WCF Chapter 1: Holy Scripture
- 1. Theology of the Westminster Confession Adult Sunday School 2017
- 3. God has revealed himself • Generally (general revelation) • In human conscience • As the Creator • As the Provider • Especially (special revelation) • In the Word of God (Scripture) • As God’s final and definitive revelation • To protect the Church from the world, the flesh, and Satan • We cannot know what we must know about God unless he reveals himself to us God’s revelation is Necessary WCF 1.1 Foundations
- 4. The Canon of Scripture • Holy: the written Word of God • Old Testament: 39 books • New Testament: 27 books • All 66 books comprise the Bible • Inspired: the rule of faith and of life • Complete: no Apocrypha or deutero-canon The Bible is Holy, Inspired, and Complete WCF 1.2-3 Canon a rule, a measure Foundations
- 5. Adequate reason and persuasion • Do we have an adequate reason to obey and believe the Bible? • As the Bible’s primary author, God himself is our authority • The testimony of any man or church is inadequate • How do we know the Bible is God’s Word? • Testimony of men • Testimony of Scripture (self-authenticating) • Testimony of the Holy Spirit to our hearts The Bible is Authoritative WCF 1.4-5 Foundations
- 6. The sufficiency of Scripture • Scripture is sufficient for all matters pertaining to our salvation • Christian doctrine • Christian life: law of God and general life principles • Good and necessary consequence • We sometimes need to deduce doctrine and life • Carefully study and meditate on Scripture • Compare different passages • Go no further! • Do not add to (or subtract from) Scripture • Do not bind the conscience with human teachings The Bible is Sufficient WCF 1.6 Foundations
- 7. Scripture and our need • The Bible is sufficient for all our needs, but our needs are very great • Our sin and foolishness has left us blind and deaf to the reading and hearing of God’s Word We need God’s Spirit to Illuminate the Bible • Circumstances concerning church worship and government • Use the light of nature (common wisdom) • Use Christian prudence (sanctified wisdom) We need Wisdom for circumstances not determined by the Bible WCF 1.6 Foundations
- 8. The clarity of Scripture • Bible reading is not always easy. Some parts are harder than others. • We all read the Bible at different levels. Some Christians understand it better than other Christians. • We shouldn’t expect everything God reveals to be easy for humans to grasp, but • Those things necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation are not beyond our grasp • We can expect the Spirit to illuminate the Bible, especially if we seek God through the ordinary means of grace The Bible is Clear WCF 1.7 Foundations
- 9. Texts and translations • Without Bible autographs (i.e., originals), we have copies of copies, but • The Hebrew OT textual tradition has been carefully maintained • The Greek NT has an enormous number of ancient and intact manuscripts • Thus we can determine the original text of the Bible, believe it with confidence, and appeal to it for any religious question • Original languages notwithstanding, every people group deserves a Bible translation to hear, read, and study in their common language The Bible is Authentic WCF 1.8 Foundations
- 10. The supreme judge • The Bible is the most reliable resource for understanding the Bible • We need to read the whole Bible to discern context and understand its teaching • Principle of grammatical-historical interpretation • Author’s intent and historical context • Literary genres and devices • All controversies of religion that need to be settled must be decided by the only infallible standard: the Bible The Bible is Infallible WCF 1.9-10 Foundations Infallible Cannot err
- 11. Summary of key points • The Bible is • Necessary • Holy, Inspired, and Complete • Authoritative • Sufficient • Clear • Authentic • Infallible • To understand, believe, and observe the Bible we need • God’s Spirit to illuminate • God’s Wisdom to guide WCF 1 Foundations
- 12. Consider and discuss 1. What do you know about God from natural revelation? In what way is this knowledge insufficient? 2. If we have the Bible, of what use are creeds and confessions? How should they relate to the Bible? 3. How would you describe the nature of the Bible to your unbelieving friend or family member? 4. What are some common doubts associated with the nature of the Bible? Which do you wrestle with? 5. What else might be confessed today about Holy Scripture? WCF 1 Foundations
- 13. Memorize All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 WCF 1 Foundations
- 14. Going deeper Books • DeYoung, Kevin. Taking God At His Word. (Beginner) • Packer, J.I. Fundamentalism and the Word of God. (Intermediate) • Frame, John. The Doctrine of the Word of God. (Advanced) Articles • Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy (with Exposition) • Articles on Bibliology at Monergism.com. WCF 1 Foundations