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 Der Heidelberger Katechismus –  ein reformierter Schlüsseltext , hg. von

Matthias Zeindler, Frank Mathwig, Martin Ernst Hirzel, (Zurich:

Theologischer Verlag), 2013. 

The 450th

 anniversary of the publication of the Heidelberg Catechism has seen a flurry of

 publications including monographs, essays, and special conference collections. The currently-

under-consideration work is among the most engaging of the lot (which I have encountered).

The collection consists of four major sections, the first asking historical and dogmatic questions,the second ethical and practical-theological questions, the third ecumenical questions and the

fourth ‘current’ questions (i.e., questions related to the Catechism’s current relevance).

The volume commences with a powerfully instructive contribution by Peter Opitz in his essay

 Historische Zugänge zum Heidelberger Katechismus aus Schweizer Sicht . Here Opitz leads

readers through a well written brilliantly conceived masterfully executed summary of the

historical underpinnings of the Catechism. The important work of Olevian, Erastus, Bullinger,and of course Ursinus are considered but so is the German Elector Frederick III. Opitz also

shows the connections between Bullinger ’s theology of the Supper and the theology of the

Catechism in its regard. Opitz even shows how influential Bullinger ’s various sermons andtractates were in the formation of the Catechism. It’s a brilliant essay.

And it’s a fantastic start to a volume which strives to ask and answer the question, is the

catechism still relevant for Reformed Christians today. The answer, unsurprisingly, is aresounding yes.

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Or as the editors state it:

Heute muss man fragen, ob der Heidelberger Katechismus über seine historischeWirksamkeit hinaus noch relevant ist. Dieser Problematik möchte sich der

vorliegende Band stellen. Die Herausgeber sind der Auffasung, dass der

 Heidelberger  bis heute Antworten für ein zeitgenössisches Christsein bereithält(p. 11).

The papers in this volume were first presented as a series of lectures on the Catechism at the

University of Bern in the Spring Semester of 2013. Or rather, and more precisely, most of themwere. They address so many intriguing aspects of the Catechism. For example, what is the

Catechism’s view of the Supper? What is the Christology of the Catechism? What sort of Ethic

does the Catechism evoke? How is it related to the Liturgy? How does it aid in the education in

 belief? How do the question and answer format function as a pedagogical tool today? How doesthe Catechism relate to other forms of Christian belief?

Those are just a few of the questions the essays address. Contributors are stellar Reformedscholars like Opitz, Hirzel, Matthwig, Zeindler, Hofheinz, Koch, Locher, Schoberth, and Ricca.

Persons interested in the history and relevance of the Heidelberg Catechism are strongly

encouraged, even urged, to acquire this collection. Doing so, and then reading it, will result in afirst class education in connection with one of Reformed Christianity’s most important,

 powerful, and abiding instruction-books. Between the covers of this book is an Upper Level

graduate school Seminar.

Jim WestQuartz Hill School of Theology