L/V 10+ Tip of the Day #286 Using a catechism/confession/early church fathers

Another tip of the day (TOTD) series for Logos/Verbum 10. They will be short and often drawn from forum posts. Feel free to ask questions and/or suggest forum posts you'd like to see included. Adding comments about the behavior on mobile and web apps would be appreciated by your fellow forumites. A search for "L/V 10+ Tip of the Day site:community.logos.com" on Google should bring the tips up as should this Reading List within the application.

This tip is inspired by the forum post: L/V 10+ Tip of the Day #285 Forget the Search: What words of the BVM are recorded in scripture? - Logos Forums for the less than obvious reason of denominational terminology.

First, catechisms are not necessarily in question-answer format.

Second, not all catechisms are for catechesis (pre-baptism), some are for mystagogia (post-baptism).

Third, catechisms are not intended as a definition of dogma and doctrine but as guides to educators on dogma and doctrine. This is the primary point I wish to make in this post.

Catechisms in my library despite the comparative lack of Protestant catechisms in Logos:

[quote]Cathechisms

1. Ames, William. A Sketch of the Christian’s Catechism. Edited by R. Scott Clark. Translated by Todd M. Rester. Vol. 1. Classic Reformed Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2008.
2. Archdiocese of Kansas City. 50 Things Every Catholic Should Know: Preparing for Confirmation. Steubenville, OH: Emmaus Road Publishing, 2014.
3. Austin, John M. A Catechism on the Parables of the New Testament. Boston: A. Tompkins, 1850.
4. Baxter, Richard. The Quakers Catechism, Or, The Quakers Questioned, Their Questions Answered, and Both Published for the Sake of Those of Them That Have Not yet Sinned unto Death and of Those Ungrounded Novices That Are Most in Danger of Their Seduction / by Rchard Baxter. Early English Books Online. London: A.M. for Thomas Underhill and Francis Tyton, 1655.
5. Bellarmino, Roberto Francesco Romolo. An Ample Declaration of the Christian Doctrine. Composed in Italian by the Renowned Cardinal: Card. Bellarmine. Translated into English by Richard Hadock D. of Diuinitie. Early English Books Online. Roan i.e. England: English Secret Press, 1604.
6. Bernardakis, D. N. A Catechism. Translated by Claude Delaval Cobham. Nicosia, Cyprus: The Government Printing Office, 1903.
7. Bower, John R. The Larger Catechism: A Critical Text and Introduction. Edited by John R. Bower and Chad Van Dixhoorn. Principal Documents of the Westminster Assembly. Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2010.
8. Brinsley, John. A Breviate of Saving Knowledge, Or, The Principles of Christian Religion Methodically Digested into Short Questions and Answers Purposely Composed and Published, for the Use and Benefit of such as Have Good Desires but Weake Memories, by I.B. Early English Books Online. London: G.M. for Iohn Burroughes .., 1643.
9. Bulgaris, Nicolas. The Holy Catechism of Nicolas Bulgaris. Edited by R. Raikes Bromage. Translated by W. E. Daniel. London; New York: J. Masters and Co.; J. Pott and Co., 1893.
10. Catholic Church. Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2nd Ed. Washington, DC: United States Catholic Conference, 2000.
11. Catholic Church. The Catechism of the Council of Trent. Translated by Theodore Alois Buckley. London: George Routledge and Co., 1852.
12. Conway, Andrew. The Shorter Catechism Made Simple. Greenville, SC: Ambassador International, 2015.
13. Cotton, Seaborn. A Brief Summe of the Cheif Articles of Our Christian Faith, Composed in Way of Question and Answer, Now Published, Especially for the Benefit of the Town of Hampton. Early American Imprints, 1639-1800; No. 77. Cambridg i.e., Cambridge, Mass.: Samuel Green, 1663.
14. DeYoung, Kevin L., and Jerry Bridges. The Good News We Almost Forgot: Rediscovering the Gospel in a 16th Century Catechism. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2010.
15. Fitzmyer, Joseph A. A Christological Catechism: New Testament Answers. 2nd ed. New York; Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1991.
16. The Westminster Larger Catechism: With Scripture Proofs. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1996.
