The document summarizes key points about the theology of the Westminster Confession regarding the Holy Scripture: - The Bible is necessary, holy, inspired, complete, and authoritative. It is the final and definitive revelation from God. - The Bible contains 66 books - 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. - The Bible is sufficient for all matters of salvation, doctrine, and the Christian life. While it needs the Holy Spirit's illumination, it is clear and authentic. - All religious controversies must be decided by the infallible standard of the Bible alone. Creeds and confessions should relate to and not contradict what is in the Bible.

1. Theology of the
Westminster Confession
Adult Sunday School
2017

2. The Holy Scripture
Foundations
WCF
1

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