Heidelberg Catechism

The Heidelberg Catechism was written in 1562 by Zacharius Ursinus and Caspar Olevianus under the direction of Elector Frederick III in Heidelberg, Germany (thus the name). It was approved by the Synod of Dordt in 1618-1619 and has become one of the most central documents of the Reformed tradition. The catechism is a series of questions and answers, arranged into 52 groups (one for each Sunday of the year) called "Lord's Days". Here is one of the Lord's Days that we will use in our study of information technology.


Lord's Day 12

Question & Answer 31

Q. Why is he called "Christ," meaning "anointed"?

A. Because he has been ordained by God the Father and has been anointed with the Holy Spirit[1] to be our chief prophet and teacher[2] who perfectly reveals to us the secret counsel and will of God for our deliverance[3]; our only high priest[4] who has set us free by the one sacrifice of his body[5], and who continually pleads our cause with the Father[6]; and our eternal king[7] who governs us by his Word and Spirit, and who guards us and keeps us in the freedom he has won for us[8].


[1] Luke 3:21-22; 4:14-19 (Isa. 61:1); Heb. 1:9 (Ps. 45:7)
[2] Acts 3:22 (Deut. 18:15)
[3] John 1:18; 15:15
[4] Heb. 7:17 (Ps. 110:4)
[5] Heb. 9:12; 10:11-14
[6] Rom. 8:34; Heb. 9:24
[7] Matt. 21:5 (Zech. 9:9)
[8] Matt. 28:18-20; John 10:28; Rev. 12:10-11


Question & Answer 32

Q. But why are you called a Christian?

A. Because by faith I am a member of Christ[1] and so I share in his anointing[2]. I am anointed to confess his name[3], to present myself to him as a living sacrifice of thanks[4], to strive with a good conscience against sin and the devil in this life[5], and afterward to reign with Christ over all creation
for all eternity.[6]


[1] 1 Cor. 12:12-27
[2] Acts 2:17 (Joel 2:28); 1 John 2:27
[3] Matt. 10:32; Rom. 10:9-10; Heb. 13:15
[4] Rom. 12:1; 1 Pet. 2:5, 9
[5] Gal. 5:16-17; Eph. 6:11; 1 Tim. 1:18-19
[6] Matt. 25:34; 2 Tim. 2:12