tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138907131330259957.post7253868835326217590..comments2022-05-06T06:41:53.361-05:00Comments on Westminster in 180 Days: Day 4: The Holy Scripture, part 3Kevin Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16928605106263140137noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138907131330259957.post-76880170663465578672009-12-23T05:02:15.678-06:002009-12-23T05:02:15.678-06:00On "sentence," the 1993 draft of the Mod...On "sentence," the <a href="http://opc.org/documents/MESV_col.html" rel="nofollow">1993 draft of the Modern English Study Version</a> of the Confession says,<br /><br />The 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.<br /><br />So I would say you did a Michael Jordan on that one.Kevin Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16928605106263140137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138907131330259957.post-38093593677780294242009-12-22T20:15:15.382-06:002009-12-22T20:15:15.382-06:00Westminster Confession, Chapter 1, section 7:
Not...Westminster Confession, Chapter 1, section 7:<br /><br />Not 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.<br /><br />Westminster Confession, Chapter 1, section 8:<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Westminster Confession, Chapter 1, section 9:<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Westminster Confession, Chapter 1, section 10:<br /><br />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.<br /><br />[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.]<br /><br />Westminster Larger Catechism, Question 5<br /><br />Q.5 What to the Scriptures primarily teach?<br />A.5 The Scriptures primarily teach, what man should believe about God, and what duty God requires of man.Petehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03172977757828307423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138907131330259957.post-38599789449311625112009-11-03T12:52:33.053-06:002009-11-03T12:52:33.053-06:00Scripture Index to the Westminster Standards<a href="http://www.all-of-grace.org/pub/pribble/scriptindex3.html" rel="nofollow">Scripture Index to the Westminster Standards</a>Kevin Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16928605106263140137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138907131330259957.post-47620694879281596712009-11-03T12:50:01.417-06:002009-11-03T12:50:01.417-06:00Eph 2:20 is also used in chapter 31, "Of Syno...Eph 2:20 is also used in chapter 31, "<a href="http://www.the-highway.com/WCFChXXXI.html" rel="nofollow">Of Synods and Councils</a>," section 4:<br /><br />All 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.<br /><br />Also in Larger Catechism Q.3<br /><br />Q. 3. What is the Word of God?<br />A. The holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the Word of God, <b>the only rule of faith and obedience</b>.<br /><br />So I get the feeling that in Eph. 2:20, "apostles and prophets" is used as <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/synecdoche" rel="nofollow">synecdoche</a> for the whole of <b>inspired Scripture</b>. Just like the phrase "<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.%205:17;%207:12;%2011:13;%2022:40;%20Luke%2016:16;%20John%201:45;%20Acts%2024:14;%2028:23;%20Romans%203:21&version=NKJV" rel="nofollow">law and prophets</a>" is not meant to exclude the Psalms, Proverbs, etc.<br /><br />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.Kevin Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16928605106263140137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138907131330259957.post-85622371440064602072009-11-03T12:29:43.081-06:002009-11-03T12:29:43.081-06:00Is there anywhere an index of the scriptures used ...Is there anywhere an index of the scriptures used as proof texts in the Westminster Standards?carolwilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03118891398027881369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138907131330259957.post-7976506979123928532009-11-03T08:47:03.519-06:002009-11-03T08:47:03.519-06:00WCF 1.10 - I agree with the confession, but wonder...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, <br />"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."Kalebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16704907027249452578noreply@blogger.com