“The only book we use is the Bible.” That statement is made with the insinuation that to use any other book other than the Bible would make a church less Christian. That statement is also made by those who, more than likely, do read other materials, devotional materials and the like. That statement also shows a misunderstanding of other books such as our Catechisms (Large and Small) as well as our confessional writings contained in the Book of Concord.
What we call our confessional writings, those writings which detail what we believe, teach and confess according to the Word of God is what they describe, writings that confess what we believe, teach and confess according to the Word of God. Our confessional writings are what we call a systematic approach to understanding the Bible.
In particular, the Small Catechism is a book with questions and answers along with Bible passages as “proof” texts to the answers that are given. In other words to the first question of “What is Christianity?” The answer is given, “Christianity is the life and salvation God has given in and through Jesus Christ.” And the “proof” passages listed are, John 14:6, John 17:3, Acts 4:12, Acts 11:26, and 1 John 5:11-12. When these passages are read, they give proof of the answer to the question.
Also note concerning these “proof” passages that while these passages may be printed by themselves they have not been taken out of their original context in order to make it look like they say what they do not say. In other words, when these proof texts are read in the passage cited they mean what it is said that they mean.
Thus, the catechism is a tool to help one understand the various teachings of the church. The catechism is tool to help a person learn about what we believe about God so that rather than searching all the Bible narratives one might find in one place what we need to know about God. The same is true for the chief doctrines of our church in the rest of the catechism.
48 of 52 © Rev. Dr. Ronald A. Bogs (2018)
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