Die Kategismus van Calvyn (1545) en dié van Perkins (1590) – enkele vergelykings

Abstract

A comparison between Calvin's Geneva Catechism (1545) and the Catechism of William Perkins, "The foundation of Christian religion" (1590), shows striking differences. These cannot be explained by means of an "anti-Calvinist" stance on the part of Perkins. On the contrary, Perkins regarded himself as a follower of Calvin, which means that a subtle shift occurred within the doctrine of the Calvinist tradition towards the end of the sixteenth century. A comparison of the two catechisms is used here to illustrate the change. By way of introduction com-parisons are made about the addressees and the content of each catechism. With the importance of the Reformation's "sola fide" in mind, the central issue in this article concerns a closer look at the concept of faith in both catechisms.