The Three Forms of Unity

The Heidelberg Catechism

Our only comfort · 1563

129 questions and answers in 52 Lord’s Days, taught to our children and preached in our churches through the year.

Prepared under
Elector Frederick III
Chief author
Zacharias Ursinus
Published
Heidelberg, 1563
Structure
52 Lord’s Days · 129 Q&A

About the catechism

Frederick III, Elector of the Palatinate, commissioned the catechism for teaching the young and guiding preachers. It was written chiefly by Zacharias Ursinus with the theological faculty of Heidelberg, divided into fifty-two Lord’s Days so that it could be preached through each year, and approved by the Synod of Dort. Its warm, personal voice follows the order of the letter to the Romans: our misery, our deliverance, and our gratitude.

1
Lord’s Day 1 · Q&A 1–2

Our only comfort

[Q&A 1–2 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

PART I · MISERY

2
Lord’s Day 2 · Q&A 3–5

Knowing our misery

[Q&A 3–5 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

3
Lord’s Day 3 · Q&A 6–8

Creation and the fall

[Q&A 6–8 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

4
Lord’s Day 4 · Q&A 9–11

The justice of God

[Q&A 9–11 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

PART II · DELIVERANCE

5
Lord’s Day 5 · Q&A 12–15

The need for a mediator

[Q&A 12–15 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

6
Lord’s Day 6 · Q&A 16–19

The true mediator

[Q&A 16–19 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

7
Lord’s Day 7 · Q&A 20–23

True faith and the Apostles’ Creed

[Q&A 20–23 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

8
Lord’s Day 8 · Q&A 24–25

The Holy Trinity

[Q&A 24–25 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

9
Lord’s Day 9 · Q&A 26

God the Father, our Creator

[Q&A 26 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

10
Lord’s Day 10 · Q&A 27–28

The providence of God

[Q&A 27–28 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

11
Lord’s Day 11 · Q&A 29–30

Jesus, our Savior

[Q&A 29–30 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

12
Lord’s Day 12 · Q&A 31–32

Christ, the Anointed

[Q&A 31–32 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

13
Lord’s Day 13 · Q&A 33–34

God’s only Son, our Lord

[Q&A 33–34 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

14
Lord’s Day 14 · Q&A 35–36

Conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin

[Q&A 35–36 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

15
Lord’s Day 15 · Q&A 37–39

Suffered under Pontius Pilate

[Q&A 37–39 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

16
Lord’s Day 16 · Q&A 40–44

Crucified, dead and buried; descended into hell

[Q&A 40–44 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

17
Lord’s Day 17 · Q&A 45

The resurrection

[Q&A 45 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

18
Lord’s Day 18 · Q&A 46–49

The ascension

[Q&A 46–49 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

19
Lord’s Day 19 · Q&A 50–52

Seated at God’s right hand; his return

[Q&A 50–52 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

20
Lord’s Day 20 · Q&A 53

The Holy Spirit

[Q&A 53 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

21
Lord’s Day 21 · Q&A 54–56

The church, the communion of saints and forgiveness

[Q&A 54–56 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

22
Lord’s Day 22 · Q&A 57–58

The resurrection of the body and life everlasting

[Q&A 57–58 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

23
Lord’s Day 23 · Q&A 59–61

Justification by faith

[Q&A 59–61 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

24
Lord’s Day 24 · Q&A 62–64

Good works and grace

[Q&A 62–64 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

25
Lord’s Day 25 · Q&A 65–68

The sacraments

[Q&A 65–68 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

26
Lord’s Day 26 · Q&A 69–71

Holy baptism

[Q&A 69–71 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

27
Lord’s Day 27 · Q&A 72–74

Baptism and the washing away of sin

[Q&A 72–74 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

28
Lord’s Day 28 · Q&A 75–77

The Lord’s Supper

[Q&A 75–77 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

29
Lord’s Day 29 · Q&A 78–79

The bread and the cup

[Q&A 78–79 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

30
Lord’s Day 30 · Q&A 80–82

The Supper and the Mass; who may come

[Q&A 80–82 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

31
Lord’s Day 31 · Q&A 83–85

The keys of the kingdom

[Q&A 83–85 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

PART III · GRATITUDE

32
Lord’s Day 32 · Q&A 86–87

Gratitude and good works

[Q&A 86–87 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

33
Lord’s Day 33 · Q&A 88–91

True conversion

[Q&A 88–91 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

34
Lord’s Day 34 · Q&A 92–95

The law; the first commandment

[Q&A 92–95 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

35
Lord’s Day 35 · Q&A 96–98

The second commandment

[Q&A 96–98 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

36
Lord’s Day 36 · Q&A 99–100

The third commandment

[Q&A 99–100 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

37
Lord’s Day 37 · Q&A 101–102

Oaths in God’s name

[Q&A 101–102 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

38
Lord’s Day 38 · Q&A 103

The fourth commandment

[Q&A 103 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

39
Lord’s Day 39 · Q&A 104

The fifth commandment

[Q&A 104 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

40
Lord’s Day 40 · Q&A 105–107

The sixth commandment

[Q&A 105–107 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

41
Lord’s Day 41 · Q&A 108–109

The seventh commandment

[Q&A 108–109 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

42
Lord’s Day 42 · Q&A 110–111

The eighth commandment

[Q&A 110–111 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

43
Lord’s Day 43 · Q&A 112

The ninth commandment

[Q&A 112 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

44
Lord’s Day 44 · Q&A 113–115

The tenth commandment; the use of the law

[Q&A 113–115 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

45
Lord’s Day 45 · Q&A 116–119

Prayer

[Q&A 116–119 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

46
Lord’s Day 46 · Q&A 120–121

Our Father in heaven

[Q&A 120–121 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

47
Lord’s Day 47 · Q&A 122

The first petition

[Q&A 122 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

48
Lord’s Day 48 · Q&A 123

The second petition

[Q&A 123 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

49
Lord’s Day 49 · Q&A 124

The third petition

[Q&A 124 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

50
Lord’s Day 50 · Q&A 125

The fourth petition

[Q&A 125 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

51
Lord’s Day 51 · Q&A 126

The fifth petition

[Q&A 126 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]

52
Lord’s Day 52 · Q&A 127–129

The sixth petition and the conclusion

[Q&A 127–129 — URCP-ADOPTED TRANSLATION]