How starting small with the truth leads to spiritual growth

 Posted at Reformation Scotland:

Published March 20, 2025

Believers grow by feeding on the Word. But when the Word is so rich and complex, where do we make a start? While it makes sense that we need to learn doctrine in order to become more proficient in theology, what we sometimes miss is the connection between knowing the truth and any kind of Christian growth. We cannot really grow in our relationship with God at all without a good doctrinal foundation. The Bible itself makes a distinction between basic truths and those that are more advanced. This is reflected in the age-old practice of catechising — identifying those basic, primary truths and ensuring that new converts, and children, are well instructed in these basics. William Gouge (1575–1653), a member of the Westminster Assembly, noticed the flow of thought in Hebrews 5. From a discussion of the work of Christ as the atoning high priest, the chapter turns to challenge the readers to grow in the faith. “When for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat” (Hebrews 5:12). In the following excerpt, Gouge explains the necessity of catechising and invites us all, whether catechised or catechising, to enjoy the benefits of being properly grounded in the truths of God’s Word.

This phrase, ‘Ye have need that one teach you again,’ etc., is a description of those who were to be instructed in the first principles of the Christian religion. It is apparent from this that the early church, even in the days of the apostles, had forms of catechisms, and a custom of catechising, just as the Jews had the law for their catechism, and its abbreviation (Matthew 22:37–39).

To ‘catechise,’ according to the Greek verb, is to instruct, and that by word of mouth, or by sounding a thing in one’s ears.

Among Christians, to ‘catechise’ is to teach the first principles of Christian religion; a catechism is a brief form of such principles. Such forms there were from the beginning of the New Testament church, as we can see from phrases such as, ‘a form of knowledge’ (Romans 2:20); ‘a form of doctrine’ (Romans 6:17); ‘a form of sound words’ (2 Timothy 1:13); ‘the principles of the doctrine of Christ’ (Hebrews 6:1), as well as ‘the first principles of the oracles of God’ (Hebrews 5:12). This is how Theophilus (Luke 1:4) and Apollos (Acts 10:25) were catechised.

As in the apostle’s time, so in succeeding ages, different churches had their distinct catechisms.

So frequent was the practice of catechising in ancient times that they had ministers set apart for the particular duty of catechising (they were called catechisers). All who were admitted to the church were from time to time catechised, and instructed in the principles of Christian religion. From the time of their entrance into the church till they were judged fit to partake of the sacrament, they were called ‘the catechised,’ or disciples of the catechisers.

Many of the ancient councils made various decrees for catechising. And many of the ancient church fathers made treatises about it.

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