Written in 1529 by Martin Luther for the parish pastors and householders of Saxony — and meant to be learned by heart by every Christian child. Six parts compose the whole of basic Christian instruction: the Ten Commandments, the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, Holy Baptism, Confession, and the Sacrament of the Altar. Read straight through, it is a small treasure of plain evangelical faith.
A Lutheran companion
Luther's Small Catechism
The Ten Commandments
Each commandment paired with Luther's brief explanation: "What does this mean?"
- 1 The First Commandment: Thou shalt have no other gods.
- 2 The Second Commandment: Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord, thy God, in vain.
- 3 The Third Commandment: Thou shalt sanctify the holy day.
- 4 The Fourth Commandment: Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother, that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long upon the earth.
- 5 The Fifth Commandment: Thou shalt not kill.
- 6 The Sixth Commandment: Thou shalt not commit adultery.
- 7 The Seventh Commandment: Thou shalt not steal.
- 8 The Eighth Commandment: Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
- 9 The Ninth Commandment: Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house.
- 10 The Tenth Commandment: Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his cattle, nor anything tha...
The Apostles' Creed
Three articles — Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier — each followed by a confession of personal faith.
- 11 The First Article of the Apostles' Creed — Of Creation: I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
- 12 The Second Article of the Apostles' Creed — Of Redemption: And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,...
- 13 The Third Article of the Apostles' Creed — Of Sanctification: I believe in the Holy Ghost; one holy Christian Church, the communion of saint...
The Lord's Prayer
The introduction, seven petitions, and conclusion, with explanations.
- 14 The Introduction to the Lord's Prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven.
- 15 The First Petition: Hallowed be Thy name.
- 16 The Second Petition: Thy kingdom come.
- 17 The Third Petition: Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
- 18 The Fourth Petition: Give us this day our daily bread.
- 19 The Fifth Petition: And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
- 20 The Sixth Petition: And lead us not into temptation.
- 21 The Seventh Petition: But deliver us from evil.
- 22 The Conclusion to the Lord's Prayer: For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Holy Baptism
What it is, what it gives, how water does such things, and what it signifies.
Confession
On confession and absolution — the two parts of Christian repentance.
The Sacrament of the Altar
On the Lord's Supper — its institution, its benefit, its meaning.