Martin Luther

===Catechisms===
[[File:MartinLutherWindow.jpg|thumb|upright|A stained glass portrayal of Luther]]
Luther devised the catechism as a method of imparting the basics of Christianity to the congregations. In 1529, he wrote the [[Luther's Large Catechism|''Large Catechism'']], a manual for pastors and teachers, as well as a synopsis, the [[Luther's Small Catechism|''Small Catechism'']], to be memorised by the people.<ref>Marty, 123.</ref> The catechisms provided easy-to-understand instructional and devotional material on the [[s:Luther's Small Catechism#I. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS,|Ten Commandments]], the [[s:Luther's Small Catechism#II. THE CREED,|Apostles' Creed]], [[s:Luther's Small Catechism#III. THE LORD’S PRAYER,|The Lord's Prayer]], [[s:Luther's Small Catechism#IV. THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY BAPTISM,|baptism]], and the [[s:Luther's Small Catechism#VI. THE SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR,|Lord's Supper]].<ref>Brecht, 2:273; Bainton, Mentor edition, 263.</ref> Luther incorporated questions and answers in the catechism so that the basics of Christian faith would not just be [[Rote learning|learned by rote]], "the way monkeys do it", but understood.<ref>Marty, 123; Wilson, 278.</ref>

The catechism is one of Luther's most personal works. "Regarding the plan to collect my writings in volumes," he wrote, "I am quite cool and not at all eager about it because, roused by a Saturnian hunger, I would rather see them all devoured. For I acknowledge none of them to be really a book of mine, except perhaps the ''[[On the Bondage of the Will|Bondage of the Will]]'' and the Catechism."<ref>Luther, Martin. ''Luther's Works''. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1971, 50:172–173; Bainton, Mentor edition, 263.</ref> The ''Small Catechism'' has earned a reputation as a model of clear religious teaching.<ref>Brecht, 2:277, 280.</ref> It remains in use today, along with Luther's hymns and his translation of the Bible.

Luther's ''Small Catechism'' proved especially effective in helping parents teach their children; likewise the ''Large Catechism'' was effective for pastors.<ref>See texts at [http://www.projectwittenberg.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/wittenberg-luther.html#sw-hymn English translation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716175426/http://www.projectwittenberg.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/wittenberg-luther.html#sw-hymn |date=16 July 2017 }}</ref> Using the German vernacular, they expressed the Apostles' Creed in simpler, more personal, [[Trinity|Trinitarian]] language. He rewrote each article of the Creed to express the character of the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit. Luther's goal was to enable the [[catechumen]]s to see themselves as a personal object of the work of the three persons of the Trinity, each of which works in the catechumen's life.<ref name="James Arne Nestingen 1996">Charles P. Arand, "Luther on the Creed." ''Lutheran Quarterly'' 2006 20(1): 1–25. {{ISSN|0024-7499}}; James Arne Nestingen, "Luther's Catechisms" ''The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Reformation.'' Ed. Hans J. Hillerbrand. (1996)</ref> That is, Luther depicts the Trinity not as a doctrine to be learned, but as persons to be known. The Father creates, the Son redeems, and the Spirit sanctifies, a divine unity with separate personalities. Salvation originates with the Father and draws the believer to the Father. Luther's treatment of the Apostles' Creed must be understood in the context of the Decalogue (the Ten Commandments) and The Lord's Prayer, which are also part of the Lutheran catechetical teaching.<ref name="James Arne Nestingen 1996" />