Sinclair Ferguson

and answering and asking questions.

And some of them looked back to that incident when the Lord Jesus was 12 years old and drew the implication that what Jesus was actually sitting at was a kind of catechism class where already

There was teaching by way of question and answer.

Otherwise, what would a 12-year-old be doing?

Giving answers and asking questions.

Now, I don't think you can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that that's exactly what was happening.

But actually, you don't find that in the modern commentaries.

And probably one of the reasons is because the modern commentators are not very familiar

with catechisms.

So I've always found that really a very stimulating and interesting thought that that kind of instruction actually goes right back into the days of the Lord Jesus himself.

And if that's true, then how valuable it is for us today.

And I think there are many, I mean, I think of one or two particular illustrations of ways in which there are really stunning illustrations of just how valuable that catechetical instruction is.

Well, because that's the great question, isn't it?

And the other interesting thing about, many interesting things about catechisms, but one of the challenging things is how do you ask the right question?

because the right question actually depends on the right answer, not the other way around.

So unless you know what is absolutely central, you can't actually ask the central question.

But then the next question is, how does the answer lead on to the next question?

And I think that's the genius of the question and answer.

Number one, man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.

And there, they are partly resting on a tradition of theological thinking that, for example, you get in the opening chapter of Calvin's Institutes.