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Rating: 
Summary: Decidely WELSian, but Very Good
Review: The explanations and diagrams are helpful and first rate; no other catechism is as in depth with the explanations or has as many diagrams to illustrate theological points. Only the Lutheran Church of Australia's Small Catechism even comes close, with very distant second when it comes to useful diagrams. This Small Catechism with explanation is right up there in overall quality with the LCMS's and the ELS' (Evangelical Lutheran Synod) Small Catechism. Some of the explanations, however, decidedly support Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) positions. For example, any prayer, even grace before a meal, is taught as an "act of worship" and, thus, one should not pray with others with whom he is not in fellowship. This of course is one of the more "extreme" WELS positions being espoused. But then again, this is a WELS catechism! So a reader should be aware of the doctrinal positions being taught when using this catechism. Only two negatives, however, mar this fine production. First, this Catechism uses the NIV translation exclusively as its Bible text. The LCMS's catechism uses the NIV, but favors the NKJV where the NIV strayed from the original text. The ELS catechism uses the NKJV exclusively. Second, the translation of Luther's Small Catechism is a bit breezy and slightly paraphrastic. For this reason I must give this valiant effort 4 stars instead of 5.
Rating:
Summary: Decidely WELSian, but Very Good
Review: The explanations and diagrams are helpful and first rate; no other catechism is as in depth with the explanations or has as many diagrams to illustrate theological points. Only the Lutheran Church of Australia's Small Catechism even comes close, with very distant second when it comes to useful diagrams. This Small Catechism with explanation is right up there in overall quality with the LCMS's and the ELS' (Evangelical Lutheran Synod) Small Catechism. Some of the explanations, however, decidedly support Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) positions. For example, any prayer, even grace before a meal, is taught as an "act of worship" and, thus, one should not pray with others with whom he is not in fellowship. This of course is one of the more "extreme" WELS positions being espoused. But then again, this is a WELS catechism! So a reader should be aware of the doctrinal positions being taught when using this catechism. Only two negatives, however, mar this fine production. First, this Catechism uses the NIV translation exclusively as its Bible text. The LCMS's catechism uses the NIV, but favors the NKJV where the NIV strayed from the original text. The ELS catechism uses the NKJV exclusively. Second, the translation of Luther's Small Catechism is a bit breezy and slightly paraphrastic. For this reason I must give this valiant effort 4 stars instead of 5.
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