This is the home of the Heidelberg School.
In the Reformation and Puritan periods of Western History, Christian
teaching focused on three subjects: The Apostle's Creed, the Lord's
Prayer and the Ten Commandments. Children and adults knew the Creed, the
Prayer and the Commandments by heart. They were instructed in more
detail through question and answer sessions with more mature believers.
Pastors and teachers preached great sermons that clarified the
foundational Christian doctrines summarized in the Apostle's Creed, the
Lord's Prayer and the Ten Commandments; and Christian scholars followed
the same outline in universities of their time. Zacharias Ursinus was
one such scholar who taught at the University of Heidelberg, in Germany.
Zacharias Ursinus, Professor of Dogmatics (1534-1583)
Educated at Wittenberg under Melanchthon, at Geneva under Calvin and at Paris under Mercier. From 1561 to 1568 was professor of dogmatics at the University of Heidelberg.
He and Caspar Olevianus, a disciple of Calvin, wrote the Heidelberg
Catechism, which was adopted as the official creed of the German
Reformed churches.
The Heidelberg Catechism is a clear, simple and profound summary of
Christian Doctrine that burns with the practical passion of a pastor's
heart. Dr. Zacharias Ursinus was a gifted pastor-teacher who stood on
the shoulders of three giants of the Reformation (Luther, Calvin and
Mercier) and proclaimed the gospel in simplicity for children and in
greater depth for university students. The Heidelberg Catechism has
endured for 450 years and is still taught to children and adults around
the world.
The Heidelberg Catechism provides the outlines and structure for our Heidelberg School.
The Basic Course includes the questions, answers and Scripture texts that were taught to children and to new believers.
The Advanced Course includes material and discussion provided for pastors and university students.
Jump in wherever you want and you will be blessed.
One brief note about method and style:
On each of the following pages I quote the question and provide the
answer as written by Dr. Ursinus or Dr. Olevianus. I then provide a
simple outline that is drawn directly from the answer as written.
Finally, I have included Scriptures that were referenced in the original
text along with a few questions to stir up your thinking. Please feel
free to add your own thoughts, observations or questions in the Comments
section. Barnabas
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