# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_Mai 1855_S154
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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

hearers, and alongside those for the authorities, also such teachings for the subjects. We can only rejoice and thank God that, through Dr. Luther’s service, we now possess a complete Table of Duties for the benefit and welfare of all catechism students at home, at school, and in church, for Luther intends that it should also be preached upon. (Walch XXI, 1359 and 1191). Dr. Luther speaks briefly and forcefully about these three holy estates, in contrast to the self-chosen estates among the Roman Catholics, as follows: “But the holy orders and institutions established by God are these three: the pastoral office, marriage, and secular authority. All who are found in the pastoral office or the ministry of the Word are in a holy, proper, good order and estate pleasing to God—those who preach, administer the Sacrament, oversee the common treasury, and the sextons, messengers, or servants who serve such persons, etc. These are all wholly holy works before God.

Likewise, whoever is a father or mother, governs the household well, and raises children for the service of God is altogether holiness, holy work, and a holy order. Similarly, where children or household servants are obedient to parents or masters, that too is altogether holiness; and whoever is found in such an estate is a living saint on earth.

Likewise, princes and rulers, judges, officials, chancellors, scribes, male and female servants, and all who serve them, together with all who are obedient as subjects—all this is altogether holiness and a holy life before God. This is because these three institutions or orders are comprised within God’s Word and commandment. Whatever is comprised within God’s Word must be a holy thing, for God’s Word is holy and sanctifies everything that is connected with it and contained within it.

Beyond these three institutions and orders there is the universal order of Christian love, in which one serves not only those in the three orders but also every needy person in general with all kinds of good deeds, such as feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, etc., forgiving enemies, praying for all people on earth, enduring all kinds of evil on earth, etc. See, all these are wholly good and holy works. Nevertheless, none of these orders is a way to salvation; rather, above all of them there remains the one way, namely, faith in Jesus Christ.” (Walch XX, 1378 ff.)

As far as is presently known, the Christian Questions were not printed during Dr. Luther’s lifetime. They are first found in a Wittenberg edition of the Small Catechism from the year 1551. In 1564 Matthäus Judex included them as a supplement to Luther’s writings in his Summa of Christian Doctrine under the title: “Several Christian Questions, with Their Answers, for Those Who Intend to Go to the Sacrament, First Presented in the Simplest Manner to the Church of Christ at Lemberg by Dr. Martin Luther.”

Chr. Walther, the longtime proofreader in the Luft printing house in Wittenberg, says in his defense against Aurifaber’s accusations concerning