An Orthodox Catechism

    Heidelberg Catechism (1563), Zacharias Ursinus and Caspar Olevianus

    Question 16

    Section 6: Lord’s Day 6

    Why must he be very man, and also perfectly righteous?

    Because the justice of God requires that the same human nature, which hath sinned, should likewise make satisfaction for sin;a and one, who is himself a sinner, cannot satisfy for others.b

    1. a. Romans 5:12, 15

      Romans 5:12; Romans 5:15

      5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

      5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned. 5:15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many!

      King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

    2. b. 1 Peter 3:18; Isaiah 53:11

      1 Peter 3:18

      3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

      3:18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit,

      Isaiah 53:11

      53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

      53:11 After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.

      King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

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    Changes in An Orthodox Catechism (1680), Question 16

    An Orthodox Catechism (1680), Question 16

    Why must Wherefore is it necessary that he be very Man, and also that perfectly righteous?just too?

    Because that the Justice of God requireth that the same humane nature which hath sinned, should do it self likewise make satisfaction recompence for sin: and one, who but he that is himself a sinner, cannot satisfy make recompence for others.

    Heidelberg Catechism (1563), Question 16

    Why must he be very man, and also perfectly righteous?

    Because the justice of God requires that the same human nature, which hath sinned, should likewise make satisfaction for sin; and one, who is himself a sinner, cannot satisfy for others.

    An Orthodox Catechism (1680), Question 16

    Wherefore is it necessary that he be very Man, and that perfectly just too?

    Because that the Justice of God requireth that the same humane nature which hath sinned, do it self likewise make recompence for sin: but he that is himself a sinner, cannot make recompence for others.

    Commentaries (2)

    • Zacharias Ursinus, 1587, The Summe of Christian Religion (3 parts)

      Wherefore is it necessarie that he be verie man, and that perfectly iust too? Because the iustice of God requireth that the same humane nature which hath sinned, doe it selfe…

      Zacharias Ursinus’s text

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

      THE ARGVMENT. That Christ is that onlie mediatour, true man, and perfectlie iust, and true God, such a one as in the Gospell is promised, and exhibited. Wherefore must he needs be…

      Jeremias Bastingius’s text