Category Archives: Catachesis

Grow in grace

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The New Testament writers show great concern for the spiritual growth of their readers.  Paul, for example, writes to the Corinthians, “But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not ready” (1 Cor. 3:1–2).

The writer to the Hebrews similarly: “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God.…

Catechetical imperatives in the New Testament

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J.I. Packer and Gary Parrett write:

‘One of the most important arguments for ministries of catechesis today derives from the simple fact that believers have been commanded to teach others catechetically.’

In Ephesians 6:4, fathers are urged to bring up their children ‘in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.’

In the Pastoral Epistles, we find numerous exhortations:

“Charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor devote themselves to myths.” (1 Tim. 1:3–4)

“If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.”…

The Gospels as catachetical documents

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It would seem that the four Gospels are ‘carefully crafted and culturally contextualized catechetical documents.’

Matthew seems to be explicitly catechetical, in that he arranges his material according to subject matter rather than chronological sequence.  The result is a handbook on the words and deeds of the Church’s founder.

Mark is often found, in our own day, to provide an excellent basis for catechetical courses such as Christianity Explored.

Luke (along with Acts) was written, in the first place, to provide initial or follow-up catechesis for Theophilus.…

Catachetical language in the New Testament

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That there is a body of teaching that is to be faithfully passed on is clear from the repeated references in the New Testament to ‘the teaching,’ ‘sound doctrine,’ ‘tradition,’ and ‘passed on’.

Packer and Parrett (Grounded in the Gospel: Building Believers the Old-Fashioned Way) give some examples:

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching.” (Acts 2:42)

“Watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned.”…

Biblical summaries of the gospel

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As J.I. Packer and Gary A. Parrett remark:

The glorious Gospel is immeasurable in its depths and implications, yet it can be quite simply summarized. Here are just a few of the many examples of biblical summaries of the Gospel:

“He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isa. 53:5).

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

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Train a child in the way that he should go

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According to this article in Christian Today, half of American Christians think that casual sex is ‘sometimes or always’ morally acceptable.

More than half of American white evangelicals say that cohabitation is acceptable if the couple plan to marry.  And almost half of evangelical Protestants aged 15-22 who were not currently cohabiting or married said they would probably or definitely cohabit in the future.  (But Christian commitment did make a big difference: those young people who attended church at least twice a month were least likely to approve of cohabitation).…