The Commentary of Dr. Zacharias Ursinus on the Heidelberg Catechism

by Zacharias Ursinus, George Washington Williard

“The question of comfort is placed and treated first, because it embodies the design and substance of the catechism. The design is that we may be led to the attainment of sure and solid comfort, both in life and death.” —on Lord’s Day 1

Comfort. To comfort God’s people with instruction in the gospel of Jesus Christ. This was the main reason the Heidelberg Catechism was written. And to that end, George W. Williard's English translation of The Commentary of Dr. Zacharias Ursinus on the Heidelberg Catechism has existed alongside the Catechism since 1851, assisting many generations of believers in plumbing the depths of the biblical truth of comfort expounded in the Catechism.

This 2025 edition of the Commentary is improved in readability and consistency compared to previous editions but still remains faithful to Williard’s original English translation. Bibliographical and explanatory footnotes have also been added to improve the reader’s study. Now in an enhanced format, the Commentary is a theological classic that would find a home in any Christian library.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Reference, Nonfiction, Religion, Devotional, Church History

718 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1985

About the author

Zacharias Ursinus was a sixteenth century German Reformed theologian, born Zacharias Baer in Breslau (now Wrocław, Poland). He became the leading theologian of the Reformed Protestant movement of the Palatinate, serving both at the University of Heidelberg and the College of Wisdom (Collegium Sapientiae). He is best known as the principal author and interpreter of the Heidelberg Catechism.

Reviews

[Christian Herring · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must have for every theology bookshelf. Ursinus lays out many doctrines of the Reformed faith with stunning precision for being so early in the Reformation. He not only lays out the doctrine we affirm, but brings forth common objections (many of which we might still hear today) and answers them according to scholastic argumentation and scriptural evidence.

[Etienne OMNES · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ce livre restera, en dehors de la Bible, un des livres de référence vers lequel je me tournerai pendant toute ma vie. Un ouvrage absolument exceptionnel, un sommet de la tradition protestante.

[Connor Longaphie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leagues better than vandergro (sorry vandergroe-pies)

[Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms · Rating 5 out of 5]

The folks at Reformed Free Publishing Association (RFPA) were kind enough to provide me with a copy of their recent republication of Ursinus’s commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism (CHC) for the sake of review.

Ursinus’s CHC is essential for a deeper understanding of the Heidelberg Catechism, as well as Reformed theology beyond the Palatinate. Of note, the authors of the Westminster Standards would no doubt have been familiar with this work. So this is a book of great significance for Continental and British Reformed Christians (and the inheritors of those respective branches of the Reformed family).

I’ll start with the negatives of this volume, mainly because there are really only two, and I don’t like ending reviews with negative thoughts. The first “negative” is more of a mixed feature. This book is BIG. It’s 7.5 inches wide, 10.5 inches long, and 2 inches thick. This is a negative because I can’t fit it on my main bookshelf, but it’s tied to a positive. The print is reasonably large, making this volume very accessible for people of most qualities of eyesight. The second negative of this volume has nothing to do with RFPA, but with Heidelberg scholarship in general. This volume uses the popular translation by G. W. Williard, which I’ve criticized in previous posts. I won’t restate my criticisms here aside from repeating my call for a more faithful translation of this work.

Now we move to the positives, and there are many.

We’ll begin with the aesthetics. The book is hardcover and lays open reasonably well. As already mentioned, the text is a larger print. It looks really nice on a sufficiently large shelf or even lying on its side. Could it be better? Sure, but most of the improvements I can think of would dramatically hike up the price and defeat the purpose of making the CHC widely accessible.

The real virtue of this book lies in what RFPA has done that makes it notably unique from other print editions (the now out-of-print Netherlands Reformed Congregations edition is what I have in mind). Where there are charts and other such helps in the text, this volume makes them cleaner and more presentable. Some features of the text have been tweaked for greater consistency. The best things here (besides the text, of course) are the study helps. There are not one, but TWO tables of contents. The first is creedal, structured according to the 52 Lord’s Days and the threefold division of Guilt, Grace, and Gratitude. The second is topical, aiding in deeper study on particular topics or questions. RFPA has also added footnotes to aid with deeper study. Some simply guide the reader to works Ursinus references while others are explanatory, both of which are very helpful. The book also includes a Scripture index and an index of names. While these study features aren’t exhaustive, they do wonders for making the CHC accessible to a wider audience.

This new edition of the CHC is truly a gift to the church. RFPA is to be highly commended for their work. While it’s not the ideal as a final scholarly edition of the CHC, it’s a crucial stepping-stone in advancing popular Ursinus scholarship. I believe that no Christian’s library is complete without a copy of this book. If you don’t own a copy yet, I highly recommend that you change that now!

[Isaac · Rating 4 out of 5]

A commentary of crucial importance for anyone studying or teaching from the Heidelberg Catechism. It's chief value is that it gives deeper insight into one of the chief authors of the catechism, and thus provides the careful reader with the ability to better appreciate and understand the catechism in both its doctrine and its limitations. Plenty of value in and of itself, but most valuable as a "behind-the-scenes" insight into the HC.

[Michael Kidd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll admit that giving the commentary on the Heidelberger by the guy who wrote it anything less than 5 stars feels ridiculous and arrogant. But, I only do so due to various theological disagreements I took along the way with both the catechism and this commentary. But, if one is preaching through it, this resource is a must.

[Grant Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended for any Christian wanting to dig into their faith.

[Ronnie Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used this commentary as a resource for a six monthly study by daily devotionals of the Heidelberg Catechism. This commentary is a true treasure and Lord willing I will use it as resource for years to come. The Heidelberg Catechism is one of the greatest contributions to the Christian faith and should be read and studied by all. Dr. Zacharias Ursinus does an amazing job of breaking the Catechism down and has produced a complete systematic study of the work in laymen's terms. This book is not complicated to read or understand and gives us great insight into the Christian life. Get a copy for your library! You won't be sorry.

[Scott Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Question 1. What is your only comfort in life and death? Answer: That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ . . . " Dr. Ursinus was the co-author of the 16th century Heidelberg Catechism. I especially appreciated one of the introductory chapters that defends and explains the Biblical purpose of catechizing. Currently, Ursinus is much mined for his views regarding the imputation of the "active obedience of Christ" to believers (especially Questions 60 & 61). Certainly, much can be gleaned from the German & Dutch (c.f. Klaas Schilder) fathers on this controversial point of doctrine. This commentary is an excellent companion to the catechism and provides the scriptural background to this excellent and highly personalized standard of the Reformed Church.

[Max Benfer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Given that fact that Ursinus wrote the Heidelberg, his own commentary on the Heidelberg is, as you might imagine, a real gem. I would recommend a dose of this every morning over just about any modern "devotional".

[Tyson Froment · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top 10 most important books a Christian can ever read.