第1章
Luther"sLittleInstructionBook（TheSmallCatechismofMartinLuther）
TranslationbyRobertE。Smith
I。
TheTenCommandments：TheSimpleWayaFatherShouldPresentThemtoHisHouseholdA。TheFirstCommandmentYoumustnothaveothergods。
Q。Whatdoesthismean？
A。Wemustfear，love，andtrustGodmorethananythingelse。
B。TheSecondCommandmentYoumustnotmisuseyourGod"sname。
Q。Whatdoesthismean？
A。WemustfearandloveGod，sothatwewillnotuseHisnametocurse，swear，castaspell，lieordeceive，butwilluseittocalluponHim，praytoHim，praiseHimandthankHiminalltimesoftrouble。
C。TheThirdCommandmentYoumustkeeptheSabbathholy。
Q。Whatdoesthismean？
A。WemustfearandloveGod，sothatwewillnotlookdownonpreachingorGod"sWord，butconsideritholy，listentoitwillingly，andlearnit。
D。TheFourthCommandmentYoumusthonoryourfatherandmother。[Sothatthingswillgowellforyouandyouwilllivelongonearth]。
Q。Whatdoesthismean？
A。WemustfearandloveGod，sothatwewillneitherlookdownonourparentsorsuperiorsnorirritatethem，butwillhonorthem，servethem，obeythem，lovethemandvaluethem。
E。TheFifthCommandmentYoumustnotkill。
Q。Whatdoesthismean？
A。WemustfearandloveGod，sothatwewillneitherharmnorhurtourneighbor"sbody，buthelphimandcareforhimwhenheisill。
F。TheSixthCommandmentYoumustnotcommitadultery。
Q。Whatdoesthismean？
A。WemustfearandloveGod，sothatourwordsandactionswillbecleananddecentandsothateveryonewillloveandhonortheirspouses。
G。TheSeventhCommandmentYoumustnotsteal。
Q。Whatdoesthismean？
A。WemustfearandloveGod，sothatwewillneithertakeourneighbor"smoneyorproperty，noracquireitbyfraudorbysellinghimpoorlymadeproducts，butwillhelphimimproveandprotecthispropertyandcareer。
H。TheEighthCommandmentYoumustnottellliesaboutyourneighbor。
Q。Whatdoesthismean？
A。WemustfearandloveGod，sothatwewillnotdeceivebylying，betraying，slanderingorruiningourneighbor"sreputation，butwilldefendhim，saygoodthingsabouthim，andseethebestsideofeverythinghedoes。
I。TheNinthCommandmentYoumustnotdesireyourneighbor"shouse。
Q。Whatdoesthismean？
A。WemustfearandloveGod，sothatwewillnotattempttotrickourneighboroutofhisinheritanceorhouse，takeitbypretendingtohavearighttoit，etc。buthelphimtokeep&
improveit。
J。TheTenthCommandmentYoumustnotdesireyourneighbor"swife，servant，maid，animalsoranythingthatbelongstohim。
Q。Whatdoesthismean？
A。WemustfearandloveGod，sothatwewillnotreleasehiscattle，takehisemployeesfromhimorseducehiswife，buturgetheytostayanddowhattheyoughttodo。
K。TheConclusiontotheCommandmentsQ。WhatdoesGodsaytousaboutallthesecommandments？
A。ThisiswhatHesays：
``IamtheLordYourGod。IamajealousGod。Iplaguethegrandchildrenandgreat-grandchildrenofthosewhohatemewiththeirancestor"ssin。ButImakewholethosewholovemeforathousandgenerations。""
Q。Whatdoesitmean？
A。Godthreatenstopunisheveryonewhobreaksthesecommandments。
WeshouldbeafraidofHisangerbecauseofthisandnotviolatesuchcommandments。ButHepromisesgraceandallgoodthingstothosewhokeepsuchcommandments。Becauseofthis，we，too，shouldloveHim，trustHim，andwillinglydowhatHiscommandmentsrequire。
PartTwo：TheCreedTheCreed：TheSimpleWayaFatherShouldPresentittoHisHouseholdI。TheFirstArticle：OnCreationIbelieveinGodtheAlmightyFather，CreatorofHeavenandEarth。
Q。Whatdoesthismean？
A。IbelievethatGodcreatedme，alongwithallcreatures。Hegavetome：bodyandsoul，eyes，earsandalltheotherpartsofmybody，mymindandallmysensesandpreservesthemaswell。Hegivesmeclothingandshoes，foodanddrink，houseandland，wifeandchildren，fields，animalsandallIown。EverydayHeabundantlyprovideseverythingIneedtonourishthisbodyandlife。Heprotectsmeagainstalldanger，shieldsanddefendsmefromallevil。HedoesallthisbecauseofHispure，fatherlyanddivinegoodnessandHismercy，notbecauseI"veearneditordeservedit。
Forallofthis，ImustthankHim，praiseHim，serveHimandobeyHim。Yes，thisistrue！
II。TheSecondArticle：OnRedemptionAndinJesusChrist，HisonlySon，ourLord，WhowasconceivedbytheHolySpirit，bornoftheVirginMary，sufferedunderPontiusPilate，wascrucified，diedandwasburied，descendedtoHell，onthethirddayroseagainfromthedead，ascendedtoHeavenandsatdownattherighthandofGodtheAlmightyFather。FromthereHewillcometojudgethelivingandthedead。
