A Baptist Catechism...with commentary

FR7 Baptist · Apr 15, 2010

THEOLDMAN said: ↑

seem like some kinda yankee to me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! True rebel till i die......jp
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How are you a "[t]rue rebel" if you're from Wyoming? You need to stay up north, away from me.

Dr. Bob · Apr 15, 2010

T.O.M. was a filth-monger from Mississippi (thankfully NOT Wyoming) and is banned.

My thanks to C4k for quick action in the middle of our night.

Now, to the OP. I LOVED the Baptist catechism personally. But do you think that many who came from Lutheran or Catholic (Confirmation classes) would be offended by using the same methodology? Just the word "catechism" today brings up bad memories . . .

Tom Butler · Apr 15, 2010

Dr. Bob, I think you have it right. It's almost a knee-jerk reaction. But I have read some so-called Baptist catechisms which express biblical truth quite concisely.

In my view, catechisms are teaching tools. There's not a dime's worth of difference between a biblically solid catechism and a booklet (or book) outlining Baptist doctrine, except for format.

Some may want to label such as indoctrination. Well, duh, of course it is. What else is a new member's class for? What is Sunday School for? What is preaching for, if not to teach doctrine and practice?

I conclude that most skepticism about catechisms is emotional.

Iconoclast · Apr 15, 2010

try it

I would like to see some who would resist a biblical catechism,or confession of faith supply a better worded answer,with scriptures that could replace those in the catechism.
A friend of mine told me he was able to download this catechism for only five dollars....He already has it now on His computer,while he waits for the book to arrive.
I have come across persons who say there is little value in this kind of instruction. When speaking with them I find they are more often then not ignorant of much Divine truth, have very shallow understanding on most areas of the christian life, justification,sanctification, mortification of sin,etc.
They cannot explain their faith to others,stumble and mumble about doctrinal truths.
For a professed believer to say.....yes I believe the bible.....and then not be able to communicate it's truth is tragic.
In the beginning of this work , it establishes why this kind of instruction is in fact biblical.
Spend the five dollars, [skip a happy meal,for a spiritual meal],,,then tell me what you think.:thumbs:

Dr. Bob · Apr 16, 2010

Iconoclast said: ↑

skip a happy meal for a spiritual meal
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That will find its way into my vocabulary. Good line!!

Iconoclast · Apr 26, 2010

Tom Butler said: ↑

Dr. Bob, I think you have it right. It's almost a knee-jerk reaction. But I have read some so-called Baptist catechisms which express biblical truth quite concisely.

In my view, catechisms are teaching tools. There's not a dime's worth of difference between a biblically solid catechism and a booklet (or book) outlining Baptist doctrine, except for format.

Some may want to label such as indoctrination. Well, duh, of course it is. What else is a new member's class for? What is Sunday School for? What is preaching for, if not to teach doctrine and practice?

I conclude that most skepticism about catechisms is emotional.
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Here I will let this commentary speak for itself:
It is a lengthy quote but worth the read

