,luther's ,little ,instruction ,book3 ,the ,small ,catechism of ,martin ,luther ,translation by ,robert ,e4 ,smith ,from the ,german text1 printed in3 ,triglot ,concordia3 ,the ,symbolical ,books of the ,ev4 ,lutheran ,church4 ,st4 ,louis3 ,concordia ,publishing ,house1 #aiba1 pp4 #ech-eei4 ,note3 ,this version of the ,small ,catechism is under continuous revision4 ,please check your source for this file from time to time to obtain updated versions of this text4 ,fort ,wayne1 ,indiana3 ,project ,wittenberg1 #bjjd ,i4 ,the ,ten ,commandments ,the ,simple ,way a ,father ,should ,present ,them to ,his ,household ,the ,first ,commandment ,you must not have other gods4 7,exodus #bj3c7 ,what does this mean8 ,we must fear1 love1 and trust ,god more than anything else4 ,the ,second ,commandment ,you must not misuse your ,god's name4 7,exodus #bj3g7 ,what does this mean8 ,we must fear and love ,god1 so that we will not use ,his name to curse1 swear1 cast a spell1 lie or deceive1 but will use it to call upon ,him1 pray to ,him1 praise ,him and thank ,him in all times of trouble4 ,the ,third ,commandment ,you must keep the ,sabbath holy4 7,exodus #bj3h7 ,what does this mean8 ,we must fear and love ,god1 so that we will not look down on preaching or ,god's ,word1 but consider it holy1 listen to it willingly1 and learn it4 ,the ,fourth ,commandment ,you must honor your father and mother4 ,so that things will go well for you and you will live long on earth4 7,exodus #bj3ab7 ,what does this mean8 ,we must fear and love ,god1 so that we will neither look down on our parents or superiors nor irritate them1 but will honor them1 serve them1 obey them1 love them and value them4 ,the ,fifth ,commandment ,you must not kill4 7,exodus #bj3ac7 ,what does this mean8 ,we must fear and love ,god1 so that we will neither harm nor hurt our neighbor's body1 but help him and care for him when he is ill4 ,the ,sixth ,commandment ,you must not commit adultery4 7,exodus #bj3ad7 ,what does this mean8 ,we must fear and love ,god1 so that our words and actions will be clean and decent and so that everyone will love and honor their spouses4 ,the ,seventh ,commandment ,you must not steal4 7,exodus #bj3ae7 ,what does this mean8 ,we must fear and love ,god1 so that we will neither take our neighbor's money or property1 nor acquire it by fraud or by selling him poorly made products1 but will help him improve and protect his property and career4 ,the ,eighth ,commandment ,you must not tell lies about your neighbor4 7,exodus #bj3af 7 ,what does this mean8 ,we must fear and love ,god1 so that we will not deceive by lying1 betraying1 slandering or ruining our neighbor's reputation1 but will defend him1 say good things about him1 and see the best side of everything he does4 ,the ,ninth ,commandment ,you must not desire your neighbor's house4 7,exodus #bj3ag7 ,what does this mean8 ,we must fear and love ,god1 so that we will not attempt to trick our neighbor out of his inheritance or house1 take it by pretending to have a right to it1 etc4 but help him to keep improve it4 ,the ,tenth ,commandment ,you must not desire your neighbor's wife1 servant1 maid1 animals or anything that belongs to him4 7,exodus #bj3ag7 ,what does this mean8 ,we must fear and love ,god1 so that we will not release our neighbor's cattle1 take his employees from him or seduce his wife1 but urge them to stay and do what they ought to do4 ,the ,conclusion to the ,commandments ,what does ,god say to us about all these commandments8 ,this is what ,he says3 ,i am the ,lord ,your ,god4 ,i am a jealous ,god4 ,i plague the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of those who hate me with their ancestor's sin4 ,but ,i make whole those who love me for a thousand generations4 7,exodus #bj3e7 ,what does it mean8 ,god threatens to punish everyone who breaks these commandments4 ,we should be afraid of ,his anger because of this and not violate such commandments4 ,but ,he promises