Providence

A prince, a pastor and a professor come to Heidelberg and effect theological change in the castle, church and college just as God had ordained to occur. Reformation had been occurring across Europe when Frederick III, surnamed Frederick the Pious (1515-1576), became Elector of the Palatinate in 1559. Max Gobel wrote, "The Heidelberg Catechism may be regarded as the flower and fruit of the entire German and French Reformation; it has Lutheran fervor, Melanchthonian clearness, Zwinglian simplicity, and Calvinistic fire blended into one . . ," giving evidence that Elector Frederick III's desire for unity was accomplished in both the formation and publication of the Heidelberg Catechism. Tracing the Hand of God (His Providence) through these three men is intended to help today's believer understand that God is both Omnipotent and Omnibenevolent, that these two are not at odds with each other. The problem of pain is dealt with from a catechetical position using these three main composers of the Heidelberg as examples of God's Rule and Care for His Creation, His Church and His child/ren.