The Heidelberg Catechism: History and Exposition

1. Lectures Listen to the lectures in order. Those marked supplementary are optional.

   • Continental Confessions, lecture 9 of 10: Heidelberg Catechism Dr. Peter Lillback 66 min Open source Doctrinal Westminster Theological Seminary (Westminster Media)
   • The Origins of the Heidelberg Catechism in Ecumenical Perspective Lyle Bierma Open source History H. Henry Meeter Center, Calvin University Academic historians, several in the CRC milieu, not confessional subscribers in the school's sense; none of the retained lectures teaches doctrine. Retained strictly as history-context; the researcher's open question (whether history lectures by non-subscribers are acceptable) stands for the faculty.
   • The Heidelberg Catechism at the Synod of Dort (1618-19) Don Sinnema Open source History H. Henry Meeter Center, Calvin University Academic historians, several in the CRC milieu, not confessional subscribers in the school's sense; none of the retained lectures teaches doctrine. Retained strictly as history-context; the researcher's open question (whether history lectures by non-subscribers are acceptable) stands for the faculty.
   • Heidelberg Catechism Sermons, Lord's Days 1-44 (Heritage Recordings) Rev. Herman Hoeksema (with M. Schipper, H. Hoeksema Jr., G. Vos) about 50 recordings, LD 1-44 Open source Doctrinal Reformed Free Publishing Association (Protestant Reformed Churches) PRC holds the Three Forms but adds distinctives: denial of common grace and of the well-meant offer, and an unconditional-covenant polemic against conditional-covenant views held by other Three Forms churches (and against the Westminster 'offer' language, WCF 7.3, Canons II.5, III/IV.8). Keep as...
   • Heidelberg Catechism sermon index (all 52 Lord's Days) various (e.g. J. R. Beeke, C. Bouwman, R. Bredenhof) 645 sermons Open source Doctrinal Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary (site sponsor)

   Total: 1.1 hours

2. Reading Read in the order given. Public-domain and free texts are linked; purchases are optional and never required.

   • The Commentary of Zacharias Ursinus on the Heidelberg Catechism (1888) Zacharias Ursinus (trans. G. W. Williard) xxxviii + 659 pp Open source Doctrinal 1888. Public domain
   • The Commentary of Dr. Zacharias Ursinus on the Heidelberg Catechism (1851) Zacharias Ursinus (trans. G. W. Williard) xxxviii + 659 pp Open source Doctrinal 1851. Public domain
   • Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism (PDF) Zacharias Ursinus Open source Doctrinal Free online
   • Resources on the Heidelberg Catechism (1563) R. Scott Clark (ed.) Open source Supplementary Free online
   • Books on the Heidelberger: An Annotated Bibliography of the Heidelberg Catechism for Pastors J. Mark Beach 26 pp (MAJT 24, pp. 5-30) Open source Supplementary 2013. Free online
   • The Triple Knowledge: An Exposition of the Heidelberg Catechism Herman Hoeksema 10 vols. Open source Supplementary 1943- (RFPA reprint 2015). Purchase (optional) PRC holds the Three Forms but adds distinctives: denial of common grace and of the well-meant offer, and an unconditional-covenant polemic against conditional-covenant views held by other Three Forms churches (and against the Westminster 'offer' language, WCF 7.3, Canons II.5, III/IV.8). Keep as...

   Total: 1,344 pages

3. Assignment Write a research paper of 10-20 pages on a topic drawn from the lectures and readings of this course. Argue from Scripture, the Westminster Standards (1647 text) and the Three Forms of Unity, cite the primary sources you read, and state the points on which the sources differ.

   Open the assignment

Every lecture and reading carries its role. "Under review" means the teacher's subscription to the Westminster Standards or the Three Forms of Unity is not yet established; "Read as comparison" means the material teaches the 1788 American text of WCF 20.4, 23 or 31 or of Larger Catechism Q.109, which the school reads beside the 1647 text. Nothing has been removed.