THE CATHECHISME. Al Christians shulde know their profession▪ / Teachyng by questyons▪
THE CATHECHISME. Al Christians shulde know their profession▪ / Teachyng by questyons▪
It is the duty of all whom Christ has redeemed by his death that they should be not only servants who obey, but also children who inherit—and so know what the true way of life is, the one God approves, so that they may be able to answer every question about religion and give an account of their faith and profession.✦✦1 And this is the most straightforward method of teaching — one that not only Socrates used in philosophy, but Apollinaris also used in our religion: by asking certain questions, as if pointing things out, the unlearned could be instructed, and those already skilled could be reminded, so they don't forget what they've learned.2 Therefore, considering the benefit we should seek in teaching the young, and also brevity — so that in our entire course of schooling there would be nothing either excessive or lacking — we have put the whole content into a dialogue, so that the subject itself might be easier to grasp, and we might be less constrained in other matters as well. Thus the Master begins to examine his pupil.34
Read the original English
IT is the deutie of them al, whō Christe hath redeemed by hys death, that they not onelye be seruauntes to obey, but also Children to in herite: so to know, which is the true trade of lyfe, & that God lyketh, that thei maye be able to aunswere to euery demaunde of Religion, and to rendre accompte of theyr fayth and profession.
And this is the playnest waye of teachinge: whyche not onelye in Philosophye Socrates, but also in oure Religiō Apolina…ius, hath vsed: that bothe by certaine questyons, as it were by poynctinge, the ignoraunte might be instructed: and the skilful put iu remembraūce, that thei forgette not what thei haue learned. Wether fore hauinge regarde to the profyte, which we ought to seke in teaching of youth: & also to shortnes, that in our… hole Scholyng, ther should be nothyng, either ouer flowyng or wantyng: haue cōueied the whole sōme into a dialogue, that the matter it selfe, might be the plainer to perceiue, & we the lesse stra… in other matters besyde the … ▪ Thus thē beginneth y• Master to appose his scoler.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Gal.4.7;Rom.8.15-Rom.8.17 — So you are no longer a slave but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. Rom.8.15 — For you did not receive a spirit of slavery again to fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, in which we cry, "Abba, Father." Rom.8.16 — The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. Rom.8.17 — And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
- ↩1Pet.3.15 — But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence.
Notes
- 1 ↩Tudor 'trade of life' means the course or way of living, not an occupation; rendered as 'way of life'.
- 2 ↩Source damaged as 'Apolina…ius'; rendered as Apollinaris (also attested as Apollinarius), the most plausible catechetical name behind the lacuna.
- 3 ↩Several lacunae in the witness ('our… hole Scholyng'; 'stra…'; 'besyde the …'). Sense restored as: whole schooling; less straitened; and a truncated 'beside the …' taken as 'besides'.
- 4 ↩'appose' kept as examine-by-questioning (the Tudor school sense of putting a pupil to trial by questions), not modern 'oppose'.
John Ponet's Short Catechisme (1553) 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