# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_Mai 1855_S149
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

On the Original Form of the Small Catechism, etc. 149

should teach his household servants.” Accordingly, Dr. Luther intended his Small Catechism for pastors and heads of households, for, as his preface states, the great ignorance of both classes had compelled him to compose the Catechism; but the fact that on the title page he mentions only pastors and preachers probably has its reason in this, that the preaching office is to instruct the household.

The second edition, which appeared only a few months after the first, already bears the note on its title page: “Enlarged and improved.” The sections added were: the Preface, the Morning and Evening Blessings, the Table of Duties, and a Short Form of Confession. In this form the Catechism remained unchanged in all essential respects for thirteen years, until 1542, when Dr. Luther revised it for the last time, as the note on the title page shows: “Newly reviewed and prepared.” Alongside the edition of 1531, which Lic. Schneider used as his basis, this edition is the most important for establishing the text.

As mentioned above, the Preface to the Small Catechism appears only in the second edition. Nothing will be said here about its great excellence, but something must be said about the slight recognition it has received, for careful inquiry shows that most people have either not read this Preface at all or at least have not read it with due attention; the same applies to Dr. Luther’s Preface to his Large Catechism. I therefore had the idea of reading both prefaces word for word as an introduction to the catechism sermons and briefly explaining them. *)

Here we shall speak only of the original text of one passage in the Preface to the Small Catechism. It reads: “Whoever does not seek or desire the Sacrament at least once or four times a year, there is reason to fear that he despises the Sacrament and is no Christian.” This is by no means intended to say that it makes no difference whether a Christian goes to Holy Communion once or four times a year, for the former would be entirely contrary to Christ’s word “often”; rather, by the latter, namely four times, Dr. Luther intends to indicate what is to be understood by the little word “often,” as the addition “at least” also teaches. Thus it is clearly intended to mean “some four times” (approximately four times), as indeed this appears in several new editions, as though it were a gloss, and in place of those original words of the text.

*) I did this with the Preface to the Large Catechism according to the following outline:
Why does Dr. Luther insist so forcefully on the daily practice of the Catechism?
1. Because of the profound decline of this practice;
2. Because of its many benefits; and
3. Because of God’s commandment, which should impel us to it.

In treating the Preface to the Small Catechism, I showed how the Catechism should be practiced profitably, namely: 1. the text, 2. the interpretation, 3. the fuller explanation in the Large Catechism. Appendix: the inculcation of the Fourth Commandment and the exhortation to diligent use of Holy Communion.