Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647), Westminster Assembly

Question 19

What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell?

All mankind by their fall lost communion with Goda are under his wrath and curseb and so made liable to all miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell for ever.c

What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell?

All mankind by their fall lost communion with Goda are under his wrath and curseb and so made liable to all miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell for ever.c

  1. a. Genesis 3:8; Genesis 3:10; Genesis 3:24

    Genesis 3:8

    3:8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.

    3:8 Then the man and his wife heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the breeze of the day, and they hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

    Genesis 3:10

    3:10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

    3:10 "I heard Your voice in the garden," he replied, "and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself."

    Genesis 3:24

    3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

    3:24 So He drove out the man and stationed cherubim on the east side of the Garden of Eden, along with a whirling sword of flame to guard the way to the tree of life.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  2. b. Ephesians 2:2–3; Galatians 3:10

    Ephesians 2:2–3

    2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

    2:2 in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience. 2:3 All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.

    Galatians 3:10

    3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

    3:10 All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  3. c. Lamentations 3:39; Romans 6:23; Matthew 25:41; Matthew 25:46

    Lamentations 3:39

    3:39 Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?

    3:39 Why should any mortal man complain, in view of his sins?

    Romans 6:23

    6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

    6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

    Matthew 25:41

    25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

    25:41 Then He will say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

    Matthew 25:46

    25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

    25:46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

Diff style

Changes in The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 22

No change, but in spelling and punctuation.

No change, but in spelling and punctuation.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 22

What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell?

All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell for ever.

Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647), Question 19

What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell?

All mankind by their fall lost communion with God are under his wrath and curse and so made liable to all miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell for ever.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 22

What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell?

All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell for ever.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 22

What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell?

All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell for ever.

Westminster Shorter Catechism (modernized) (1647), Question 19

What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell?

All mankind by their fall lost communion with God are under his wrath and curse and so made liable to all miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell for ever.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 22

What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell?

All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell for ever.

Related (4)

Westminster Larger Catechism (1647), parallel to this question

Question 27

What misery did the fall bring upon mankind?

The fall brought upon mankind the loss of communion with God, his displeasure and curse; so as we are by nature children of wrath, bond slaves to Satan, and justly liable to all punishments in this world, and that which is to come.

Question 28

What are the punishments of sin in this world?

The punishments of sin in this world are either inward, as blindness of mind, a reprobate sense, strong delusions, hardness of heart, horror of conscience, and vile affections; or outward, as the curse of God upon the creatures for our sakes, and all other evils that befall us in our bodies, names, estates, relations, and employments; together with death itself.

Question 29

What are the punishments of sin in the world to come?

The punishments of sin in the world to come, are everlasting separation from the comfortable presence of God, and most grievous torments in soul and body, without intermission, in hell fire forever.

Question 84

Shall all men die?

Death being threatened as the wages of sin, it is appointed unto all men once to die; for that all have sinned.

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

    What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell? The misery of that estate whereinto man fell is, that all mankind by their fall, lost communion with God, are under his wrath…

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

    What is the misery of that estate, whereinto man fell? All mankind by their fall, lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all miseries in…

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

    What is the Misery of that Estate wherein man Fell? All Mankind by their Fall lost Communion with God, are under his Wrath and Curse, and so made Liable to all Miseries in this…

    Thomas Vincent’s text
  • 1675, An Explicatory Catechism

    What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell? All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all miseries in this…

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

    What is the Misery of that Estate whereinto Man fell? All Mankind by their Fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse; and so made liable to all miseries in this…

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

    Quest. XIII. What is the Misery of that Estate whereinto Man fell? Resp. All Mankind by their Fall lost Communion with God, are under his Wrath and Curse, and so made liable to…

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

    What is the Misery of that Estate whereinto Man fell? All Mankind by their Fall lost Communion with God, are under his Wrath and Curse, and so made liable to all Miseries in this…

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

    All mankind by their fall—On “The Fall,” see Answer 13. lost communion with God—Communion is only possible when there is community of mind, when the communing minds are animated…

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

    On The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 22, which adapts this question

    Is fallen man rendered unworthy of communion with God? Yes. For what communion hath light with darkness? Is fallen man under God’s wrath? Yes. And were by nature the children of…

    Benjamin Beddome’s text