grace and all good things to those who keep such commandments4 ,because of this1 we1 too1 should love ,him1 trust ,him1 and willingly do what ,his commandments require4 ,,ii4 ,the ,creed ,the ,simple ,way a ,father ,should ,present it to ,his ,household ,the ,first ,article ,on ,creation ,i believe in ,god the ,almighty ,father1 ,creator of ,heaven and ,earth4 ,what does this mean8 ,i believe that ,god created me1 along with all creatures4 ,he gave to me3 my body and soul1 my eyes1 ears and all the other parts of my body1 my mind and all my senses4 ,he preserves them as well4 ,he gives me clothing and shoes1 food and drink1 house and land1 wife and children1 fields1 animals and all ,i own4 ,every day ,he abundantly provides everything ,i need to nourish this body and life4 ,he protects me against all danger4 he shields and defends me from all evil4 ,he does all this because of ,his pure1 fatherly and divine goodness and ,his mercy1 not because ,i've earned it or deserved it4 ,for all of this1 ,i must thank ,him1 praise ,him1 serve ,him and obey ,him4 ,yes1 this is true6 ,the ,second ,article ,on ,redemption ,and in ,jesus ,christ1 ,his only ,son1 our ,lord1 ,who was conceived by the ,holy ,spirit1 born of the ,virgin ,mary1 suffered under ,pontius ,pilate1 was crucified1 died and was buried1 descended to ,hell1 on the third day rose again from the dead1 ascended to ,heaven and sat down at the right hand of ,god the ,almighty ,father4 ,from there ,he will come to judge the living and the dead4 ,what does this mean8 ,i believe that ,jesus ,christ is truly ,god1 born of the ,father in eternity and also truly man1 born of the ,virgin ,mary4 ,he is my ,lord6 ,he redeemed me1 a lost and condemned person1 bought and won me from all sins1 death and the authority of the ,devil4 ,it did not cost ,him gold or silver1 but ,his holy1 precious blood1 ,his innocent body--,his death6 ,because of this1 ,i am ,his very own1 will live under ,him in ,his kingdom and serve ,him righteously1 innocently and blessedly forever1 just as ,he is risen from death1 lives and reigns forever4 ,yes1 this is true4 ,the ,third ,article ,on ,becoming ,holy ,i believe in the ,holy ,spirit1 the holy ,christian ,church1 the community of the saints1 the forgiveness of sins1 the resurrection of the body1 and an everlasting life4 ,amen4 ,what does this mean8 ,i believe that ,i cannot come to my ,lord ,jesus ,christ by my own intelligence or power4 ,but the ,holy ,spirit called me by the ,gospel1 enlightened me with ,his gifts1 made me holy and kept me in the true faith1 just as ,he calls1 gathers together1 enlightens and makes holy the whole ,church on earth and keeps it with ,jesus in the one1 true faith4 ,in this ,church1 ,he generously forgives each day every sin committed by me and by every believer4 ,on the last day1 ,he will raise me and all the dead from the grave4 ,he will give eternal life to me and to all who believe in ,christ4 ,yes1 this is true6 ,,iii4 ,the ,our ,father ,the ,simple ,way a ,father ,should ,present it to ,his ,household ,introduction ,our ,father1 ,who is in ,heaven4 7,matthew #f3i7 ,what does this mean8 ,in this introduction1 ,god invites us to believe that ,he is our real ,father and we are ,his real children1 so that we will pray with trust and complete confidence1 in the same way beloved children approach their beloved ,father with their requests4 ,the ,first ,request ,may ,your name be holy4 7,matthew #f3i7 ,what does this mean8 ,of course1 ,god's name is holy in and of itself1 but by this request1 we pray that ,he will make it holy among us1 too4 ,how does this take place8 ,it happens when ,god's ,word is taught clearly and purely1 and when we live holy lives as ,god's children based upon it4 ,help us1 ,heavenly ,father1 to do this6 ,but anyone who teaches and lives by something other than ,god's ,word defiles ,god's name among us4 ,protect us from this1 ,heavenly ,father6 ,the ,second ,request ,your ,kingdom