In a very simple way in which the head of a house
is to present it to the household
The First46 Article: On Creation
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
What is this? Answer:
I believe that God has created me together with all that exists. God has given me and still preserves my body and soul: eyes, ears, and all limbs and senses; reason and all mental faculties. In addition, God daily and abundantly provides shoes and clothing, food and drink, house and farm, spouse47 and children, fields, livestock, and all property—along with all the necessities and nourishment for this body and life.48 God protects me against all danger and shields and preserves me from all evil. And all this is done out of pure, fatherly, and divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness of mine at all! For all of this I owe49 it to God to thank and praise, serve and obey him. This is most certainly true.50
The Second51 Article: On Redemption
And52 [I believe] in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended into hell. On the third day he rose [again]; he ascended into heaven, seated at the right hand of God, the almighty Father, from where he will come to judge the living and the dead.
What is this? Answer:
I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father in eternity, and also a true human being, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord. He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned human being. He has purchased and freed me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver but with his holy, precious blood and with his innocent53 suffering and death. He has done all this in order that I may belong to him, live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in eternal righteousness, innocence,54 and blessedness, just as he is risen from the dead and lives and rules eternally. This is most certainly true.
The Third55 Article: On Being Made Holy56
I believe in the Holy Spirit, one holy Christian church, the community of the saints,57 forgiveness of sins, resurrection of the flesh, and eternal life. Amen.
What is this? Answer:
I believe that by my own understanding or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him, but instead the Holy Spirit has called me through the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, made me holy and kept me in the true faith, just as he calls, gathers, enlightens, and makes holy the whole Christian church58 on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one common, true faith. Daily in this Christian church the Holy Spirit abundantly forgives all sins—mine and those of all believers. On the Last Day the Holy Spirit will raise me and all the dead and will give to me and all believers in Christ eternal life. This is most certainly true.
46 Woodcut: God depicted as a bearded man giving a blessing, surrounded by animals and encircled by clouds and the four winds. No caption.
47 Literally, “wife.”
48 Many modern commentators and translators connect “shoes . . . property” to the preceding sentence. However, the Latin translations of 1529, the capitalization of “In addition” (Dazu) in the original text, and the placement of verbs at the end of each sentence throughout this explanation argue for its inclusion with what follows.
49 schüldig.
50 See SC, “Lord’s Prayer,” 21, and “Holy Baptism,” 9, where the phrase is used to translate Titus 3:8*.
51 Woodcut: Christ on the cross, surrounded by clouds and cherubs. No caption.
52 The text corresponds to that used in the 1529 Small Catechism.
53 Unschüldigen: literally, “not owed” or “not guilty.”
54 Unschuld: literally, “something not owed.”
55 Woodcut: The twelve apostles, beneath a dove in a flaming gloriole and billowing clouds, receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost with the tongues of fire coming out of their mouths. No caption. See Acts 2 and Revelation 11:5*.
56 The English word “sanctification” does not preserve the linguistic connection between the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit’s activity. See LC, “Creed,” 35.
57 Literally, “holy ones.”
58 Christenheit. German versions of the Creed predating Luther often use this word to translate ecclesia.