Die wet is evangelie: Die Heidelbergse Kategismus steeds aktueel na 450 jaar

Abstract

In die denke van Martin Luther bestaan daar spanning tussen die wet van God en die evangelie. Vir Luther is liefde die eie werk en die wet die vreemde werk van God. Daarteenoor integreer of versoen Johannes Calvyn God se wet met die evangelie. Hy vertolk die openingswoorde van die wet byvoorbeeld as liefdevol en bevrydend en daarom evangelies. Calvyn beskou die wet as die manier waarop ’n Christen sy liefde vir God uitleef en sy dankaarheid teenoor God vir sy verlossing betoon. Calvyn se siening oor die verhouding tussen die wet en die evangelie het ’n betekenisvolle invloed op die Heidelbergse Kategismus se formulering ten opsigte van hierdie saak. Volgens die Kategismus is die wet evangelie, of die vorm wat die evangelie in die lewe van die mens aanneem.

In the thought of Martin Luther tension exists between the law of God and the gospel. Luther regards love as the own work of God and the law as something strange to the Lord. John Calvin, however, integrates Gods law and the gospel to the extent that the opening words of the ten commandments are regarded as words of love and redemption and therefore evangelical. To Calvin the law becomes the way in which a converted Christian lives and shows his gratitude to God for his salvation. Calvin’s view on the relationship between law and gospel had a significant influence on the way in which the Heidelberg Cathecism formulates these two concepts. For the Cathecism the law is gospel or the form in which the gospel takes shape in human life.