I. Des articles de la foi — Le 5e dimanche
The Savior's Name
The catechism introduces the second part of the creed, focusing on the meaning and divine authority of the name Jesus.
Part 2, 30. Master: Let's move on to the second part. Student: “And in Jesus Christ, his only Son,” and so on.1 31. Minister: In short, what does it contain? Student: That we acknowledge the Son of God as our Savior, and the means by which he has delivered us from death and secured our salvation. 32. M: What is the meaning of the name “Jesus,” which you use to call him? S: It means Savior; it was given to him by the angel at God’s command (Matthew 1:21). 33. Minister: Does that mean more than if he had received this name from men? Student: Yes, it does. For since God wills that he be called this way, he must truly be what that name says.2
The Anointing of Christ
The title 'Christ' is explained as an anointing by the Holy Spirit, commissioning him for a threefold office.
What the title of Christ means 34. M: So, what does the word “Christ” mean? E: This title explains his office even more clearly. It means he was anointed by the heavenly Father to be appointed King, Priest or Sacrificer, and Prophet.3 35. M: How do you know that? E: Because, according to Scripture, anointing is meant to serve these three purposes, and they are also attributed to him many times. 36. Minister: But what kind of oil was he anointed with? Elder: It wasn't with visible oil, as was the case with the ancient kings, priests, and prophets. But it was with the graces of the Holy Spirit, which is the truth of that outward anointing that was practiced in former times (Isaiah 61:1; Psalms 45:8).4
The Threefold Office of Christ
Christ's work is detailed through his roles as King, Priest, and Prophet.
The Kingdom of Christ 37. M: What is this Kingdom you're talking about? E: It's spiritual, consisting of the Word and the Spirit of God, which contain righteousness and life.5 Christ's Priesthood 38. M: And the priesthood? E: It is the office and authority to appear before God in order to obtain grace and favor, to calm his wrath, by offering a sacrifice that is pleasing to him.6 Christ the Prophet 39. M: How do you mean that Jesus Christ is Prophet? E: Because when he came down into the world (Isaiah 7:14), he was the supreme messenger and ambassador of God his Father, to set the Father's will fully before the world and so put an end to all prophecies and revelations (Hebrews 1:2).7
Read the original Latin
La 2e partie 30. M : Venons maintenant à la seconde partie. E : « Et en Jésus-Christ son Fils unique », etc.
31. M : Que contient-elle en somme? E : C'est que nous reconnaissions le Fils de Dieu pour notre Sauveur, et le moyen comme il nous a délivrés de la mort et acquis salut.
32. M : Que signifie ce mot « Jésus » par lequel tu le nommes? E : C'est-à-dire Sauveur ; et lui a été imposé de l'Ange par le commandement de Dieu (Matthieu 1:21).
33. M : Cela vaut-il plus que s'il eût reçu ce nom des hommes? E : Oui bien. Car puisque Dieu veut qu'il soit ainsi appelé, il faut qu'il soit tel à la vérité.
Qu'emporte le titre de Christ 34. M : Que veut dire puis après le mot de « Christ »? E : Par ce titre est encore mieux déclaré son office. C'est qu'il a été oint du Père céleste pour être ordonné Roi, Prêtre ou Sacrificateur, et Prophète.
35. M : Comment sais-tu cela? E : Parce que, selon l'Écriture, l'onction doit servir à ces trois choses ; et aussi elles lui sont attribuées plusieurs fois.
36. M : Mais de quel genre d'huile a-t-il été oint? E : Ce n'a pas été d'une huile visible, comme les anciens Rois, Prêtres et Prophètes. Mais ce a été des grâces du Saint-Esprit, qui est la vérité de cette onction extérieure, qui se faisait le temps passé (Ésaïe 61:1 ; Psaumes 45:8).
Royaume de Christ 37. M : Quel est ce Royaume dont tu parles? E : 11 est spirituel et consiste en la Parole et en l'Esprit de Dieu, qui contiennent justice et vie.
Prêtrise de Christ 38. M : Et la prêtrise? E : C'est l'office et autorité de se représenter devant Dieu, pour obtenir grâce et faveur, apaiser son ire, en offrant sacrifice qui lui soit agréable.
Christ Prophète 39. M : Comment est-ce que tu dis Jésus-Christ Prophète? E : Parce qu'en descendant au monde (Ésaïe 7:14), il a été messager et ambassadeur souverain de Dieu son Père pour exposer pleinement la volonté d'icelui au monde et ainsi mettre fin à toutes prophéties et révélations (Hébreux 1:2).
Notes
- 1 ↩French uses E (Écolier/Enfant) for the catechumen; rendered S (Student) for a clear modern dialogue label. « Fils unique » kept as the creed’s ‘only Son’ rather than ‘only-begotten,’ which is more Johannine than this French surface.
- 2 ↩French « tel à la vérité » is « such in truth »: the divine naming entails that Jesus really is Savior, not merely titled so.
- 3 ↩Prêtre ou Sacrificateur names the same priestly office twice: ordinary priest and sacrificial priest. Both terms are retained to mirror the French pairing rather than collapsed into a single English word.
- 4 ↩French «vérité» here means the true substance/reality of the figure, not mere factual correctness; rendered as «truth» in that catechetical sense.
- 5 ↩Source reads «11 est spirituel»; almost certainly a typesetting/OCR corruption of «Il est spirituel» (“It is spiritual”). Translated from that corrected reading.
- 6 ↩French se représenter devant Dieu is rendered appear before God (priestly presentation/appearance), not merely mental representation.
- 7 ↩d'icelui: archaic French demonstrative referring to the Father; rendered as "the Father's will" for clarity rather than a bare "his," which could attach to Christ.
Catechism of the Church of Geneva (Le catéchisme de l'Église de Genève) companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit