A Must-Read for Heidel-lovers
R. Scott Clark, The Heidelberg Catechism: A Historical, Theological & Pastoral Commentary. Bellingham: Lexham Academic, 2025. Hardcover, 1060 pages.
It’s a strange thing that even though the Heidelberg Catechism is one of our confessions, so little has been written on it. Sure, we hear sermons on it each Sunday, but where are the commentaries digging deeper into some of the theological issues? We have had books of catechism sermons published (e.g. Stam, Wieske) but, so far as I can tell, there has never been a true commentary from our circles.
While R. Scott Clark isn’t Canadian Reformed, he is a minister in the United Reformed Churches, sister churches of the CanRC. He recently retired from teaching at Westminster Seminary California. He is well-known for his website, the Heidelblog and its associated enterprises.
This commentary is a massive achievement – over 900 pages of exposition and interaction with the Catechism. It explains the historical background of each Lord’s Day. Clark is especially concerned to give authority to the voice of Zacharias Ursinus, the principal author of the Catechism. He tackles all the usual questions and issues, but also addresses newer ones. Here’s a list of some that I found interesting:
- What about some who reject thankfulness as the source of the Christian life? (p.34; 601)
- How should we evaluate the rejection of the doctrine of the eternal generation of the Son? (p.236ff.)
- What about cremation? (pp.288-289)
- What should we think about postmillennialism? (pp.339-342; 873-874)
- What about a two-stage doctrine of salvation, where justification is by faith alone, but “final salvation” is through works? (pp.390-392; 421-422)
- How should we evaluate presumptive regeneration? (pp.510-513)
- Does the Bible give warrant for the practice of intinction in the Lord’s Supper? (pp.534-535)
- Is it accurate to call the Lutheran view of Christ’s presence in the Lord’s Supper “consubstantiation”? (pp.544-545)
- Does the Heidelberg Catechism misrepresent Roman Catholic teaching in QA 80? (pp.554-561)
- Is paedocommunion Reformed and biblical? (pp.563-565)
- What about theonomy? (pp.651-652)
- Is it permissible to have images of Christ for the instruction of little children? (pp.682-688)
- Does our Catechism teach that we must always correct everyone who abuses the name of the LORD? (pp.705-706)
- May we pray to the Son and the Spirit or to the Father only? (p.857)
I agreed with Clark on most his answers, but with a book this large there are always going to be some places where confessionally Reformed people can and will dissent. Clark isn’t afraid to touch on today’s controversial issues, so I do wonder why he didn’t discuss theistic evolution when treating Lord’s Day 9.
So who is this book for? Anyone who loves the Heidelberg Catechism! It’s written by a theologian and it’s theologically responsible, but it’s also accessible to a wider audience. Especially those who teach and preach our Catechism will undoubtedly find it to be a useful resource. Perhaps it will inspire someone from our circles to write a commentary as well.
Originally published in Clarion 75.9 (July 3, 2026)
