Luther's Large Catechism

A Christian Preface

Being a Faithful, Earnest Exhortation Addressed by Luther to all Christians, but Especially to all Pastors and Preachers, to Diligently Exercise Themselves Daily in the Knowledge of the Catechism, Which is a Short Summary and Extract of the Whole Bible, and to Continually Put it into Practice.

We have weighty reasons for urging the constant use of the Catechism and for desiring and beseeching others to do so. We see, with sorrow, that many pastors and preachers are very lax in this duty, thereby dishonoring both their office and the teachings of that little book. Some do so from motives…

Foreword

This little book or sermon was planned and started for the instruction of children and the uneducated. Hence, from the earliest times it was called in Greek, Catechism, which signifies a method of instruction adapted to children. Its contents represent the minimum of knowledge for a Christian.…

The First Commandment

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me." (Ex. 20:3; Deut. 5:7)

The simple meaning of this commandment is, You shall worship me alone as your God. What do these words mean and how are they to be understood? What is it to have a god, or what is God? Answer: A god is that to which we look for all good and where we resort for help in every time of need; to have a…

Appendix to the First Commandment

Although these words are related to all the commandments, as we shall learn later, yet they are joined to this chief commandment because it is of first importance that a man's head be right. Where the head is right the whole life must be right. Learn also from these words how angry God is with…

The Second Commandment

"Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain; for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." (Ex. 20:7; Deut. 5:11)

As the first commandment instructed the heart and taught faith, so this commandment leads us into the outer sphere and trains our lips and tongue Godward. For words are the first issue and revelation of the heart. As I taught above that you must comprehend what it is to have a god, so you must…

The Third Commandment

"Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy." (Ex. 20:8; Deut. 5:12)

Holyday (Feiertag) is so named from the Hebrew word Sabbath, which properly means to rest (feiern), to abstain from labor. Hence we are accustomed to say in German, "Feierabend machen"; that is, cease working, or keep an "evening rest," or keep the evening holy (sanctify the Sabbath). In the Old…

The Fourth Commandment

"Honor thy father and thy mother." (Ex. 20:12; Deut. 5:16)

Thus far we have learned the first three commandments, which treat of our duty to God. First, that we are to trust, fear and love him with our whole heart all the days of our lives. Secondly, that we are not to misuse his holy name to support falsehood or any wicked deed, but are to use it for the…

The Fifth Commandment

"Thou shalt not kill." (Ex. 20:13; Deut. 5:17)

We have thus far explained both the spiritual and the civil governments, the exercise of divine and parental authority and obedience. In this commandment, however, we go out of our own homes, among our neighbors, in order to learn how each one should conduct himself toward his fellow man. Hence in…

The Sixth Commandment

"Thou shalt not commit adultery." (Ex. 20:14; Deut. 5:18)

The commandments following are made plain by the explanation of the preceding ones; for they all teach us to guard against harming our neighbor and they are admirably arranged. They deal first with the security of one's own person. Next, with that which is nearest and dearest to him—his wedded…

The Seventh Commandment

"Thou shalt not steal." (Ex. 20:15; Deut. 5:19)

Next to our own persons and our wedded companions, our temporal treasures are the dearest to us. God designs protection for them also. He has commanded that no one damage or curtail the possessions of his neighbor. "To steal" signifies nothing else than to obtain another's property by unjust means.…

The Eighth Commandment

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." (Ex. 20:16; Deut. 5:20)

Besides the sacredness of person, of spouse and property, there is yet another treasure one cannot dispense with-his honor and reputation. Public shame and contempt is unendurable. God would guard the honor and character of our neighbor as he guards his other possessions, so that every one may be…

The Ninth and Tenth Commandments

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's." (Ex. 20:17; Deut. 5:21)

These two commandments were particularly addressed to the Jews, but they concern us also in part. The Jews did not interpret them as relating to unchastity and theft, because these vices are sufficiently forbidden above. They considered they were keeping the commandments when, outwardly, they…

Conclusion to the Ten Commandments

Thus we have in the Ten Commandments a summary of divine teaching. They tell us what we are to do to make our lives pleasing to God. They show us the true fountain from which, and the true channel in which, all good works must flow. No deed, no conduct, can be good and pleasing to God, however…

The First Article of the Creed

"I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth."

These words give us briefly a description of God the Father, his nature, his will and work. Since the Ten Commandments have taught that we are to have no other gods, we may naturally ask: What kind of a being is God? What does he do? By what manner of praise, representation and description can we…

The Second Article of the Creed

"And 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 at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead."

Here we learn to know the second person of the Godhead and see what we have received from God besides the temporal goods before mentioned—he has poured out himself upon us, bestowing all and withholding nothing. Now, this article is broad and contains much, but to treat it briefly and simply we…

The Third Article of the Creed

"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."

I cannot explain this article any better than to repeat the statement that it treats of sanctification, describing at length the office of the Holy Spirit, which is to make holy. We must hold to this term, "Holy Spirit," because it is so clear and comprehensive in meaning that no other term is…

Introduction to the Lord's Prayer

We have heard what we are to do and believe; wherein the best and most blessed life consists. Now follows the third part—how we are to pray. Since no human being can keep the Ten Commandments perfectly, though he have made a beginning in believing, and since we must fight against the devil and all…

The First Petition

"Hallowed be thy name."

These words are a little obscure and not good German. In our mother-tongue, we would say: Heavenly Father, help that only thy name may be holy. Now, what do we mean by praying that God's name may be hallowed? Is it not always holy? The answer is: Yes, in itself it is always holy, but not in our use…

The Second Petition

"Thy kingdom come."

As in the first petition we prayed, regarding the honor and name of God, that he would restrain the world from adorning its falsehoods and wickedness therewith, but would help us to revere his name and keep it holy in our doctrine and in our lives, to the praise and glory of that name; so here we…

The Third Petition

"Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth."

Thus far we have prayed that God's name be hallowed by us and his kingdom flourish among us. These two points include all that pertains to God's honor and the appropriation of God with all his treasures, which is our salvation. But right here there is great need that we hold firmly to these…

The Fourth Petition

"Give us this day our daily bread."

The subject brought to our attention here seems paltry. It is the bread basket—the necessities of our body and of our life on earth. Brief are the words of our prayer but far-reaching is their import. For when you mention and pray for "daily bread" you pray for everything necessary to the…

The Fifth Petition

"And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors."

This petition refers to the poverty and wretchedness of our lives. Although we have God's Word and believe and do God's will and submit to it, and though we are nourished by God's gifts and blessings, our lives are not free from sin. We daily stumble and transgress, because we live in a world of…

The Sixth Petition

"And lead us not into temptation."

We have now heard enough of the trouble and effort required to receive and keep all for which we pray, and of the infirmities and struggles that accompany such effort. Moreover, although we have obtained forgiveness and a good conscience, and are wholly absolved, yet such is life that one stands…

The Seventh Petition

"But deliver us from evil (the evil one). Amen."

In the Greek text this petition reads: Deliver, or preserve, us from the evil one, or the malicious one. Apparently it refers to the devil as the sum of all evil, as if the entire substance of our prayer should be directed against our arch-enemy. He it is who opposes all we pray for: God's name or…

Baptism

We have now finished the explanation of the three chief parts of our common Christian doctrine. It remains for us to speak of our two sacraments, instituted by Christ, in which every Christian should have at least some short elementary instruction, because, without the sacraments, no one can be a…

The Lord's Supper

Having treated holy baptism from a threefold point of view, we find it expedient to speak of the second Sacrament likewise under the three headings: What it is, what its benefits are, and who should receive it. Our authority in the premises shall be the words used by Christ in instituting this…