. God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. READING.--The Child Jesus in the Temple, Luke 2:41-52; or Mary sitting at Jesus' Feet, Luke 10:38-42. ILLUSTRATIONS.--_Study of the Scriptures:_ Jesus and the Apostles at home in them, Matt. 4:4-10, Acts 2: 14 _seq._ Timothy, II Tim. 3:15. The Bereans, Acts 17:10-12. _Variously received:_ The Parable of the Sower, Luke 8:5-15.
Ideas discussed in this chapter
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