May 11, 2015, Thomas Johnson -- Appropriating the Reformation: Czech Heidelberger 2015

Foundations of the Christian Faith (May 3, 2015 - Písek, Czech Republic)

While Christians from around the world are preparing to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in October 2017, Czech Christians are setting a good example with a new translation of the Heidelberg Catechism, one of the most beloved summaries of the Reformation faith. And now, in 2015, they are beginning a series of study days on the Heidelberger under the title “Foundations of the Christian Faith,” the first of which was held in a church in the town of Písek.

The new Czech translation was produced from the sixteenth century German original after comparing the tradition of translations in Latin, German, English, and Czech, and after examining the use of key words in other works published by one of the authors of the Heidelberger, Zacharius Urinus (1534-1583). Following the tradition of catechisms, the Heidelberger achieves a balanced and complete summary of the Protestant faith by means of explaining the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, all of which are connected with each other and with the Christian life through questions and answers about the significance of the creed, the prayer, and God’s law for believers. As is normal in many Reformation documents, two themes are emphasized: justification by faith alone and the relation between the gospel and God’s moral law.

Christians usually fall in love with the first question and answer of the Heidelberger: “What is your only comfort in life and in death? My only comfort is that I belong to Jesus Christ. . .” In this first study day the students also became very interested in certain other questions and answers, for example question 2, “What do you need to know in order to live and die in the joy of this comfort?” question 21, “What is true faith?” and the discussion of the good works that flow from faith, question 86 and following.

The new Czech Heidelberger is a project of the Comenius Institute, of which Thomas K. Johnson was director 2004-2013. This series of study days is part of the Comenius “School of Christian Studies,” individual study days in cities across the Czech Republic. In 2014 about 500 people participated in such study days taught by the scholars associated with the Comenius Institute.

Contact info:

To order the Heidelberger in Czech: http://www.navrat.cz/heidelbersky-katechismus/d-70502/

The Comenius Institute website: http://komenskyinstitute.com/

Dr. Peter Cimala, Director of the Comenius Institute

Research Fellow in Biblical Studies, Charles University

Ordained Minister, Církev bratrská

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dr. Thomas K. Johnson, Board Chairman, Comenius Institute

Vice President for Research, Martin Bucer Seminary, www.bucer.eu.

Professor, Global Scholars, www.global-scholars.org.

For further information, contact Fr. Johnson at this e-mail address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.