An Early Lutheran Catechism

Johann Agricola, of Eisleben (1494–1566).
Eine Christliche Kinder zucht, ynn Gottes Wort und Lere. Aus der Schule zu Eisleben.
Wittenberg: Georg Rhaw, 1527. (BRB0670)

The German Protestant Johann Agricola’s volume of instructions for young Christian children represents one of the earliest Lutheran catechisms, issued two years before the publication of Martin Luther’s own small catechism for students, Der Kleine Katechismus. This first edition includes sections on the Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer, the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Supper, and the Trinity. The illustrated decorative woodcut border on the title page by Georg Lemberger (ca. 1490–ca. 1545) includes an architectural frame with columns on each side, putti above, and Jesus Christ on the cross, flanked by the two thieves who were crucified with him, at the bottom of the frame.