Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647), Westminster Assembly

Question 16

Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first transgression?

The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity; all mankind, descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him, in his first transgression.a

Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first transgression?

The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity; all mankind, descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him, in his first transgression.a

  1. a. Genesis 2:16–17; Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:21–22

    Genesis 2:16–17

    2:16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

    2:16 And the LORD God commanded him, "You may eat freely from every tree of the garden, 2:17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die."

    Romans 5:12

    5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

    5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned.

    1 Corinthians 15:21–22

    15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

    15:21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

Diff style

Changes in The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 19

No change, but in spelling and punctuation.

No change, but in spelling and punctuation.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 19

Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first transgression?

The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself but for his posterity, all mankind descending from him by ordinary generation sinned in him, and fell with him in his first transgression.

Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647), Question 16

Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first transgression?

The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity; all mankind, descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him, in his first transgression.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 19

Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first transgression?

The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself but for his posterity, all mankind descending from him by ordinary generation sinned in him, and fell with him in his first transgression.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 19

Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first transgression?

The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself but for his posterity, all mankind descending from him by ordinary generation sinned in him, and fell with him in his first transgression.

Westminster Shorter Catechism (modernized) (1647), Question 16

Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first transgression?

The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity; all mankind, descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him, in his first transgression.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 19

Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first transgression?

The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself but for his posterity, all mankind descending from him by ordinary generation sinned in him, and fell with him in his first transgression.

Related (2)

Westminster Larger Catechism (1647), parallel to this question

Question 22

Did all mankind fall in that first transgression ?

The covenant being made with Adam as a public person, not for himself only, but for his posterity, all mankind descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him in that first transgression.

Question 26

How is original sin conveyed from our first parents unto their posterity?

Original sin is conveyed from our first parents unto their posterity by natural generation, so as all that proceed from them in that way are conceived and born in sin.

Commentaries (10)

  • Hugh Binning, 1659, The Common Principles of the Christian Religion

    Rom. 5. 22. Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, so death past upon all men, for that all have sinned. This is a sad subject to speak upon, yet it…

    Hugh Binning’s text
  • Joseph Alleine, 1672, A Most Familiar Explanation of the Assemblies Shorter Catechism

    Did all Mankind fall in Adams first transgression? The Covenant being made with Adam not only for himself, but for his posterity, all mankind descending from him by ordinary…

    Joseph Alleine’s text
  • Thomas Lye, 1672, The Assemblies Shorter Catechism Drawn out into Distinct Propositions

    Did all mankind fall in Adams first transgression? The Covenant being made with Adam not only for himself, but for his posterity, all mankind, descending from him by ordinary…

    Thomas Lye’s text
  • Thomas Vincent, 1673, An Explicatory Catechism

    Did all Mankind fall in Adams first Transgression? The Covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his Posterity; all Mankind descending from him by ordinary…

    Thomas Vincent’s text
  • 1675, An Explicatory Catechism

    Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first transgression? The Covenant being made with Adam; not only for himself, but for his Posterity; all mankind descending from him by ordinary…

    Its text
  • John Flavel, 1692, An Exposition of the Assembly’s Catechism

    Did all Mankind fall in Adam’s first transgression? The Covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity; all mankind descending from him by ordinary…

    John Flavel’s text
  • Thomas Watson, 1692, A Body of Practical Divinity

    Quest. XII. Did all Mankind fall in Adam’s Transgression? Answ. The Covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his Posterity, all Mankind descending from him by…

    Thomas Watson’s text
  • Matthew Henry, 1703, A Scripture Catechism

    Did all Mankind fall in Adam’s first Transgression? The Covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his Posterity, all Mankind descending from him by ordinary…

    Matthew Henry’s text
  • Alexander Whyte, 1883, A Commentary on the Shorter Catechism

    The covenant—See Answer 12. Adam—A Hebrew word signifying red, ground colour. But the generic term Adam becomes in the case of the first man a denominative. The name may possibly…

    Alexander Whyte’s text
  • Benjamin Beddome, 1752, A Scriptural Exposition of the Baptist Catechism

    On The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 19, which adapts this question

    Are all mankind descended from Adam and Eve? Yes. For Adam called his wife’s name Eve because she was the mother of all living, Was this the case of Adam’s immediate descendants?…

    Benjamin Beddome’s text