17. Heidelberg Catechism. Heidelberg Catechism. Revised Edition. Cleveland, OH: Central Publishing House, 1907.
18. Heidelberg Catechism. The Heidelberg Catechism: The German Text, with a Revised Translation and Introduction: English. London: Andrew Melrose, 1900.
19. Heidelberg Catechism. The Heidelberg Catechism: The German Text, with a Revised Translation and Introduction: German. London: Andrew Melrose, 1900.
20. Hill, Mary Lea, and Susan Helen Wallace. Basic Catechism: FAQs about the Catholic Faith. Eighth Revised Edition. Boston, MA: Pauline Books & Media, 2013.
21. Iglesia católica. Catecismo de La Iglesia Católica. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2001.
22. Keach, Benjamin. The Baptist Catechism, Commonly Called Keach’s Catechism: Or, a Brief Instruction in the Principles of the Christian Religion. Philadelphia: American Baptist Publication Society, 1851.
23. Kreeft, Peter. Catholic Christianity: A Complete Catechism of Catholic Beliefs Based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2001.
24. Luther, Martin. Luther’s Small Catechism, with Proof-Texts, Additions and Appendices: For the Use of Church, School and Family. Philadelphia: The Lutheran Bookstore, 1882.
25. Mather, Cotton. The A, B, C. of Religion. Early American Imprints, 1639-1800; No. 1614. Boston: Printed & sold by Timothy Green, at the lower end of Middle-Street, 1713.
26. Mogila, Peter. The Orthodox Confession of the Catholic and Apostolic Eastern Church. Edited by J. J. Overbeck and J. N. W. B. Robertson. London: Thomas Baker, 1898.
27. Murrell, Adam. The Young Baptist’s Catechism: A Beginner's Guide to the Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689. Eugene, Oregon: Resource Publications, 2007.
28. Norton, John. A Brief Catechisme Containing the Doctrine of Godlines, or of Living unto God. Early American Imprints, 1639-1800; No. 63. Cambridg i.e., Cambridge, Mass.: S.G. and M.J. i.e., Samuel Green and Marmaduke Johnson New-England, 1660.
29. Packer, J. I., and Joel Scandrett, eds. To Be a Christian: An Anglican Catechism. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2020.
30. Pope, William Burt. A Higher Catechism of Theology. London: T. Woolmer, 1885.
31. Schmucker, S. S. Evangelical Lutheran Catechism Or, Class-Book of Religious Instruction, Designed for Catechumens, for the Higher Classes in Sabbath-Schools, and for the Laity in General. Tenth Edition. Baltimore;Philadelphia: T. Newton Kurtz;Lutheran Board of Publication, 1871.
32. Schweinitz, Edmund de, trans. The Catechism of the Bohemian Brethren: Translated from the Old German, with an Introduction. Bethlehem: Henry T. Clauder, 1869.
33. Schönborn, Christoph, ed. Youcat English: Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church. Translated by Michael J. Miller. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2011.
34. Seccombe, John Thomas, trans. The Great Catechism of the Holy Catholic, Apostolic, and Orthodox Church. Katechesis. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co., 1867.
35. Smith, William. A Catechism for Bishops, Deans, Prebends, Doctors, Vicars, Curates, and All Prelaticals, for Them to Read in the Fear of the Lord God, and with a Meek and Quiet Spirit by William Smith. Early English Books Online. London: s.n, 1662.
36. Spurgeon, C. H. A Catechism, With Proofs. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009.
37. The Gospel Coalition and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. The New City Catechism: 52 Questions & Answers for Our Hearts & Minds. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2017.
38. The Westminster Shorter Catechism: With Scripture Proofs. 3rd edition. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1996.
39. Webster, Noah. Noah Webster’s Advice to the Young and Moral Catechism. Aledo, TX: WallBuilders, 1993.
40. White, Thomas. A Catechism of Christian Doctrin [sic] by Tho. White. Early English Books Online. Paris: s.n, 1659.
41. Williams, John. A Catechism Truly Representing the Doctrines and Practices of the Church of Rome, with an Answer Thereunto by a Protestant of the Church of England. Early English Books Online. London: Printed for Richard Chiswell .., 1687.

