Commentary on the Heidelberg Cathecism, Zacharias Ursinus (Reprinted 1985: The Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, Phillipsburg, N.J.) $20.00
The Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company is to be heartily commended for its recent publication of one of the classic works of the Reformation period. Dr. Zacharias Ursinus was (according to most scholars) the principal author of the Heidelberg Catechism. For over a decade he “lectured through” the Catechism year by year. Careful notes on these lectures were taken down by students and following Ursinus’ death in 1583, David Pareus, a close friend and disciple of Ursinus, collated these, and produced what is—for all practical purposes—an extensive volume which perfectly reflects the understanding and teaching of an extensive volume which perfectly reflects the understanding and teaching of a primary author of one of our major Reformation symbols . The Rev. George W. Williard, translator of the work from the original Latin, remarks in his preface: “. . . as Ursinus was the Chief compiler of this symbol, he must always be regarded as the most authoritative expounder of the doctrines which it contains. Great exertions should therefore be made to have his Commentary placed in every family belonging to our Reformed Zion.” This opportunity is once again available to us.
The cost of this one volume classic (superbly bound within a tine hard cover, printed clearly on heavy paper) should not deter one from purchasing this masterpiece. As a layman’s guide to the systematic theology of the Catechism it is unsurpassed. It is brisk, succinct, full, and generally easy to understand. Certainly there are areas in which centuries of faithful theological development have offered improvements in our understanding of basic doctrines (e. g. regarding man as the image of God, rather than seeing “imagodei” as part of man, cf. p. 31; regarding the use of the term “invisible church,” etc.); yet these are overshadowed by Ursinus’ penetrating analyses which still remain as standard defenses of Reformed (i.e. biblical) doctrine. The Commentary is outstanding because Ursinus did not shrink back from dealing with the tough issues: “Why did God permit the fall of the first sin of man?” (p. 35). “The question: Whether men as they perished in Adam, are saved in Christ, considered” (p. 106). “Whether there is any salvation out of the church.” (p . 292). And where else can one find material on the Sacraments which can shed more light on the so called “Reformed view” than the 100 pages “Straight from the Podium” of the Master teacher who was once villified by his then fellowLutherans for his “Calvinistic views”?
I personally was most impressed with Ursinus’ material on Catechism questions 1192 –#115 which deal with the Law. Where we are today exposed to so much “fresh thinking” about the Law, it is helpful to be exposed to a full length treatment of the decalogue from this Reformed father. While the reader would obviously love to read more “present day applications” of the so-called “second table of the Law,” the exposition of the fli”St table is marked by penetrating comments with a wealth of immediate contemporary applications (e.g. Ursinus’ general rules for understanding the Decalogue (p. 502 ff]; and “Principal Arguments of the Antinomians against the use of the Law” [p. 615 ff.] are “timeless” in their importance. See for yourself how little change there is in the perennial attacks on the historic Christian faith!)
No Reformed minister should be without this source work for doctrinal study. Elders, likewise, would do well to possess this companion to their particular volume of Creeds and Confessions (we hope that our present ecclesiastical scene has not decayed to the point that conservative Reformed and Presbyterian elders are without such tools for their work!) Laymen, in the same way, will find this a reliable guide for study. As an incidental value of the work, Ursinus’ clear and careful teaching methods shine through the book, and provide a good model for the “old fashioned”—but never improved upon –lecture method of teaching. For a day which cannot be reminded enough to follow “the old paths where the good way is” (Jer. 6:16)—Ursinus” Commentary on the Heidelberg Cathechism is a warmly welcomed reintroduction to an “old path” marked by love for and faithfulness to the doctrines of Scripture professed by the Church of the Reformation. Don’t pass up the opportunity to buy it now!
William Shishko
Pastor, Orthodox Presbyterian Church
P .O . Box 66
Franklin Square, NY I 1010
