The Heidelberg Catechism
Part 1: Of Man's Wretchedness or Miserable State
Lord's Day / Week 2
Question 3
By what means do you come by the knowledge of your wretchedness?
Answer
By the law of God.1
1. Romans 3:20; 7:7-25
Question 4
What does the law of God require of us?
Answer
That which Christ, in a short sum, teaches us in Matthew 22 and Luke 10:1
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.2 This is the first and greatest commadment.
And the second is like it. Love your neighbor as yourself.
The whole law and prophets hand upon these two commandments.3
1. Matthew 22:37-39; Luke 10:27
2. Deuteronomy 6:5
3. Leviticus 19:18
The Heidelberg Catechism was originally composed in 1563 by Zacharias Ursinus, with contributions provided by Caspar Olevianus.
This is our attempt at a modernized version of the first English translation, which was produced by William Turner in 1572, which he originally titled Catechisme for Children, thankfully made available in digital form by the University of Michigan.