Zacharias Ursinus was a student of Philip Melanchthon, principal author of the Heidelberg Catechism, and professor at Heidelberg University. The Commentary is a systematic theology organized around the questions and answers of the catechism. It was compiled by his students, especially David Pareus. This Latin to English translation is the Fourth American Edition (1888). Q&As are here updated to the 400th Anniversary Edition (1962) of the Catechism.
To read about the English translation, see the Preface. For more about Zacharias Ursinus, read Nevin's Introduction. All material is in the public domain.
What the doctrine of the church is
What the parts of this doctrine are, with their differences
In what the doctrine of the church differs from that of other systems of religion, philosophy, &c.
By what testimonies the truth of the Christian religion, or the doctrine of the church is confirmed
How manifold the method of teaching and learning the doctrine of the church is
What Catechising is
Of the origin of Catechisation
Of the parts or principal heads of the doctrine of the Catechism
Of the necessity of Catechisation
What the design of Catechism and the doctrine of the church is
What Comfort is
The parts of which it consists
Why this comfort alone is solid
Why it is necessary
How this comfort may be obtained
What it is, and whence it may be known
What the law of God requires
The state in which man was originally created
The end for which God created man
What it is, and what the parts thereof
To what extent it is lost, and what remains
How it may be restored in us
What the sin of our first parents was
What the causes of it were
What the effects thereof
Why God permitted it
The proofs of our sinfulness
What sin is
Original sin, and what it is
The proofs of original sin
Objections against original sin refuted
Actual sin
Reigning sin and sin not reigning
Mortal and venial sin
Sin against the conscience, &c.
The sin against the Holy Ghost
Rules to be observed in reference to the sin against the Holy Ghost
Sin per se, and sin by accident
The causes of sin
The effects of sin
The principal question to be considered in reference to this subject
What the freedom of the will is
In what the Liberty which is in God differs from that which is in his creatures, angels and men
Whether there be any Freedom of the human will
What Liberty belongs to man according to his four-fold state
The question, whether God does any injustice to man, by requiring from him in his law what he cannot perform, considered
The punishment of sin
How this comports with the mercy of God
How many kinds of affliction there are
A table of the afflictions of man
The causes of afflictions
Comforts under afflictions
In how many ways satisfaction may be made
What the deliverance of man is
Whether such a deliverance be possible
Whether deliverance be necessary and certain
Whether perfect deliverance may be expected
How this deliverance is accomplished
The question whether we ourselves can make this satisfaction, considered
The question whether any mere creature can make satisfaction for us, considered
What sort of a mediator we must seek for
Why he must be very man and perfectly righteous
Why he must be very God
What a mediator is
Whether we need a mediator
What the office of the mediator is
What kind of a mediator is necessary
Who this mediator is
Whether there can be more than one mediator
What this covenant is
Whether it be one or more
In what the old and new Covenants agree and differ
What the Gospel is
The question, Whether the gospel has always been known, considered
In what the Gospel differs from the Law
What the effects of the Gospel are
From what the truth of the Gospel appears
The question, Whether all men as they perished in Adam, are saved in Christ, considered
What faith is
How many kinds of faith there are
In what faith and hope differ
What the causes of faith are
What the effects of faith
To whom faith is given
The assurance of faith, with a refutation of certain objections
The objects or contents of faith
Why it is called apostolic
Why other creeds were introduced
Why the greatest authority should be attached to the Apostles' Creed
The division of the Creed
The evidences of the existence of God
Who, and what God is
The unity of God
What the terms Essence, Person, and Trinity signify, and in what they differ
Whether the church should retain these terms
The number of persons in the Godhead
How these persons are distinguished
Why the church should retain the doctrine of the Trinity
Objections against the doctrine of the Trinity refuted
What it is to believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker, &c.
