Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 1, section 7
VII. All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all:p yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation are so clearly propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.q
p. 2 Peter 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things: in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
q. Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. ver.130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
Westminster Confession, Chapter 1, section 8
VIII. The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language of the people of God of old), and the New Testament in Greek (which, at the time of the writing of it, was most generally known to the nations), being immediately inspired by God, and, by His singular care and providence, kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentical;r so as, in all controversies of religion, the Church is finally to appeal unto them.s But, because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who have right unto, and interest in the Scriptures, and are commanded, in the fear of God, to read and search them,t therefore they are to be translated in to the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come,u that, the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship Him in an acceptable manner;w and, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, may have hope.x
r. Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
s. Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Acts 15:15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written.
John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. ver.46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
t. John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
u. 1 Corinthians 14:6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? ver.9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. ver.11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. ver.12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. ver.24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: ver.27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most three, and that by course; and let one interpret. ver.28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
w. Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
x. Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning; that we, through patience and comfort of the scriptures, might have hope.
Westminster Confession, Chapter 1, section 9
IX. The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself: and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one), it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly.y
y. 2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. ver.21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Acts 15:15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up.
Westminster Confession, Chapter 1, section 10
X. The supreme judge by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture.z
z. Matthew 22:29,31. Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying.
Ephesians 2:20. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone. With Acts 28:25. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Isaiah the prophet unto our fathers.
Westminster Larger Catechism, Q.5
Q. 5. What do the Scriptures principally teach?
A. The Scriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.n
2 Timothy 1:13. Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
WCF 1.10 - I agree with the confession, but wonder about the prooftext. How does Eph. 2:20 relate? Also, I was thinking about John 16:13,
ReplyDelete"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come."
Is there anywhere an index of the scriptures used as proof texts in the Westminster Standards?
ReplyDeleteEph 2:20 is also used in chapter 31, "Of Synods and Councils," section 4:
ReplyDeleteAll synods or councils, since the apostles' times, whether general or particular, may err; and many have erred. Therefore they are not to be made the rule of faith, or practice; but to be used as a help in both.
Also in Larger Catechism Q.3
Q. 3. What is the Word of God?
A. The holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the Word of God, the only rule of faith and obedience.
So I get the feeling that in Eph. 2:20, "apostles and prophets" is used as synecdoche for the whole of inspired Scripture. Just like the phrase "law and prophets" is not meant to exclude the Psalms, Proverbs, etc.
We saw John 16:13 yesterday in section 5 of chapter one of the Confession and in Larger Catechism Q.4. In both places it is used to show that the Spirit allows us to see that the Scripture is the Word of God. It is not proving the claim that we are divinely inspired as the Apostles were, that we are receiving new content on the same level as the Scriptures.
Scripture Index to the Westminster Standards
ReplyDeleteWestminster Confession, Chapter 1, section 7:
ReplyDeleteNot all the things in Scripture are equally plain, or clear to all people. But, what we need to know, believe, and observe to be saved is so clearly written somewhere or other in Scripture that the uneducated, as well as the educated, using ordinary means, may learn to understand them well enough.
Westminster Confession, Chapter 1, section 8:
The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, the native language of the people of God at that time. The New Testament was written in Greek which was the most common language at the time it was written. These were immediately inspired by God, and kept pure through the ages by His singular care and providence, so they are authentic. Therefore, whenever there are religious controversies the Church is to make it's final appeal to the Scriptures. However, not all the people of God know the original languages of the Scriptures. But, the people of God have a right to, and an interest in the Scriptures, and they are commanded, in the fear of God, to read and search them. So, the scriptures are to be translated into the common language of every nation where they go. This is so that the word of God may live richly in all, so that they may worship him in an acceptable manner, and so that they may have hope through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures.
Westminster Confession, Chapter 1, section 9:
The infallible standard for interpreting Scripture is the Scripture itself. So, when there is a question about the meaning of any Scripture (which is all one Scripture, not many Scriptures) it must me studied and known by studying and knowing other places in the Scripture which speak more clearly.
Westminster Confession, Chapter 1, section 10:
Only the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scriptures can be the supreme judge by which all controversies of religion are determined. All decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits are to be examined with no other judge but the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scriptures whose decision we are to trust.
[The second half of section 10 (what I tried to summarize in my second sentence) was the most difficult part of the days reading. I ended up deciding that "sentence" was the kind of sentence a judge gives, i.e. a decision, and not a thing that begins with a capital letter, ends with a period (or a question mark, or exclamation point), and conveys information.]
Westminster Larger Catechism, Question 5
Q.5 What to the Scriptures primarily teach?
A.5 The Scriptures primarily teach, what man should believe about God, and what duty God requires of man.
On "sentence," the 1993 draft of the Modern English Study Version of the Confession says,
ReplyDeleteThe supreme judge by whom all controversies of religion are to be settled and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and claims to private revelations are to be examined, can be only the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture. With His decision we are to be satisfied.
So I would say you did a Michael Jordan on that one.