Exported from Verbum, 5:53 PM September 17, 2023.

For the Heidelberg Catechism, a users quit waiting on Logos and shared note files to do what Logos has failed to do. See Westminster Confession of Faith: WCF In-Line Notes in your Bible! - Logos Forums

All of the catechisms would suggest that the Bible is the first source of doctrine. Some would put denominational confessions high on the list, at least as a framework for Bible interpretation and theological exploration.

[quote]Confessions

1. The Westminster Confession of Faith. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1996.
2. Church of Scotland. The Confessions of Faith and the Books of Discipline of the Church of Scotland. London: Baldwin and Cradock, 1831.
3. Clark, Christopher with Society of Friends. A Confession of Faith Held by a Society of Friends Called Separates, Containing Their Fundamental Principles. Early American Imprints, 1639-1800; No. 42573. Williamsburg Va.: Clementina Rind, 1774.
4. Ellis, Mark A., ed. The Arminian Confession of 1621: Latin Text. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2005.
5. Ellis, Mark A., ed. The Arminian Confession of 1621: Translation. Translated by Mark A. Ellis. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2005.
6. Historic Creeds and Confessions. Electronic ed. Oak Harbor: Lexham Press, 1997.
7. Kolb, Robert, Timothy J. Wengert, and Charles P. Arand. The Book of Concord: The Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2000.
8. Krauth, Charles P. The Augsburg Confession, Together with the General Creeds; and an Introduction, Notes, and Analytical Index. Philadelphia: Lutheran Book Store, 1868.
9. McGlothlin, W. J. Baptist Confessions of Faith. Philadelphia; Boston; Chicago; St. Louis; Toronto: American Baptist Publication Society, 1911.
10. Society of Friends. A Confession of Faith, in the Most Necessary Things of Christian Doctrine, Faith and Practice. Early American Imprints, 1639-1800; No. 635. Philadelphia: Printed and sold by William Bradford in Philadelphia, 1693.
11. Til, Cornelius Van. The Confession of 1967, Its Theological Background and Ecumenical Significance. The Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company: Philadelphia, 1967.
12. Westminster Assembly. The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition. Philadelphia: William S. Young, 1851.

Exported from Verbum, 6:30 PM September 17, 2023.

Here, a user quit waiting on Logos and shared note files to do what Logos has failed to do. See Westminster Confession of Faith: WCF In-Line Notes in your Bible! - Logos Forums

I'm sure additional creeds, confessions, and catechism would be appreciated.

Finally, a number of catechisms refer to early church fathers to support their positions. As most users will not have an extensive library of early church fathers, this is where topical collections of the church fathers are useful.

[quote]Topical Church Fathers

1. Journel, M. J. Rouët de. Enchiridion Patristicum: Translation. Editio Quarta et Quinta. Friburgi Brisgoviae: Herder & Co., 1922.
2. Journel, M. J. Rouët de. Enchiridion Patristicum. EDITIO QUARTA ET QUINTA. Friburgi Brisgoviae: Herder & Co., 1922.
3. Jurgens, W. A., trans. The Faith of the Early Fathers. Vol. 1–3. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1970–1979.

Exported from Verbum, 6:40 PM September 17, 2023.

My favorite sources for understanding doctrines - my own or others - organize their proofs around (a) scriptural (b) doctrinal/theological and (c) historical. If you try to use the catechism without the other components you are very likely to misunderstand the position.

An excerpt from one of my favorite sources for understanding my own tradition: Ott, Ludwig. Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma. St. Louis: B. Herder Book Company, 1957. It is the structure not the content of the argument I want you to notice.

[quote]§ 1. The Possibility of the Natural Knowledge of God in the Light of Supernatural Revelation

1. Dogma

God, our Creator and Lord, can be known with certainty, by the natural light of reason from created things. (De fide.)

The Vatican Council defined: Si quis dixerit, Deum unum et verum, creatorem et Dominum nostrum per ea, quae facta sunt, naturali rationis humanae lumine certo cognosci non posse, A.S. “If anybody says that the one true God, Our Creator and Lord cannot be known with certainty in the light of human reason by those things which have been made, anathema sit” D 1806; cf. 1785, 1391.

