Faith Building: Martin Luther's Small Catechism, pt. 1

This is the first in a new series on the Tyler Street Blog aimed at growing our basic understanding of the faith. We'll be looking at essential Christian beliefs as explained by great Christian thinkers through the ages.

To begin, I thought we could look at the Apostle's Creed as explained in Martin Luther's Small Catechism With Explination, a book used to instruct Lutheran children (and adult converts) in the basics of the faith. The text quoted below is from Augustana Press' 1957 edition. It is designed to be taught in the home. Perhaps your family might talk about it at the dinner table tonight.

The Creed

In the plan form by which it is to be taught by the head of the family.

The First Article
Of Creation

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth.

What is meant by this article?

I believe that God has created me and all that exists; that He has given and still preserves to me my body and soul, with all my limbs and senses, my reason and all my faculties of my mind, together with my raiment, food, home, and family, and with all my property; that He daily provides me abundantly with all the necessaries of life; protects me from all danger, and preserves me and guards me against all evil; all of which He does out of pure, paternal, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me; for all which I am in duty bound to thank and praise, serve and obey Him. This is most certainly true.

The Second Article
Of Redemption

I believe in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

What is meant by this article?

I believe that Jesus Christ, true God begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord; who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, secured and delivered me from all sins and death, and from the power of the devil, not with silver and gold but with His holy and precious blood, and with His innocent sufferings and death; in order that I might be His own, live under Him and His Kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, even as He is risen from the dead, and lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.

The Third Article
Of Sanctification

I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints; the forgiveness of sins; the Resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

What is meant by this article?

I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me through the gospel, enlightened me by His gifts, and sanctified and preserved me in the true faith; in like manner as He calls, gathers, enlightens, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and preserves it in union with Jesus Christ in the true faith; in which Christian Church He daily forgives abundantly all my sins, and the sins of all believers, and will raise me up and all the dead at the last day, and will grant everlasting life to me and all who believe in Christ. This is most certainly true.