An Orthodox Catechism

    Heidelberg Catechism (1563), Zacharias Ursinus and Caspar Olevianus

    Question 89

    Section 33: Lord’s Day 33

    What is the mortification of the old man?

    It is a sincere sorrow of heart, that we have provoked God by our sins, and more and more to hate and flee from them.a

    1. a. Psalm 51:3, 8, 17; Luke 15:18; Romans 8:13; Joel 1:12–13

      Psalm 51:3; Psalm 51:8; Psalm 51:17

      51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 51:8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

      51:3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 51:8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice. 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

      Luke 15:18

      15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

      15:18 I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

      Romans 8:13

      8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

      8:13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

      Joel 1:12–13

      1:12 The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men. 1:13 Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God.

      1:12 The grapevine is dried up, and the fig tree is withered; the pomegranate, palm, and apple-all the trees of the orchard-are withered. Surely the joy of mankind has dried up. 1:13 Put on sackcloth and lament, O priests; wail, O ministers of the altar. Come, spend the night in sackcloth, O ministers of my God, because the grain and drink offerings are withheld from the house of your God.

      King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

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    Changes in An Orthodox Catechism (1680), Question 98

    An Orthodox Catechism (1680), Question 98

    What is the mortification mortifying of the old Man?

    It is a sincere sorrow of heart, To be truly and heartily sorry that we provoked thou hast offended God by our thy Sins, and daily more and more to hate and flee from eschew them.

    Heidelberg Catechism (1563), Question 89

    What is the mortification of the old man?

    It is a sincere sorrow of heart, that we have provoked God by our sins, and more and more to hate and flee from them.

    An Orthodox Catechism (1680), Question 98

    What is the mortifying of the old Man?

    To be truly and heartily sorry that thou hast offended God by thy Sins, and daily more and more hate and eschew them.

    Commentaries (2)

    • Zacharias Ursinus, 1587, The Summe of Christian Religion (2 parts)

      What is the mortifieng of the old man? To bee truely and hartily sorry, that thou hast offended god by thy sinnes, and daily more and more to hate and eschew them.

      Zacharias Ursinus’s text

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

      What is the mortification of the old man? Truelie, and from the hart to be sory, that by thy sinnes thou hast offended God, and more and more to hate and flie from them.

      Jeremias Bastingius’s text