Must reading for all who use and love the catechism.  This is not a commentary on the catechism per se, but notes from one of Usinus' students (David Pareus) on Ursinus' classroom lectures on the catechism.  This volume is especially important because Ursinus repeatedly stresses the distinction between law and gospel (Ursinus was hardly a Lutheran) and implies that the law is based upon a prior covenant of works (along the lines of his Larger Catechism).  Ursinus defends the Reformed view of the sacraments against both the Lutheran and Roman positions.  Heidelbergers everywhere should read and use this volume.

Includes essays on the development, theology and sources of our catechism.  Also contains the texts of Ursinus' larger and smaller catechisms.  This is an important study.

Contains an important essay on Olevianus' role in the preparation of the Heidelberg Catechism and a translation of Olevianus' exposition on the articles of faith.

The culmination of a life-time of study.  Great historical background.  Very useful for those who must preach on the catechism.

Nicolaas Gootjes' The Belgic Confession:  Its History and Sources covers a number of important topics, including whether or not Guido (Guy) de Bres is the primary author of the confession -- Gootjes argues that he was.  There are important chapters dealing with the sources of the Belgic Confession (primarily the French Confession) as well as a previously overlooked source, Beza's Catechism.

There is a helpful discussion of the confession's authority in the Dutch Reformed Church.  As the Remonstrants gathered steam in Holland, they began to challenge the authority of the confession, especially because it was used by the orthodox to challenge Arminian doctrine.  Gootjes convincingly shows that the confession was accepted by the churches (and was therefore binding) shortly after it was written, well before the Synod of Dort. The appendix is also helpful and contains the texts of critical correspondence establishing the confession's authorship and authority.

This is an important book, and Dr. Gootjes (a professor at the Canadian Reformed Seminary in Hamilton, Ontario) has given us non-Dutch speakers an important window into the origins of our confession which is a wonderful summary of the biblical faith.

Useful notes for the busy preacher.  Nothing profound, but I still find this volume helpful.

Good treatment of the historical background to the development of the Reformed Churches from someone outside that tradition

A rather sympathetic but interesting biography of the man who killed thousands of Reformed Christians in France, Belgium and Holland.

A fascinating look at the tragic Anabaptist Kingdom of Muenster and its key figures.  This incident explains Reformed and Roman Catholic fears about radical Pentecostals with millennial expectations.  Important backdrop to the Belgic Confession (1561).