Whether God created the world
How God created the world
The end for which God created the world
Whether there be any providence of God
Arguments from the works of God
Arguments from the nature and attributes of God
What the Providence of God is
A table of those things which fall under the providence of God
Objections to this doctrine refuted
The benefit and use of this doctrine
What it imports
The difference between this Jesus and other saviours
What it is to believe in Jesus
The question, Whether such as seek their salvation out of Jesus really believe in him, considered
What the anointing of Christ signifies
What the prophetical office of Christ is
What the priestly office of Christ is
What the kingly office of Christ is
What the term Christian imports
What the prophetical, priestly, and regal dignity of Christians consists in
In what sense Christ is the only begotten Son of God
A table of the Sons of God
Whether Christ was a subsistent or person before he assumed our nature
Whether he is a person distinct from the Father and the Holy Ghost
Whether he is equal with the Father and the Holy Ghost
Whether he is consubstantial
General rules according to which an answer may be given to the sophisms of heretics
Special rules serving the same ends
A refutation of the sophisms against the Divinity of the Son
In what sense Christ is called Lord
In how many ways, and why he is called our Lord
What it is to believe in Christ, our Lord
What Christ's conception by the Holy Ghost means
Why he was born of the Virgin Mary
The profit of Christ's holy conception and nativity
What it is, to believe in the conception and nativity of Christ
Whether there be two natures in Christ
Whether these two natures constitute one or more persons
What the hypostatical union is
Why it was necessary to constitute this union
What the term passion signifies
Whether Christ suffered according to both natures
What the moving causes of his passion were
What the final causes, or fruits
The question, Why Christ suffered under Pontius Pilate, considered
Whether there is any thing more in his being crucified, than if he had died some other death
How Christ is said to have been dead
Whether the death of Christ was necessary
Whether Christ died for all
Why Christ was buried
Why believers must die
The benefits, or fruits of Christ's death
What Christ's descent into hell signifies
What the fruits of his descent into hell are
Whether Christ rose from the dead
How Christ rose from the dead
Why he rose
The fruits or benefits of Christ's resurrection
Whither Christ ascended
How Christ ascended
Certain objections of the Ubiquitarians refuted
For what purpose Christ ascended
In what Christ's ascension differs from ours
What the fruits of Christ's ascension are
What the right hand of God signifies
What it is to sit at the right hand of God
Whether Christ always sat at the right hand of God
What the fruits of Christ's sitting at the right hand of God are
Whether there be a future judgment
What the final judgment is
Who the Judge will be
Whence and whither he will come
How he will come
Whom he will judge
What the process, sentence and execution of the final judgment will be
The objects of this judgment
When this judgment will take place
The reasons why we should look for it
The reasons why God has not revealed the time when it will take place
Why it is deferred
Whether it may be desired
What the term Spirit signifies
Who and what the Holy Ghost is
What the office of the Holy Ghost
What, and how manifold the gifts of the Holy Ghost are
By whom and why the Holy Ghost was given
To whom and to what extent he is given
When and how the Holy Ghost is given and received
How the Holy Ghost may be retained
Whether and how the Holy Ghost may be lost
Why the Holy Ghost is necessary
How we may know that the Holy Ghost is in us
What the church is
How manifold it is
What the marks of the true church are
Why the church is called one, holy and Catholic
In what the church differs from the state
The cause of the difference between the church and the rest of mankind
Whether there is any salvation out of the church
Whether there be any predestination
What it is
What the causes of it are
What the effects of it are
Whether it be unchangeable
To what extent it may be known
Whether the elect are always members of the church and the reprobate never
Whether the elect may fall from the church and the reprobate always remain in it
What the use of this doctrine is
What the communion of saints is
What the forgiveness of sins is
By whom forgiveness of sins is granted
On account of what is forgiveness granted
Whether forgiveness of sins agrees with divine justice
Whether it be gratuitous
To whom it is granted
How and when it is granted
Whether the soul be immortal
Where the soul is when separated from the body
What the resurrection is, and what the errors in reference to it
From what the truth of a future resurrection is inferred
The kind of bodies which will rise in the resurrection
How the resurrection will be effected
When it will take place
By whose power the dead will be raised
Why and to what state the dead will be raised
What everlasting life is
By whom it is given
To whom it is given
Why it is given
How it is given
When it is given
Whether and whence we may be assured of it
What righteousness in general is
How manifold it is
In what righteousness differs from justification
What our righteousness before God is
How the satisfaction of Christ is made ours
Why it is made ours
Why we are justified by faith only
Why our good works cannot justify us
How a reward is promised to our works
Whether this doctrine makes men careless
Other objections to this doctrine refuted
What sacraments are
What the designs of the sacraments
In what sacraments differ from sacrifices
In what the sacraments of the Old and New Testaments agree and differ
What the signs are; and what the things signified in the sacraments, and in what they differ
What the sacramental union is
What sacramental phrases are
What the lawful use of the sacraments consists in
What the ungodly receive in the sacraments
What the sacraments and word have in common, and in what they differ
How many sacraments there are
Theses concerning the sacraments in general
What Baptism is
What the ends of Baptism are
The institution of Baptism, and what the words of the institution signify
What the lawful use of Baptism consists in
Sacramental phrases in reference to Baptism
The question of infant Baptism considered
The objections of the Anabaptists refuted
Theses concerning Baptism
What circumcision is
Why circumcision was instituted
Why it was abolished
