I’m planning to continue translating Chytraeus’ catechism for the time being, for a couple of reasons: 1) as far as I know, it hasn’t been translated into English previously, and, if it has, I’m sure it’s not widely available; 2) Chytraeus himself is something of an irenic figure, about which I hope to post something brief in the future.
Here, then, are his “ten topics” for teaching the Christian faith, alluded to previously.
LOCI DOCTRINAE CHRISTIANAE PRAECIPUI DECEM SUNT.
I. DE DEO, seu vera Agnitione & Invocatione unius veri DEI Patris, Filij & Spiritus sancti.
II. DE HOMINE ad imaginem Dei creato.
III De LEGE DEI.
IIII. De PECCATO.
V. De EVANGELIO annunciante Remissionem peccatorum propter Christum, & de FIDE IUSTIFICANTE.
VI. De Nova obedientia sue BONIS OPERIBUS.
VII. De Poenitentia & Absolutione.
VIII. De SACRAMENTIS, Baptismo, & Coena Domini.
IX. De ECCLESIA, & de Cruce ac consolationibus Ecclesiae.
X. De Immortalitate Animae, Resurrectione corporum, extremo Iudicio, & VITA AETERNA.
There are ten chief topics of Christian doctrine.
I. On God, or the true knowledge and invocation of the one true God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
II. On man created according to the image of God.
III. On the Law of God.
IIII. On sin.
V. On the Gospel proclaiming the remission of sins on account of Christ, and on justifying faith.
VI. On new obedience or good works.
VII. On repentance and absolution.
VIII. On the sacraments, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
IX. On the church, and on the cross and the comforts of the church.
X. On the immortality of the soul, the resurrection of bodies, the Last Judgment, and eternal life.