Q。Whatdoesthismean？
A。IbelievethatJesusChrististrulyGod，bornoftheFatherineternityandalsotrulyman，bornoftheVirginMary。HeismyLord！Heredeemedme，alostandcondemnedperson，boughtandwonmefromallsins，deathandtheauthorityoftheDevil。ItdidnotcostHimgoldorsilver，butHisholy，preciousblood，Hisinnocentbody——Hisdeath！Becauseofthis，IamHisveryown，willliveunderHiminHiskingdomandserveHimrighteously，innocentlyandblessedlyforever，justasHeisrisenfromdeath，livesandreignsforever。Yes，thisistrue。
III。TheThirdArticle：OnBecomingHolyIbelieveintheHolySpirit，theholyChristianChurch，thecommunityofthesaints，theforgivenessofsins，theresurrectionofthebody，andaneverlastinglife。Amen。
Q。Whatdoesthismean？
A。IbelievethatIcannotcometomyLordJesusChristbymyownintelligenceorpower。ButtheHolySpiritcalledmebytheGospel，enlightenedmewithHisgifts，mademeholyandkeptmeinthetruefaith，justasHecalls，gatherstogether，enlightensandmakesholythewholeChurchonearthandkeepsitwithJesusintheone，truefaith。InthisChurch，Hegenerouslyforgiveseachdayeverysincommittedbymeandbyeverybeliever。Onthelastday，Hewillraisemeandallthedeadfromthegrave。HewillgiveeternallifetomeandtoallwhobelieveinChrist。Yes，thisistrue！
PartThree：TheLord"sPrayerTheOurFatherTheSimpleWayaFatherShouldPresentittoHisHouseholdI。IntroductionOurFather，WhoisinHeaven。
Q。Whatdoesthismean？
A。Inthisintroduction，GodinvitesustobelievethatHeisourrealFatherandweareHisrealchildren，sothatwewillpraywithtrustandcompleteconfidence，inthesamewaybelovedchildrenapproachtheirbelovedFatherwiththeirrequests。
II。TheFirstRequestMayYournamebeholy。
Q。Whatdoesthismean？
A。Ofcourse，God"snameisholyinandofitself，butbythisrequest，wepraythatHewillmakeitholyamongus，too。
Q。Howdoesthistakeplace？
A。WhenGod"sWordistaughtclearlyandpurely，andwhenweliveholylivesasGod"schildrenbaseduponit。Helpus，HeavenlyFather，todothis！ButanyonewhoteachesandlivesbysomethingotherthanGod"sWorddefilesGod"snameamongus。Protectusfromthis，HeavenlyFather！
III。TheSecondRequestYourKingdomcome。
Q。Whatdoesthismean？
A。TrulyGod"sKingdomcomesbyitself，withoutourprayer。Butweprayinthisrequestthatitcometousaswell。
Q。Howdoesthishappen？
A。WhentheHeavenlyFathergivesusHisHolySpirit，sothatwebelieveHisholyWordbyHisgraceandlivegodlyliveshereinthisageandthereineternallife。
IV。TheThirdRequestMayYourwillbeaccomplished，asitisHeaven，somayitbeonEarth。
Q。Whatdoesthismean？
A。Truly，God"sgoodandgraciouswillisaccomplishedwithoutourprayer。Butweprayinthisrequestthatisbeaccomplishedamongusaswell。
Q。Howdoesthishappen？
A。WhenGoddestroysandinterfereswitheveryevilwillandalleviladvice，whichwillnotallowGod"sKingdomtocome，suchastheDevil"swill，theworld"swillandwillofourbodilydesires。ItalsohappenswhenGodstrengthensusbyfaithandbyHisWordandkeepslivingbythemfaithfullyuntiltheendofourlives。ThisisHiswill，goodandfullofgrace。
V。TheFourthRequestGiveusourdailybreadtoday。
Q。Whatdoesthismean？
A。Truly，Godgivesdailybreadtoevilpeople，evenwithoutourprayer。ButweprayinthisrequestthatHewillhelpusrealizethisandreceiveourdailybreadwiththanksgiving。
Q。Whatdoes``DailyBread""mean？
A。Everythingthatnourishesourbodyandmeetsitsneeds，suchas：
Food，drink，clothing，shoes，house，yard，fields，cattle，money，possessions，adevoutspouse，devoutchildren，devoutemployees，devoutandfaithfulrulers，goodgovernment，goodweather，peace，health，discipline，honor，goodfriends，faithfulneighborsandotherthingslikethese。
VI。TheFifthRequestAndforgiveourguilt，asweforgivethoseguiltyofsinningagainstus。
Q。Whatdoesthismean？
A。WeprayinthisrequestthatourHeavenlyFatherwillneitherpayattentiontooursinsnorrefuserequestssuchasthesebecauseofoursinsandbecauseweareneitherworthynordeservethethingsforwhichwepray。YetHewantstogivethemalltousbyHisgrace，becausemanytimeseachdaywesinandtrulydeserveonlypunishment。
BecauseGoddoesthis，wewill，ofcourse，wanttoforgivefromourheartsandwillinglydogoodtothosewhosinagainstus。