The Heidelberg Catechism

Question 35. What is the meaning of "conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary"?

Note: This question is found in the section headed "Lord's Day 14" in Part Three which deals with Man's Redemption.

Answer: That the eternal Son of God, who is1 and continues true and eternal God,2 took upon Himself the very nature of man, of the flesh and blood of the virgin Mary,3 by the operation of the Holy Ghost;4 so that He might also be the true seed of David,5 like unto His brethren in all things,6 except for sin.7

Question 36. What benefit do you receive from the holy conception and birth of Christ?

Answer: That He is our Mediator,8 and with His innocence and perfect holiness covers, in the sight of God, my sin, wherein I was conceived.9

Scriptural support

1 John 1:1; Rom. 1:3-4.

2 Rom. 9:5.

3 Gal. 4:4; John 1:14.

4 Matt. 1:18-20; Luke 1:35.

5 Psa. 132:11 .

6 Phil. 2:7.

7 Heb. 4:15: 1 John 5:20.

8 Heb. 2:16-17.

9 Psa. 32:1; 1 John 1:9.

standard citation for this article:
“The Heidelberg Catechism”, 7 Dec 2008, Gilnahirk Baptist Church Web site. http://www.gilnahirkbaptist.org.uk/resources/worship/heidelberg.035-036.php (accessed 12 Mar 2010).

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The text is based on an HTML adaption of the e-text version provided by The Christian Classsics Ethereal Library (CCEL). You can read a brief History of the Heidelberg Catechism in Cyclopedia Of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, by James Strong & John McClintock.

The text is also available at the Website of the Canadian and American Reformed Churches Book of Praise: Heidelberg Catechism, revised 2004.

Note. This Catechism is fully based on the Scriptures. The references to Scripture are indicated in parentheses with a letter. For example, the letter (a) points to the texts (a) placed after the answer.

Carl R. Trueman writes about the catechism, "I was asked recently what I read to keep myself sane (if indeed I am such), and I responded that the Heidelberg Catechism, with its pastoral overview of the basics of the Christian faith, has become my constant companion over the years. . . . the Catechism covers the Apostle's Creed, the Ten Commandments, and the Lord's Prayer. It is pretty basic material. It takes less than an hour to read, but more than a lifetime to master." ("A Lesson from Peter the Barber" (Minority Report), Themelios, 34:1 (April 2009): 4-5)