come4 7,matthew #f3aj7 ,what does this mean8 ,truly ,god's ,kingdom comes by itself1 without our prayer4 ,but we pray in this request that it come to us as well4 ,how does this happen8 ,it happens when the ,heavenly ,father gives us ,his ,holy ,spirit1 so that we believe ,his holy ,word by ,his grace and live godly lives here in this age and there in eternal life4 ,the ,third ,request ,may ,your will be accomplished4 ,as it is ,heaven1 so may it be on ,earth4 7,matthew #f3aj7 ,what does this mean8 ,truly1 ,god's good and gracious will is accomplished without our prayer4 ,but we pray in this request that is accomplished among us as well4 ,how does this happen8 ,it happens when ,god destroys and interferes with every evil will and all evil advice1 which will not allow ,god's ,kingdom to come1 such as the ,devil's will1 the world's will and will of our bodily desires4 ,it also happens when ,god strengthens us by faith and by ,his ,word and keeps us living by them faithfully until the end of our lives4 ,this is ,his will1 good and full of grace4 ,the ,fourth ,request ,give us today our daily bread4 7,matthew #f3aa7 ,what does this mean8 ,truly1 ,god gives daily bread to evil people1 even without our prayer4 ,but we pray in this request that ,he will help us realize this and receive our daily bread with thanksgiving4 ,what does ,daily bread mean8 ,everything that nourishes our body and meets its needs1 such as3 ,food1 drink1 clothing1 shoes1 house1 yard1 fields1 cattle1 money1 possessions1 a devout spouse1 devout children1 devout employees1 devout and faithful rulers1 good government1 good weather1 peace1 health1 discipline1 honor1 good friends1 faithful neighbors and other things like these4 ,the ,fifth ,request ,and forgive our guilt1 as we forgive those guilty of sinning against us4 7,matthew #f3ab7 ,what does this mean8 ,we pray in this request that our ,heavenly ,father will neither pay attention to our sins nor refuse requests such as these because of our sins and because we are neither worthy nor deserve the things for which we pray4 ,yet ,he wants to give them all to us by ,his grace1 because many times each day we sin and truly deserve only punishment4 ,because ,god does this1 we will1 of course1 want to forgive from our hearts and willingly do good to those who sin against us4 ,the ,sixth ,request ,and lead us not into temptation4 7,matthew #f3ab7 ,what does this mean8 ,god tempts no one1 of course1 but we pray in this request that ,god will protect us and save us1 so that the ,devil1 the world and our bodily desires will neither deceive us nor seduce us into heresy1 despair or other serious shame or vice1 and so that we will win and be victorious in the end1 even if they attack us4 ,the ,seventh ,request ,but set us free from the ,evil ,one4 7 ,matthew #f3ab7 ,what does this mean8 ,we pray in this request1 as a summary1 that our ,father in ,heaven will save us from every kind of evil that threatens body1 soul1 property and honor4 ,we pray that when at last our final hour has come1 ,he will grant us a blessed death1 and1 in ,his grace1 bring us to ,himself from this valley of tears4 ,amen ,what does this mean8 ,that ,i should be certain that such prayers are acceptable to the ,father in ,heaven and will be granted1 that ,he ,himself has commanded us to pray in this way and that ,he promises to answer us4 ,amen4 ,amen4 ,this means3 ,yes1 yes it will happen this way4 ,,iv4 ,the ,sacrament of ,holy ,baptism ,the ,simple ,way a ,father ,should ,present it to ,his ,household ,what is ,baptism8 ,baptism is not just plain water1 but it is water contained within ,god's command and united with ,god's ,word4 ,where in the ,word of ,god is this8 ,where our ,lord ,christ spoke in the last chapter of ,matthew 7,matthew #bh3ai73 ,go into all the world1 teaching all heathen nations1 and baptizing them in the name of the ,father1 the ,son and of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,what does ,baptism give8 ,what good is it8 ,it gives us the forgiveness of sins1 redeems us from death and the ,devil1 and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this1 just as ,god's words and promises declare4 ,what are these words and promises of ,god8 ,our ,lord ,christ spoke one of them in the last chapter of ,mark 7,mark #af3af73 ,whoever believes and is baptized will be saved2 but whoever does not believe will be damned4 ,how can water do such great things8 ,water doesn't make these things happen1 of course4 ,it is ,god's ,word1 which is with and in the water4 ,because1 without ,god's ,word1 the water is plain water and not baptism4 ,but with ,god's ,word it is a ,baptism1 a grace-filled water of life1 a bath of new birth in the ,holy ,spirit1 as ,st4 ,paul said to ,titus in the third chapter 7,titus #c3e-h73 ,through this bath of rebirth and renewal of the ,holy ,spirit1 which ,he poured out on us abundantly through ,jesus ,christ1 our ,savior1 that we1 justified by the same grace are made heirs according to the hope of eternal life4 ,this is a faithful saying4 ,what is the meaning of such a water ,baptism8 ,it means that the old ,adam in us should be drowned by daily sorrow and repentance1 and die with all sins and evil lusts1 and1 in turn1 a new person daily come forth and rise from death again4 ,he will live forever before ,god in righteousness and purity4 ,where is this written8 ,st4 ,paul says to the ,romans in ,chapter ,six 7,romans #f3d73 ,we are buried with ,christ through ,baptism into death1 so that1 in the same way ,christ is risen from the dead by the glory of the ,father1 thus also must we walk in a new life4 ,v4 ,how ,you ,should ,teach the ,uneducated to ,confess ,what is confession8 ,confession has two parts3 ,first1 a person admits his sin ,second1 a person receives absolution or forgiveness from the confessor1 as if from ,god ,himself1 without doubting it1 but believing firmly that his sins are forgiven by ,god in ,heaven through it4 ,which sins should people confess8 ,when speaking to ,god1 we should plead guilty to all sins1 even those we don't know about1 just as we do in the ,our ,father1 but when speaking to the confessor1 only the sins we know about1 which we know about and feel in our hearts4 ,which are these8 ,consider here your place in life according to the ,ten ,commandments4 ,are you a father8 ,a mother8 ,a son8 ,a daughter8 ,a husband8 ,a wife8 ,a servant8 ,are you disobedient1 unfaithful or lazy8 ,have you hurt anyone with your words or actions8 ,have you stolen1 neglected your duty1 let things go or injured someone8 ,please suggest to me a simple way to confess4 ,you should speak to your confessor this way3 ,honorable1 dear ,sir3 ,would you please hear my confession and pronounce forgiveness according to ,god's will4 ,he will respond3 ,yes4 ,please go ahead4 ,then say3 ,i confess in the presence of ,god that ,i am a poor sinner and guilty of every kind of sin4 ,i specifically admit to you that ,i am a servant1 maid1 etc41 but ,i'm afraid that ,i have served my master unfaithfully4 ,from time to time1 ,i have not done what ,i was told to do4 ,i have angered them and caused them to swear at me4 ,i have neglected my duty and allowed damage to be done4 ,my words and actions have been shameful4 ,i have been angry with my peers4 ,i have complained about my master's wife and sworn at her1 etc4 ,i am sorry for all of this and ask for grace4 ,i want to do better4 ,a master or a lady of the house should speak this way3 ,i specifically confess to you that ,i have not faithfully led my children1 servants or wife to ,god's glory4 ,i have cursed4 ,i have set a bad example with my obscene words and actions4 ,i have hurt my neighbor and spoken evil things about him4 ,i have charged him too much1 cheated him and sold him badly made goods4 ,let him also confess any other sins against ,god's commandments and his place in life1 etc4 ,if a person is not burdened with sins such as