Luther's Small Catechism
The Small Catechism is a short writing that Martin Luther had written in 1529. The Little Catechism wants to be understood as an introduction to the Christian faith. He is with the Large Catechism, and the Smalcald Articles of part of the Lutheran confessional writings that come from Luther's own spring. He has, therefore, in the Lutheran churches confession and teaching Character: ordained on this are still pastors of Protestant churches and the pastors of the Protestant confessional churches. That they perform their duties on the basis of Scripture and according to this ( and other ) Confessions, which are collected in the confessional writings of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Luther wrote the Small Catechism, as he had seen on his visitations, that the church people know the Christian faith and the Reformation insights patchy. His goal was to give an aid to teaching the parish priest, and the heads of families as a basis for the instruction of their family members ( this was at that time also the servants ) to offer in the Christian faith. In addition, the Small Catechism served as an elementary textbook, it was learned by the reading and writing. Even before the Small Catechism, there were catechisms, which included the 10 Commandments, the Creed and the Our Father. Luther advanced the Catechism of the sacraments, baptism, communion and confession, so that the Small Catechism covers the following topics:
- The Ten Commandments
- The Creed
- The Lord's Prayer
- The Sacrament of Holy Baptism
- The sacrament of the altar, or the Lord's Supper
- The office of the keys or the confession ( later inserted, initially did not belong to the core of the Small Catechism )
The Little Catechism begins with a preface and then treated the topics in each section (main pieces ). The Ten Commandments, the Creed and the Our Father are listed in the text. In addition, they are - as well as the remaining issues - briefly explained in question and answer form.
In some Lutheran churches he still provides the doctrinal basis for the confirmation class dar.