Westminster Larger Catechism (1647), Westminster Assembly

Question 45

How doth Christ execute the office of a king?

Christ executeth the office of a king, in calling out of the world a people to himself,a and giving them officers,b laws,c and censures, by which he visibly governs them;d in bestowing saving grace upon his elect,e rewarding their obedience,f and correcting them for their sins,g preserving and supporting them under all their temptations and sufferings,h restraining and overcoming all their enemies,i and powerfully ordering all things for his own glory,j and their good;k and also in taking vengeance on the rest, who know not God, and obey not the gospel.l

How does Christ execute the office of a king?

Christ executes the office of a king, in calling out of the world a people to himself,a and giving them officers,b laws,c and censures, by which he visibly governs them;d in bestowing saving grace upon his elect,e rewarding their obedience,f and correcting them for their sins,g preserving and supporting them under all their temptations and sufferings,h restraining and overcoming all their enemies,i and powerfully ordering all things for his own glory,j and their good;k and also in taking vengeance on the rest, who know not God, and obey not the gospel.l

  1. a. Acts 15:14–16; Genesis 49:10; Psalm 110:3

    Acts 15:14–16

    15:14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15:15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 15:16 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:

    15:14 Simon has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own. 15:15 The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written: 15:16 'After this I will return and rebuild the fallen tent of David. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it,

    Genesis 49:10

    49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

    49:10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his.

    Psalm 110:3

    110:3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.

    110:3 Your people shall be willing on Your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn, to You belongs the dew of Your youth.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  2. b. Ephesians 4:11–12; 1 Corinthians 12:28

    Ephesians 4:11–12

    4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

    4:11 And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 4:12 to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ,

    1 Corinthians 12:28

    12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

    12:28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  3. c. Isaiah 33:22

    Isaiah 33:22

    33:22 For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us.

    33:22 For the LORD is our Judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our King. It is He who will save us.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  4. d. Matthew 18:17–18; 1 Corinthians 5:4–5

    Matthew 18:17–18

    18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. 18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

    18:17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 18:18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

    1 Corinthians 5:4–5

    5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

    5:4 When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, along with the power of the Lord Jesus, 5:5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the Day of the Lord.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  5. e. Acts 5:31

    Acts 5:31

    5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

    5:31 God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior, in order to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  6. f. Revelation 22:12; 2:10

    Revelation 22:12

    22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

    22:12 "Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done.

    Revelation 2:10

    2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

    2:10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  7. g. Revelation 3:19

    Revelation 3:19

    3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

    3:19 Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  8. h. Isaiah 63:9

    Isaiah 63:9

    63:9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

    63:9 In all their distress, He too was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them. In His love and compassion He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  9. i. 1 Corinthians 15:25; Psalm 110:1–2

    1 Corinthians 15:25

    15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

    15:25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.

    Psalm 110:1–2

    110:1 The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. 110:2 The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.

    110:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD said to my Lord: "Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet." 110:2 The LORD extends Your mighty scepter from Zion: "Rule in the midst of Your enemies."

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  10. j. Romans 14:10–11

    Romans 14:10–11

    14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

    14:10 Why, then, do you judge your brother? Or why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. 14:11 It is written: "As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God."

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  11. k. Romans 8:28

    Romans 8:28

    8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

    8:28 And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  12. l. 2 Thessalonians 1:8–9; Psalm 2:8–9

    2 Thessalonians 1:8–9

    1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

    1:8 in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 1:9 They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might,

    Psalm 2:8–9

    2:8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 2:9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

    2:8 Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession. 2:9 You will break them with an iron scepter; You will shatter them like pottery."

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

Related (2)

The Baptist Catechism (1695), parallel to this question

Question 29

How doth Christ execute the office of a king?

Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling, and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.

Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647), parallel to this question

Question 26

How doth Christ execute the office of a king?

Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself in ruling and defending us and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.

Commentaries (9)