Heidelberg Catechism Project

These questions and answers expand the beginning student’s knowledge of the Bible as a whole.

Q: Where is God’s Law revealed?

A: In the Bible.

Q: What does the word “Bible” mean?

A: The Book

Q: Where is the Law of God first summarized in the Bible?

A: The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17)

Q: Into how many parts is the Bible divided?

A: Two parts.

Q: What are those parts called?

A: The Old and the New Testaments.

Q: What is meant by the Old Testament?

A: The Covenant God made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to bless all mankind.

Q: What is meant by the New Testament?

A: The Covenant God made with Jesus Christ to bless mankind.

Q: What does “covenant” mean?

A: These biblical covenants are terms of fellowship given by God to bless mankind.

Q: Why use the word “Testament” if “Covenant” is meant?

A: The word “Testament” is a New Covenant word. It emphasizes that the covenants or testaments in the Bible are the gift of God’s mercy ultimately revealed in Jesus Christ. These blessings are never earned by man’s good works.

Q: Does “mankind” include women and children?

A: Yes, the word “mankind” means all people descended from Adam – male, female, adults, and children.

Q: How are the Old and New Testaments related?

A: The Old Testament is the preparation for the New Testament. The New Testament is the fulfillment of the Old Testament.

Q: In what languages was the Bible originally written?

A: The Old Testament was written mainly in Hebrew and some Aramaic. The New Testament was written in a form of Greek.

Q: How many books are in the Old Testament?

A: Thirty Nine.

Q: Into how many classes are these divided?

A. Four.

Q: How many in the first?

A: The Five books of Moses.

Q: How many in the second?

A:  Twelve books of History.

Q: How many in the third?

A: Five books of Poety (or Wisdom).

Q: How many in the fourth?

A: Seventeen books of Prophecy.

Q: Name the Five books of Moses?

A: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

Q: Name the Twelve books of History:

Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1& 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther.

Q: Name the Five books of Poetry?

A: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon (or Song of Songs).

Q: For the sake of memory, how many divisions are in the 17 Books of Prophecy?

A: Four divisions

Q: Name the books of the first division?

A: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, and Ezekiel.

Q: Name the books of the second division?

A: Daniel, Hosea, Joel, and Amos.

Q: Name the books of the third division?

A: Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum.

Q: Name the books of the fourth divison?

A: Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

Q: How many books are in the New Testament?

A. Twenty Seven.

Q: What are the first four called?

A: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Q: What other name do they have?

A: Gospel.

Q: What do you mean by the word ‘Gospel’?

A: Glad tidings of Salvation.

Q: What are the ‘Glad tidings of Salvation’?

A: That Jesus Christ has come into the world to save sinners.

Q: Is there more than one Savior?

A: No.

Q: How do you explain that there is only One Christ, but four Gospels?

A: The same Good News is told by four different persons.

Q: What follows the four Gospels?

A: The Acts of the Apostles.

Q: How many letters did Paul write?

A: Thirteen.

Q: Name them.

A: Romans, 1st and 2nd Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1st and 2nd Thessalonians, 1st and 2nd Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.

Q: What books follow Paul’s letters and complete the New Testament?

A: Hebrews; James; 1st and 2nd Peter; 1st, 2nd and 3rd John; Jude and the Book of Revelation.