these or greater sins1 he should not look for other sins or invent them1 because that would turn confession into torture4 ,instead1 he should mention one or two that he knows about4 ,for example3 specifically ,i confess that ,i once cursed4 ,once ,i used inappropriate language4 ,once ,i neglected to do this or that thing1 etc4 ,let that be enough4 ,if you do not know of anything you have done wrong 7which does not seem possible71 do not say anything in specific1 but receive forgiveness based upon the general confession you make to ,god in the presence of your confessor4 ,after this1 the ,confessor will say3 ,may ,god be merciful to you and strengthen your faith6 ,then he will ask3 ,do you also believe that the forgiveness ,i give is ,god's forgiveness8 ,then you will answer3 ,yes1 dear sir4 ,after this1 he will say3 ,may what you believe happen to you4 ,and by the command of my ,lord ,jesus1 ,i forgive your sins in the ,name of the ,father1 ,son and ,holy ,spirit4 ,amen4 ,go in peace6 ,the confessor will know how to use additional passages to comfort and to encourage the faith of those who sorrow1 are troubled or whose conscience is greatly burdened4 ,this is only meant to be a general confession for the uneducated4 ,,vi4 ,the ,sacrament of the ,altar ,the ,simple ,way a ,father ,should ,present it to his ,household ,what is the ,sacrament of the ,altar8 ,it is the true body and blood of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ under bread and wine for us ,christians to eat and to drink1 established by ,christ ,himself4 ,where is that written8 ,the holy apostles ,matthew1 ,mark and ,luke and ,st4 ,paul write this3 ,our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 in the night on which ,he was betrayed1 took bread1 gave thanks1 broke it1 gave it to ,his disciples and said3 ',take6 ,eat6 ,this is ,my body1 which is given for you4 ,do this to remember ,me6' ,in the same way ,he also took the cup after supper1 gave thanks1 gave it to them1 and said3 ',take and drink from it1 all of you6 ,this cup is the ,new ,testament in my blood1 which is shed for you to forgive sins4 ,this do1 as often as you drink it1 to remember ,me6' ,what good does this eating and drinking do8 ,these words tell us3 ,given for you and ,shed for you to forgive sins4 ,namely1 that the forgiveness of sins1 life and salvation are given to us through these words in the sacrament4 ,because1 where sins are forgiven1 there is life and salvation as well4 ,how can physical eating and drinking do such great things8 ,of course1 eating and drinking do not do these things4 ,these words1 written here1 do them3 given for you and shed for you to forgive sins4 ,these words1 along with physical eating and drinking are the important part of the sacrament4 ,anyone who believes these words has what they say and what they record1 namely1 the forgiveness of sins4 ,who1 then1 receives such a sacrament in a worthy way8 ,of course1 fasting and other physical preparations are excellent disciplines for the body4 ,but anyone who believes these words1 ,given for you1 and ,shed for you to forgive sins1 is really worthy and well prepared4 ,but whoever doubts or does not believe these words is not worthy and is unprepared1 because the words1 for you demand a heart that fully believes4 ,appendix ,i ,how a ,father ,should ,teach ,his ,household to ,conduct ,morning and ,evening ,devotions4 ,morning ,devotions ,as soon as you get out of bed in the morning1 you should bless yourself with the sign of the ,holy ,cross and say3 ,may the will of ,god1 the ,father1 the ,son and the ,holy ,spirit be done6 ,amen4 ,then1 kneeling or standing1 say the creed and pray the ,lord's ,prayer4 ,if you wish1 you may then pray this little prayer as well3 ,my ,heavenly ,father1 ,i thank ,you1 through ,jesus ,christ1 ,your beloved ,son1 that ,you kept me safe from all evil and danger last night4 ,save me1 ,i pray1 that you will keep me safe today from every evil and sin