The Term “Catechize”
The English word “catechism” is derived from the Gk. verb katēchēo, “to
resound, teach orally, instruct by mouth.” This term originally had the idea of
“speaking down or from above” i.e., from actors on an elevated stage. It is a
compound of the preposition kata, “down, throughout, thoroughly” and the
verb ēchēo, “to sound,” the source of our English word, “echo.” There seems
to be in this etymology the idea of a responsive answer. Catechizing has the
connotation of thorough or repeated oral instruction, and is only one of
several related terms for instruction or teaching found in Scripture. The term
itself occurs eight times in the New Testament (twice as “informed” in Acts
21:21, 24, referring to word–of–mouth information):
“That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou
hast been catechized.” Luke 1:4.
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“This man had been constantly catechized in the way of the Lord;
and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the
things of the Lord...” Acts 18:25.
“And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more
excellent, being constantly catechized out of the law...” Romans
2:18.
“Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my
understanding, that by my voice I might catechize others also, than
ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.” 1 Cor. 14:19.
“Let him who is being catechized in the word communicate unto him
who catechizes in all good things.” Gal. 6:6.
C. H. Spurgeon on Catechizing
(From the introduction to his own Baptist Catechism)
In matters of doctrine you will find orthodox congregations
frequently changed to heterodoxy in the course of thirty or forty
years, and that is because, too often, there has been no catechizing of
the children in the essential doctrines of the Gospel. For my part, I
am more and more persuaded that the study of a good scriptural
catechism is of infinite value to our children....Even if the youngsters
do not understand all the questions and answers....yet, abiding in
their memories, it will be of infinite service when the time of
understanding comes, to have known these very excellent, wise and
judicious definitions of the things of God...It will be a blessing to
them—the greatest of all blessing...a blessing in life and death, in
time and eternity, the best of blessings God Himself can give….I am
persuaded that the use of a good catechism in all our families will be
a great safeguard against the increasing errors of the times, and
therefore I have compiled this little manual...for the use of my own
church and congregation. Those who use it in their families or
classes must labour to explain the sense to the little ones; but the
words should be carefully learned by heart, for they will be
understood better as the child advances in years.
The Practical Use of a Catechism
The practical use of this catechism may be summarized in the following
considerations:
1. Catechizing is a scriptural practice. It is taught in both the Old and
New Testaments by both precept and example.
2. Many may have a general knowledge of the Bible, but greatly lack in
the ability to reason from the Scriptures in a doctrinally consistent
fashion. We must know the Bible doctrinally and must know our
doctrine biblically. Unless we arrive at a consistent doctrinal
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knowledge of the Scriptures, our knowledge of the Word of God is
both deficient and defective. The use of a catechism leads one to think
both scripturally and doctrinally. It is a very basic and necessary
introduction to Bible doctrine and to elementary theology.
3. This is a catechism with a commentary. Such a work is meant to
educate the entire family. Comments are meant for parents and older
students as a means of educating themselves in basic Bible doctrine.
The notes are meant to serve as a basis for family instruction and
discussion of biblical truth.
4. Questions and answers are followed by one or more proof–texts, and
should be memorized with the question and answer.
5. As to methodology, it is suggested that fathers instruct their children in
the questions, answers and proof–texts, and then discuss the issues
involved. Little children may be able only to memorize the questions
and answers, while older children will be able to memorize one or
more Scripture references. Those who are older can also begin to
assimilate the issues involved.
Some Objections Against Catechizing Answered
OBJECTION ONE: Why, as Baptists, use a catechism? Do not catechisms
belong only to the Romanists, Lutherans or Reformed Christians? We have
only one creed—the Bible! We will not and cannot put any literature on
par with the Scriptures, or add to the Word of God in any way.
ANSWER:
1. Catechizing, or repetitive oral instruction is scriptural. It was given by
Divine mandate in the Old Testament and is ratified in the New
Testament by inspired Apostolic example.
2. This is not a question of adding something to Scripture, but rather the
use of a necessary aid toward a comprehensive grasp of its doctrinal
teaching. God made us rational, morally responsible beings, created in
his image and likeness. We have been created with both the ability and
necessity to organize. An orderly or systematic approach to Divine
truth is a necessity, as seen in the necessary existence of doctrine and
theology. Sadly, many who object to the use of a catechism turn rather
to the very questionable use of other religious teaching materials
which are either doctrinally shallow or unsound.
3. A catechism is an organized elementary approach to the truth of the
Word of God. It is a primary introduction to the doctrinal teaching of
Scripture.
4. There is a great need for all believers to have at least two types of
knowledge concerning the truth of God: First, every young person
should at least have a general acquaintance with Scripture. What many
call “Bible Stories” gives the younger child a general knowledge of
20
the Bible, its historical format, the basic principles of redemptive
history and some knowledge about the various books of the Bible and
their leading characters. Second, every young person should be taught
to understand, think and reason doctrinally from the Scriptures. For
centuries, this has been the purpose of a doctrinally–sound catechism.
Catechizing ceased among our Baptist forefathers when they no longer
emphasized their doctrinal distinctives and Confessions of Faith. In
Sunday schools catechisms were replaced by “Quarterlies,” which
have proven, we believe, to be vastly inferior.
5. Baptists used catechisms extensively and with much spiritual profit
until the past century. This objection itself demonstrates the sad
departure of some Baptists from their own doctrinal distinctives and
practice, and the ignorance of some modern Baptists concerning their
own history and spiritual heritage. Following are some of the more
well–known catechisms written and used by Baptists:
• Henry Jessey, Particular Baptist, A Catechism for Babes, or Little
Ones, 1652.
• Hercules Collins, Particular Baptist, The Orthodox Catechism
(adapted from the Heidelberg Catechism), 1680.
• Thomas Grantham, General Baptist, St. Paul’s Catechism (based
on the six principles of Hebrews 6), 1687.
• Benjamin Keach and William Collins, The Baptist Catechism,
1693.
• The Philadelphia Baptist Association of Particular Baptists
published a catechism appended to their Philadelphia Confession
of Faith, 1742.
• William Gadsby, Gospel Standard Baptist, published a catechism
entitled The Things Most Surely Believed Among Us, 1809.
• C. H. Spurgeon published A Baptist Catechism (compiled from
the Westminster Shorter Catechism and Keach’s Baptist
Catechism), 1855.
• The Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention
published two catechisms: the first by J. P. Boyce, A Brief
Catechism of Bible Doctrine (1864) and the second by John A.
Broadus (1892). The latter work was jointly published by both the
Southern Baptist Convention and the American Baptist
Publication Society.
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ReformedBaptist · Apr 26, 2010

The modern cry, "Less creed and more liberty," is a degeneration from the vertebrate to the jelly fish, and means less unity and less morality, and it means more heresy. …It is a positive and very hurtful sin to magnify liberty at the expense of doctrine.
--An Interpretation of the English Bible
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I have Carrol's commentary on the Bible, this quote above, is awesome.

Iconoclast · Apr 29, 2010

ReformedBaptist said: ↑

I have Carrol's commentary on the Bible, this quote above, is awesome.
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Yes, B.H. Carrol has some really good material. Thanks for the reminder.I lent out mine to a friend and it never returned. I might have to re-order this.

RB- definately order this commentary on the catechism, it is most excellent.:thumbsup:

~JM~ · Apr 3, 2014

I have Bedomme's exposition of the Baptist catechism, is it similar?

righteousdude2 · Apr 3, 2014

So does this mean....

I have to give up going to McDonald's after getting my honorary Baptist membership card?

Like Bob, I iked that. Give up a happy meal for a spiritual meal! Spot on from the man on the road of life!

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