by Eberhard Busch
Wm. B. Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, Mich. 363 pages
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is lately giving a great deal of attention to our confessional statements. The Belhar Confession of South Africa has been much debated and will once again come to a vote at the 2014 General Assembly. At that same General Assembly, a new translation of the venerable Heidelberg Catechism will be considered. Heidelberg was written in 1563 and remains a compelling Reformed witness to the central concerns of the Christian faith. That alone is astonishing (and probably debatable among some), but Eberhard Busch shows why Heidelberg is such a valuable theological conversation partner. He is not content with mere historical explanation or interpretation. Rather, Busch enters into a rich theological conversation around the theme of God’s freedom and human freedom. In this he is interested in engaging what it is to be Christian in our time. He writes, “The primary purpose is not to understand the Heidelberg Catechism, but rather through it to understand what it means for us to believe in the merciful and just triune God.” This is a first-rate theological exploration on freedom: God’s freedom and human freedom. It deserves a wide reading, especially among those who will be considering the new translation.
