he two short studies by renowned theologian Karl Barth included here were first published in 1964, the 400th anniversary of the Heidelberg Catechism—a classical document of the Reformation Period.



Students, ministers, laypersons, and theologians continue to find these essays helpful, for they provide not only an introduction to the Heidelberg Catechism, but also a brief, systematic presentation of Reformed theology in the 16th century and a glimpse of Barth’s own theology on the 20th century.



The first essay, “Christian Doctrine According to the Heidelberg Catechism,” is a question by question interpretation, commentary, and evaluation of the catechism. “Introduction to the Heidelberg Catechism,” the second essay, examines the three basic questions of the document: Who is the Comforter? Who is comforted? and How is comfort given and in what does it consist?