as well11 so that all ,i do and the way that ,i live will please you4 ,i put myself in your care1 body and soul and all that ,i have4 ,let ,your holy ,angels be with me1 so that the evil enemy will not gain power over me4 ,amen4 ,after that1 with joy go about your work and perhaps sing a song inspired by the ,ten ,commandments or your own thoughts4 ,evening ,devotions ,when you go to bed in the evening1 you should bless yourself with the sign of the ,holy ,cross and say3 ,may the will of ,god1 the ,father1 the ,son and the ,holy ,spirit be done6 ,amen4 ,then1 kneeling or standing1 say the creed and pray the ,lord's ,prayer4 ,if you wish1 then you may pray this little prayer as well3 ,my ,heavenly ,father1 ,i thank ,you1 through ,jesus ,christ1 ,your beloved ,son1 that ,you have protected me1 by ,your grace4 ,forgive1 ,i pray1 all my sins and the evil ,i have done4 ,protect me1 by ,your grace1 tonight4 ,i put myself in your care1 body and soul and all that ,i have4 ,let ,your holy angels be with me1 so that the evil enemy will not gain power over me4 ,amen4 ,after this1 go to sleep immediately with joy4 ,appendix ,,ii ,how a ,father ,should ,teach ,his ,household to say ,grace and ,return ,thanks at ,meals3 ,the ,blessing ,the children and servants should come to the table modestly and with folded hands and say3 ,all eyes look to you1 ,o ,lord1 and ,you give everyone food at the right time4 ,you open ,your generous hands and satisfy the hunger of all living things with what they desire4 7,psalm #ade3ae-af7 ,note3 ,what they desire means that all animals get so much to eat1 that they are happy and cheerful4 ,because1 worry and greed interferes with such desires4 ,after this1 pray the ,lord's ,prayer and the following prayer3 ,lord ,god1 ,heavenly ,father1 bless us and these gifts1 which we receive from ,your generous hand1 through ,jesus ,christ1 our ,lord4 ,amen4 ,thanking ,god ,after eating1 too1 they should modestly fold their hands and say3 ,thank the ,lord1 because ,he is kind and ,his goodness lasts forever6 ,he gives all creatures food4 ,he gives livestock their food and feeds the young ravens that call out to ,him4 ,a horse's strength does not give ,him pleasure4 ,a man's legs do not give ,him joy4 ,people who fear the ,lord and who wait for ,his goodness please ,him4 ,after this1 pray the ,lord's ,prayer and the following prayer3 ,we thank ,you1 ,lord ,god1 ,father1 through ,jesus ,christ our ,lord1 for all ,your blessings4 ,you live and rule forever6 ,amen6 ,appendix ,,iii ,the ,home ,chart ,a number of passages to use to teach and admonish people in all holy orders and statuses in life about their duties4 ,for ,bishops1 ,pastors and ,preachers3 #a ,tim4 #c3b-d ,titus #a3 #f ,what ,hearers owe their ,pastors3 #a ,cor4 #i3ad ,gal4 #f3 #f #a ,tim4 #e3ag-ah ,heb4 #ac3ag ,for ,earthly ,authorities ,rom4 #ac3a-d ,for those ,under ,authority ,matt4 #bb3ba ,rom4 #ac3e-g #a ,tim4 #b3a-c ,titus #c3a #a ,peter #b3ac-ad ,for ,husbands #a ,peter #c3g ,col4 #c3ai ,for ,wives ,eph4 #e3bb #a ,peter #c3e-f ,for ,parents ,eph4 #f3d ,for ,children ,eph4 #f3a-c ,for ,servants1 ,maids1 ,hired ,hands and ,workers ,eph4 #f3 #e-g ,col4 #c3bb ,for the ,man and ,woman of the ,house ,eph4 #f3i ,col4 #d3a ,for ,young ,people in ,general #a ,pet4 #e3e-f ,for ,widows #a ,tim4 #e3e-f ,for ,everyone in ,general ,rom4 #ac3h-aj #a ,tim4 #b3a-b ,if everyone will learn his part1 ,the whole household will fare well4 ,this text was translated in #aiid1 revised in #bjjb and revised and expanded in #bjjd for ,project ,wittenberg by ,robert ,e4 ,smith4 ,it has been placed in the public domain by him4 ,you may freely distribute1 copy or print this text4 ,please direct any comments or suggestions to ,rev4 ,robert ,e4 ,smith of the ,walther ,library at3 ,concordia ,theological ,seminary ,email3 smithremail4ctsfw4edu ,surface ,mail3 #ffjj ,n4 ,clinton ,st41 ,ft4 ,wayne1 ,,in #dfhbe ,,usa ,phone3 7#bfj7 #deb-cadi ,fax3 7#bfj7 #deb-babf