The Grand Catechism is a statement of the foundations of Christianity by Martin Luther . Compiled in 1529 . Part of the Book of Concord .
Content
The five foundations of Christianity
Luther repeats that there are five parts of the Christian doctrine: the Ten Commandments , the Creed , Our Father , baptism and the sacrament . Then he explains them in detail.
Interpretations of the Ten Commandments
So Luther interprets the 6th commandment “Thou shalt not kill” as a ban on lynching, but at the same time he approves of execution by a collective decision of the government. In metaphorical terms, this commandment also means a ban on anger and personal condemnation, as well as failure to render assistance.
The 7th commandment "Do not commit adultery" is interpreted as encouraging family life.
The 8th commandment “do not steal”, in addition to the literal one, is also understood as the prohibition of fraud, speculation, exploitation and other “advantages”.
The 9th commandment “Do not bear false witness” means the right to a good reputation and name, as well as a ban on slander, the dissemination of false libelous information
Quotes
- “Marital life is not a joke and is not a manifestation of self-reliance, but it is an excellent condition and a matter of divine importance.”
- "The Ten Commandments - a summary of divine doctrine"
- “With papal tyranny should be done away”
- “I only urge you to be Christians”