Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647), Westminster Assembly

Question 31

What is effectual calling?

Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirita whereby, convincing us of our sin and miseryb enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christc and renewing our willsd he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.e

What is effectual calling?

Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirita whereby, convincing us of our sin and miseryb enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christc and renewing our willsd he does persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.e

  1. a. 2 Timothy 1:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:13–14

    2 Timothy 1:9

    1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

    1:9 He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.

    2 Thessalonians 2:13–14

    2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 2:14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

    2:13 But we should always thank God for you, brothers who are loved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning to be saved by the sanctification of the Spirit and by faith in the truth. 2:14 To this He called you through our gospel, so that you may share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  2. b. Acts 2:37

    Acts 2:37

    2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

    2:37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  3. c. Acts 26:18

    Acts 26:18

    26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

    26:18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.'

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  4. d. Ezekiel 36:26–27

    Ezekiel 36:26–27

    36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

    36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 36:27 And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  5. e. John 6:44–45; Philippians 2:13

    John 6:44–45

    6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

    6:44 "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 6:45 It is written in the Prophets: 'And they will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from Him comes to Me-

    Philippians 2:13

    2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

    2:13 For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

Diff style

Changes in The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 34

No change, but in spelling and punctuation.

No change, but in spelling and punctuation.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 34

What is effectual calling?

Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered to us in the gospel.

Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647), Question 31

What is effectual calling?

Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ and renewing our wills he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 34

What is effectual calling?

Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered to us in the gospel.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 34

What is effectual calling?

Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he does persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered to us in the gospel.

Westminster Shorter Catechism (modernized) (1647), Question 31

What is effectual calling?

Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ and renewing our wills he does persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 34

What is effectual calling?

Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he does persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered to us in the gospel.

Related (2)

Westminster Larger Catechism (1647), parallel to this question

Question 67

What is effectual calling?

Effectual calling is the work of God’s almighty power and grace, whereby (out of his free and special love to his elect, and from nothing in them moving him thereunto ) he doth, in his accepted time, invite and draw them to Jesus Christ, by his word and Spirit; savingly enlightening their minds, renewing and powerfully determining their wills, so as they (although in themselves dead in sin) are hereby made willing and able freely to answer his call, and to accept and embrace the grace offered and conveyed therein.

Question 68

Are the elect only effectually called?

All the elect, and they only, are effectually called; although others may be, and often are, outwardly called by the ministry of the word, and have some common operations of the Spirit; who, for their wilful neglect and contempt of the grace offered to them, being justly left in their unbelief, do never truly come to Jesus Christ.

Commentaries (9)

  • Joseph Alleine, 1672, A Most Familiar Explanation of the Assemblies Shorter Catechism

    What is Effectual Calling? Effectual Calling is the work of Gods Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, inlightning our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and…

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

    What is Effectual Calling? Effectual Calling, is the work of Gods Spirit, whereby, convincing us, of our sin, and misery, enlightning our minds in the knowledg of Christ, and…

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

    What is Effectual Calling? Effectual Calling is the work of Gods Spirit, whereby convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightning our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and…

    Thomas Vincent’s text
  • 1675, An Explicatory Catechism

    What is effectual calling? Effectual calling is the work of Gods Spirit, whereby convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and…

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

    What is effectual Calling? Effectual Calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and…

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

    ROM. 8.30. Them he also called. Quest. XX. What is effectual Calling? Answ. It is a gracious work of the Spirit, whereby he causeth us to embrace Christ freely offered to us in…

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

    What is Effectual Calling? Effectual Calling is the Work of God’s Spirit, whereby convincing us of our Sin and Misery, enlightning our Minds in the Knowledge of Christ, and…

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

    Effectual calling—Effectrix vocatio, Aug. Cruden gives a table setting forth fourteen different uses of this word in Scripture, beginning with the first and simplest use, “And God…

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

    On The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 34, which adapts this question

    Is there an outward call given to all men? Yes. Unto you, O men, I call, Are the special calls of the Spirit the fruits of electing love? Yes. Whom he predestinated, them he also…

    Benjamin Beddome’s text