The Vatican definition stresses the following points: 2) The object of our knowing is the one true God, our Creator and Lord, therefore an extramundane, personal God. b) The subjective principle of knowledge is natural reason in the condition of fallen nature. c) The means of knowledge are created things. d) The knowledge is from its nature and manner a knowledge of certitude. e) Such knowledge of God is possible, but it is not the only way of knowing Him.

2. Scriptural Proof

According to the testimony of Holy Writ, the existence of God can be known:

a) from nature: Wis. 13:1–9. V. 5: “For by the greatness of the beauty, and of the creature, the creator of them may be seen.” Rom. 1:20: “For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made. His eternal power and His divinity also: so that they are inexcusable.” The knowledge of God witnessed to in these two passages is a natural, certain, immediate and easily achieved knowledge.

b) From conscience: Rom. 2:14 et seq: “For when the Gentiles, who know not the (Mosaic) law do by nature these things that are of the law; these, having not the law, are a law to themselves. Who shew the work of the law written in their hearts.” The heathens (that is) know naturally, without supernatural revelation, the essential content of the Old Testament law. In their hearts a law has been written whose binding power indicates a Supreme Lawgiver.

c) From history: Acts 14:14–16; 17:26–29. St. Paul, in his discourses at Lystra and at the Areopagus in Athens, shows that God reveals Himself in beneficent works also to the heathens, and that it is easy to find Him, as He is near to each of us: “For in Him we live, and move and are” (17:28).

3. Proof from Tradition

The Fathers, in referring to the assertions of Holy Scripture, stress the possibility and the facility of the natural knowledge of God. Cf. Tertullian, Apol. 17: “O testimony of the soul, which is by its nature Christian” (O testimonium animae naturaliter christianae). The Greek Fathers preferred the cosmological proofs of God which proceed from external experience; the Latin Fathers preferred the psychological proofs which flow from inner experience. Cf. Theophilus of Antioch, ad Autolycum 1 4–5: “God has called everything into existence from nothing, so that His greatness might be known and understood through His works. Just as the soul in man is not seen, as it is invisible, but is known through the movement of the body, so God cannot be seen with human eyes; but He is observed and known through providence and His works. Just as one, at the sight of a well-equipped ship which sweeps over the sea and steers towards a harbour, becomes aware that there is a helmsman on her, who directs her, so also one must be aware that God is the director of everything, even though He is not seen with bodily eyes, as He cannot be apprehended by them.” Cf. St. Irenaeus, Adv. haer, II, 9, 1; St. John Chrysostom, in ep. ad Rom. hom. 3, 2 (to 1, 19).

4. Innate Idea of God

Taking their stand on the authority of the Fathers, many Catholic theologians, for example, Ludwig Thomassinus, Heinrich Klee, Anton Staudenmaier, Johannes von Kuhn, taught that the idea of God is not acquired by deductive thinking from the world of experience, but is innate in man (idea innata). Certainly many of the Fathers, for example, St. Justin (Apol. II, 6) and St. Clement of Alexandria (Strom. V. 14, 133, 7) characterised the knowledge of God as automatic “not learned” “automatically learned” “implanted” self-taught: or as “a gift of the soul” (animae dos: Tertullian, Adv. Marc 1, 10). St. John of Damascus says: “The knowledge of the existence of God is implanted (by Him) in all in their nature” (De fide orth. 1 1). But as the same Fathers teach that we must win the knowledge of God from the contemplation of Nature, therefore, according to their conception, what is innate is not the idea of God as such, but the ability easily and to a certain extent spontaneously to know the existence of God from His works. Cf. St. Thomas, In Boethium De Trinitate, q. 1. a 3 ad 6: eius cognitio nobis innata dicitur esse, in quantum per principia nobis innata de facili percipere possumus Deum esse. The knowledge of Him is said to be innate in us in so far as we can easily know the existence of God by means of principles which are innate in us.

D H. Denzinger—C. Rahner, Enchiridion symbolorum, definitionum et declarationum de rebus fidei et morum

Ludwig Ott, Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma (St. Louis: B. Herder Book Company, 1957), 13–14.

Now vote at Confessional Bible Study Filter | Logos