Of the Baptist Catechism
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Question What is the word of God?
Answer The holy scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the word of God, and the only certain rule of faith and obedience. 1
[1] 2 Timothy 3:16; Ephesians 2:20

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Are the scriptures of the Old and New Testament the word of God?
Yes.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
2 Timothy 3:16

Might not this revelation be imposed upon us by evil spirits?
No.

For if Satan be divided against himself how shall his kingdom stand,
Matthew 12:26

Might it not be intruded upon us by wicked and designing men?
No.

Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles,
Matthew 7:16

Might it not be the fruit of pious craft in good men?
No.

I say the truth in Christ, I He not,
Romans 9:1


Were holy men then moved to speak what they did?
Yes.

Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost,
2 Peter 1:21

Were they moved to write what they spoke?
Yes.

The Lord said, write the vision, make it plain upon the tables,
Habakkuk 2:2

Does God own what men have thus written as his?
Yes.

I have written to him the great things of my law,
Hosea 8:12

Were the writings of the Old Testament inspired?
Yes.

For the prophecy came not of old times by the will of man,
2 Peter 1:21

And may the same be affirmed of those of the New?
Yes.

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God sent by his angel to his servant
Revelation 1:1


Were the penmen of the sacred scriptures satisfied of their own inspiration?
Yes.

The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me,
2 Samuel 23:3

But might they not be deceived?
No.

We have not followed cunningly devised fables,
2 Peter 1:16

Did they write what they knew?
Yes.

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you,
1 John 1:3

And what others who were their contemporaries knew?
Yes.

For this thing was not done in a corner,
Acts 26:26

Did they take any undue methods to gain credit?
No.

My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom,
1 Corinthians 2:4

Had they no secular aims?
No.

For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach,
1 Timothy 4:10


Were the divine writings confirmed by miracles?
Yes.

God also bearing them witness with signs and wonders,
Hebrews 2:4

Did the gospel gain early credit?
Yes.

Their sound went out into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world,
Romans 10:18

Have many confirmed and sealed it with their blood?
Yes.

They were slain for the word of God,
Revelation 6:9

And hath it a witness in the heart of every true christian?
Yes.

For he that believeth hath the witness in himself,
1 John 5:10


Is the word of God a rule?
Yes.

It is a light to our feet, and a lamp to our path,
Psalm 119:105

Do we need such a rule?
Yes.

For we all like sheep have gone astray,
Isaiah 53:6

Is the word of God a sufficient rule?
Yes.

The law of the Lord is perfect,
Psalm 19:7

Is it a plain rule?
Yes.

The words of his mouth are all plain to him that understandeth,
Proverbs 8:8–9

Is it an extensive rule?
Yes.

The commandment is exceeding broad,
Psalm 119:96

Is it an abiding rule?
Yes.

The word of the Lord endureth for ever,
1 Peter 1:23

And is it the only rule?
Yes.

For if any man shall add to these things, God will add to him the plague written in this book,
Revelation 22:18


Are not unwritten traditions a rule?
No.

Ye have made the commandment of God of none effect by your traditions,
Matthew 15:6

Is the authority of the church a rule?
No.

For our faith should not stand in the wisdom of men,
1 Corinthians 2:5

Are the sentiments of great men a rule?
No.

The prophet and the priest have erred,
Isaiah 28:7

Is the light of nature a sufficient rule?
No.

For it is said of those that were guided by it, the way of peace they have not known,
Romans 3:17

Is the light within a certain rule?
No.

The way of man is not in himself,
Jeremiah 10:23

Are not the examples of many a rule?
No.

Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil,
Exodus 23:2

Are not the examples of the good a sufficient rule?
No.

We must be followers of them only as they are of Christ,
1 Corinthians 11:1

May not what angels say be depended upon as a certain rule?
No.

Though an angel from heaven preach any other gospel to you, let him be accursed,
Galatians 1:8

Or a voice from heaven?
No.

For we have a more sure word of prophecy,
2 Peter 1:19


Is it necessary then that the scriptures should be translated?
Yes.

For if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you,
1 Corinthians 14:6

Should we readily receive and embrace them?
Yes.

They received the word with all readiness of mind,
Acts 17:11

And should we make them our rule?
Yes.

Let us walk by the same rule,
Philippians 3:16

From A Scriptural Exposition of the Baptist Catechism

The Westminster Larger Catechism Copy a link to this section

#3 Copy this
Question What is the word of God?
Answer The holy scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the word of God, 1 the only rule of faith and obedience. 2
[1] 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:19–21
[2] Ephesians 2:20; Revelation 22:18–19; Isaiah 8:20; Luke 16:29, 31; Galatians 1:8–9; 2 Timothy 3:15–16

#4 Copy this
Question How doth it appear that the scriptures are the word of God?
Answer The scriptures manifest themselves to be the word of God, by their majesty 1 and purity; 2 by the consent of all the parts, 3 and the scope of the whole, which is to give all glory to God; 4 by their light and power to convince and convert sinners, to comfort and build up believers unto salvation: 5 but the Spirit of God bearing witness by and with the scriptures in the heart of man, is alone able fully to persuade it that they are the very word of God. 6
[1] Hosea 8:12; 1 Corinthians 2:6–7, 13; Psalm 119:18, 129
[2] Psalms 12:6; 119:140
[3] Acts 10:43; 26:22
[4] Romans 3:19, 27
[5] Acts 18:28; Hebrews 4:12; James 1:18; Psalm 19:7–9; Romans 15:4; Acts 20:32
[6] John 16:13–14; 1 John 2:20, 27; John 20:31