Keach's Catechism facts for kids
Keach's Catechism is a special book of questions and answers. It helps people learn the basic ideas of the Reformed Baptist Christian faith. Think of it like a simple guide to understanding their beliefs. It is also known as the 1677 Baptist Catechism or 1693 Baptist Catechism.
This catechism is a lot like older ones, such as the Heidelberg Catechism and Westminster Catechism. The main difference is how it talks about baptism. Keach's Catechism was created after the 1677 Baptist Confession. This Confession was a statement of beliefs. Over 100 Baptist churches in England and Wales later agreed to it. It became known as the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith. Important leaders like Hanserd Knollys, William Kiffin, and Benjamin Keach signed it.
English Particular Baptists wrote this Confession. They wanted to clearly explain their Christian faith from a Baptist point of view. Benjamin Keach, one of the preachers who helped write the Confession, is often given credit for Keach's Catechism. However, it was probably put together by William Collins. He worked with Keach on the Confession. The British Baptists officially published the catechism in 1693. Later, in 1742, a group in America called the Philadelphia Baptist Association also adopted the Confession.
Different Versions of the Catechism
Over time, Keach's Catechism appeared in different versions. Some versions had 114 questions, while others had 118. It seems the shorter 114-question version was the first one. The longer version came out later.
Here are some of the main changes in the longer version:
- Question 2 was replaced. The new question became the famous "What is the chief end of man?"
- The original question 2 was "Ought everyone to believe there is a God?"
- A new question 5 was added: "How do we know that the Bible is the Word of God?"
- Another new question, number 89, was added: "What then is the purpose of the law since the fall?"
- Question 99 was added: "How do Baptism and the Lord’s Supper differ from the other ordinances of God?"
- The question that was number 103 in the shorter version was removed. This question asked, "Who are the proper subjects of this ordinance [the Lord's Supper]?"
- Two new questions were added: number 105, "What is the visible church?" and number 106, "What is the invisible church?"
There was also a small but interesting change in question 46 (or 47 in the longer version). The original asked, "What is the sum of the ten commandments?" The changed version asked, "Where is the obedience of faith given in summary form?" This change might show a slightly different way of thinking about faith and rules.
