The Library
1774 works catalogued century by century, from the literature the Bible was written among to the present — each with a note on what it is, why it lasted, and where to read it.
301–400
1 work
c. 362–363
Greek
Sallustius
A short handbook of pagan belief written for Julian's revival: the nature of the gods, why myths are not to be taken literally, why the world is eternal, why evil comes from us, and what happens to the soul. These things never happened, it says of the myths, but always are.
1501–1600
7 works
1529
German
Martin Luther · 1483–1546
The commandments, creed, Lord's Prayer, and sacraments explained in the simplest possible terms, each section beginning with the question: what does this mean?
1529
German
Martin Luther · 1483–1546
The same material expounded at length for pastors and heads of households, opening with the claim that whatever your heart clings to is your god.
1542, Latin 1545
French
John Calvin · 1509–1564
Instruction by question and answer, opening with the chief end of human life: to know God by whom we were created.
1555–1558, in three sizes
Latin
Peter Canisius · 1521–1597
Three catechisms for different ages, organised around wisdom and justice, and carefully phrased to answer Protestant teaching without naming it.
1563
German
Heidelberger Katechismus
Zacharias Ursinus and Caspar Olevianus
A hundred and twenty-nine questions and answers arranged as guilt, grace, and gratitude — opening with what a person's only comfort in life and death is, and answering in the first person.
1566
Latin
Catechismus ex Decreto Concilii Tridentini
The commission of the Council of Trent
A catechism written for parish priests rather than children, expounding the creed, sacraments, commandments, and Lord's Prayer at length.
1574
Polish
The Minor Reformed Church of Poland
A catechism of the Polish anti-trinitarians, teaching one God the Father, a fully human Christ, believers' baptism, and refusal of the magistrate's sword.
1601–1700
4 works
1640; approved 1642
Latin
Peter Mogila · 1596–1646
A catechism written to answer Lucaris and to arm Orthodox clergy in Poland-Lithuania against Catholic and Protestant argument, structured like a Western catechism.
1646; catechisms 1647
English
The Westminster Assembly
Thirty-three chapters of Reformed doctrine drafted by an assembly of divines during the English Civil War, accompanied by a Larger and a Shorter Catechism whose first question asks what the chief end of man is.
1647
English
The Westminster Assembly
A hundred and seven questions and answers, opening with the chief end of man: to glorify God and to enjoy him for ever.
1651
Vietnamese
Cathechismus
Alexandre de Rhodes · 1593–1660
A catechism in parallel Latin and Vietnamese, published with a dictionary and grammar using a romanised script the Jesuits had developed.
12 of 1774 works