What there is in the place of circumcision
In what circumcision and baptism agree and differ
Why Christ was circumcised
What the Lord's Supper is
What the design of it is
In what the Lord's Supper differs from Baptism
The institution of the Supper and the true sense of the words of the institution
The controversy respecting the words of the institution of the holy Supper
Four classes of arguments in favor of the orthodox interpretation of the words of Christ
The testimony of the Fathers
Of transubstantiation
Of consubstantiation
The schism of the Consubstantialists
Objections in favor of consubstantiation refuted
The difference between the Lord's Supper and the Popish Mass
For whom the Lord's Supper was instituted
What the wicked receive in the use of the Supper
What the lawful use of the Supper consists in
Whom the church should admit to the Supper
Certain arguments of the Consubstantialists noticed
The general points in which the churches professing the gospel agree and differ in the controversy respecting the Lord's Supper
What the Passover was
What the design of the Passover was
The points of resemblance between Christ and the Paschal Lamb
Whether the Passover be abolished
What the power of the keys given to the church is
Whether ecclesiastical discipline be necessary
How it is to be exercised
What the design of it is, and what abuses are to be avoided
In what the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven differs from civil power
A disputation respecting excommunication
What thankfulness is
Why it is necessary
Whether conversion be necessary
What conversion to God is
What the parts of man's conversion are
What the causes of it
What the fruits of it
Whether it be perfect in this life
In what the repentance of the godly differs from that of the ungodly
What good works are
A table of good works
How they may be performed
Whether the works of the regenerate are perfectly good
How they please God
Why they should be done
Whether they merit any thing in the sight of God
What the law of God is
What the parts of the law and their differences
To what extent the law has been abrogated
In what the law differs from the gospel
The division of the law
A table of the division of the Decalogue
General rules for the understanding of the Decalogue
Theses concerning the Decalogue
The preface to the Decalogue considered
The design of this commandment
The virtues of the first commandment
The design of this commandment
What it prohibits and sanctions
Of human precepts and the authority of tradition
Whether all statues and images are here forbidden
Whether all worshipping of images is forbidden
Why images are not to be tolerated in our churches
How and by whom they are to be removed
Objections against the removal of images refuted
The exhortation added to this commandment considered
What the name of God signifies
What this commandment forbids, and enjoins, with the design thereof
The virtues of this commandment, with the vices opposed thereto
The arguments of the Papists in favor of the invocation of the saints considered and refuted
What an oath is
By whom we are to swear
Whether it is lawful for Christians to take an oath
What oaths are lawful and what unlawful
Whether all oaths should be kept
The design of this commandment
An explanation of the words of the commandment
What and how manifold the sabbath is
How far the sabbath pertains to us
The design of the sabbath
How it is sanctified and how profaned
The virtues of this commandment, with the vices opposed thereto
What the ministry of the church is
Why it was instituted
What the grades of ministers are
What the duties of ministers
To whom the ministry should be committed
What ceremonies are
In what they differ from moral works
How many kinds of ceremonies there are
Whether the church may institute ceremonies
Why obedience to the second table is necessary
The design of this commandment
The commandment itself
The promise annexed thereto
The virtues peculiar to superiors
The virtues peculiar to inferiors
The virtues common to both
The design of this commandment
The virtues which do not injure the safety of men
The virtues which contribute to the safety of men
A table of the sixth commandment
The design of this commandment
The virtues of this commandment
Three classes of lusts
What marriage is
Why it was instituted
What marriages are lawful
Whether it be a thing indifferent
What the duties of married persons are
What things are contrary to marriage
The design of this commandment
The virtues of the eighth commandment
Ten kinds of contracts
Objections against the division of property
The design of this commandment
The virtues of this commandment with the vices opposed thereto
The commandment respecting concupiscence one and not two
The design of this commandment
The principal arguments of the Pelagians
How the law was possible before the fall, and how since the fall
Objections against the imperfection of the works of the regenerate
The use of the ceremonial law
The use of the judicial law
The use of the moral law in nature as pure and holy
In nature fallen and depraved
In nature restored by Christ
In nature perfectly glorified
Principal arguments of the Antinomians against the use of the law
What prayer is
Why it is necessary
What the conditions of acceptable prayer are
The Lord's Prayer
The preface to the Lord's Prayer
What the name of God signifies
What it is to hallow the name of God
What the kingdom of God is
How manifold it is
Who the Head and King is
Who the subjects are
What the laws are
What benefits pertain to the subjects of this kingdom
Who the enemies of this kingdom are
Where it is administered
How long it will continue
How it comes to us
Why we should pray for the coming of this kingdom
What the Will of God is
What we desire in this petition, and in what it differs from the second
Why it is necessary
Why it is added, As in heaven
Why temporal blessings should be prayed for
How they should be prayed for
Why Christ comphehends temporal blessings under the term bread
Why Christ calls it our bread
Why Christ calls it daily bread
Why Christ adds, This day
Whether it be lawful to pray for riches
Whether it be lawful to lay any thing by for the time to come
What Christ means by debts
What it is to forgive debts
Why we should desire the forgiveness of sins
How our sins are remitted unto us
What temptation is
What it is to lead into temptation
What is implied in delivering us from evil
Why this petition is necessary
What is the benefit of this petition
The order and connection of these petitions
The conclusion of this prayer
The meaning of the word, Amen