An Orthodox Catechism

    Heidelberg Catechism (1563), Zacharias Ursinus and Caspar Olevianus

    Question 103

    Section 38: Lord’s Day 38

    What doth God require in the fourth command?

    First: that the ministry of the Gospel, and the schools be maintained;a and that I, especially on the sabbath,b that is on the day of rest,c diligently frequent the church of Godd to hear his word, to use the sacraments, publicly to call, upon the Lord,e and contribute to the relief of the poor, as becomes a Christian:f secondly, that all the days of my life I cease from my evil works, and yield myself to the Lord, to work by his holy spirit in me: and thus begin in this life the eternal sabbath.g

    1. a. Deuteronomy 12:19; Titus 1:5; 1 Timothy 3:14–15; 1 Corinthians 9:11; 2 Timothy 2:2; 1 Timothy 3:15

      Deuteronomy 12:19

      12:19 Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth.

      12:19 and be careful not to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land.

      Titus 1:5

      1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

      1:5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you would set in order what was unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.

      1 Timothy 3:14–15

      3:14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

      3:14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these things 3:15 in case I am delayed, so that you will know how each one must conduct himself in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

      1 Corinthians 9:11

      9:11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

      9:11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much for us to reap a material harvest from you?

      2 Timothy 2:2

      2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

      2:2 And the things that you have heard me say among many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be qualified to teach others as well.

      1 Timothy 3:15

      3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

      3:15 in case I am delayed, so that you will know how each one must conduct himself in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

      King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

    2. b. Leviticus 23:3

      Leviticus 23:3

      23:3 Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings.

      23:3 For six days work may be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, a day of sacred assembly. You must not do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the LORD.

      King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

    3. c. Acts 2:42, 46; 1 Corinthians 14:19, 29, 31

      Acts 2:42; Acts 2:46

      2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

      2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 2:46 With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart,

      1 Corinthians 14:19; 1 Corinthians 14:29; 1 Corinthians 14:31

      14:19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. 14:29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 14:31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

      14:19 But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. 14:29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 14:31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.

      King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

    4. d. 1 Corinthians 11:33

      1 Corinthians 11:33

      11:33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.

      11:33 So, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.

      King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

    5. e. 1 Timothy 2:1

      1 Timothy 2:1

      2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

      2:1 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone-

      King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

    6. f. 1 Corinthians 16:2

      1 Corinthians 16:2

      16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

      16:2 On the first day of every week, each of you should set aside a portion of his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will be needed.

      King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

    7. g. Isaiah 66:23

      Isaiah 66:23

      66:23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.

      66:23 From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come to worship before Me," says the LORD.

      King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

    Diff style

    Changes in An Orthodox Catechism (1680), Question 119

    An Orthodox Catechism (1680), Question 119

    What doth God require in are we taught by the fourth command?Commandment?

    First: That the ministry of the Gospel, and the schools be maintained; and that I, especially on the sabbath, that is on the of rest, diligently frequent one Day in seven be kept in the church Worship of God, which under the old Testament was the last Day of to hear his word, to use the Week, but under the Gospel changed to the sacraments, publicly to call, upon first Day of the Week, and this Lord’s Day to be spent in private and publique Devotion, as hearing the Word diligently, practising the Lord, and contribute to the relief Gospel-Sacraments zealously, and doing Deeds of Charity conscionably, and resting from servil Works, cases of necessity excepted, this being the poor, as becomes a Christian: secondly, that all laudable Practice of the days of my life I cease from my evil works, and yield myself holy Apostles, who best knew the Mind of Christ as to the Lord, to work by his holy spirit in me: and thus begin in this life time of Worship; neither do we find in all the new Testament, that any Gospel Church in the Apostles times did set any other Day apart solemnly to worship God, save the first Day: and well might they so do, for if Israel, the natural Seed of Abraham, was to keep the seventh Day, to keep up the Remembrance of their Deliverance out of temporal Bondage, how much more are we bound to keep the first Day in Remembrance of Christ’s Deliverance of us from eternal sabbath.Bondage?

    Heidelberg Catechism (1563), Question 103

    What doth God require in the fourth command?

    First: that the ministry of the Gospel, and the schools be maintained; and that I, especially on the sabbath, that is on the day of rest, diligently frequent the church of God to hear his word, to use the sacraments, publicly to call, upon the Lord, and contribute to the relief of the poor, as becomes a Christian: secondly, that all the days of my life I cease from my evil works, and yield myself to the Lord, to work by his holy spirit in me: and thus begin in this life the eternal sabbath.

    An Orthodox Catechism (1680), Question 119

    What are we taught by the fourth Commandment?

    That one Day in seven be kept in the Worship of God, which under the old Testament was the last Day of the Week, but under the Gospel changed to the first Day of the Week, and this Lord’s Day to be spent in private and publique Devotion, as hearing the Word diligently, practising the Gospel-Sacraments zealously, and doing Deeds of Charity conscionably, and resting from servil Works, cases of necessity excepted, this being the laudable Practice of the holy Apostles, who best knew the Mind of Christ as to the time of Worship; neither do we find in all the new Testament, that any Gospel Church in the Apostles times did set any other Day apart solemnly to worship God, save the first Day: and well might they so do, for if Israel, the natural Seed of Abraham, was to keep the seventh Day, to keep up the Remembrance of their Deliverance out of temporal Bondage, how much more are we bound to keep the first Day in Remembrance of Christ’s Deliverance of us from eternal Bondage?

    Commentaries (2)

    • Zacharias Ursinus, 1587, The Summe of Christian Religion (5 parts)

      What doth God commaunde in the fourth commandement? First that the ministery of the gospel, and the schooles of learning should be maintained: and that I, both at other times, and…

      Zacharias Ursinus’s text

    • Jeremias Bastingius, 1591, A Catechisme of Christian Religion, with the Arguments and Use

      THE ARGVMENT. Of the true hallowing of the Sabbath. What doth the Lord require in the fourth Commandement? First, that the ministerie of the gospell and schooles be maintained:…

      Jeremias Bastingius’s text