The Baptist Catechism

    Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647), Westminster Assembly

    Question 34

    What is adoption?

    Adoption is an act of God’s free gracea whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges, of the sons of God.b

    What is adoption?

    Adoption is an act of God’s free gracea whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges, of the sons of God.b

    1. a. 1 John 3:1

      1 John 3:1

      3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

      3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.

      King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

    2. b. John 1:12; Romans 8:17

      John 1:12

      1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

      1:12 But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God-

      Romans 8:17

      8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

      8:17 And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ-if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.

      King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

    Diff style

    Changes in The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 37

    No change, but in spelling and punctuation.

    No change, but in spelling and punctuation.

    The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 37

    What is adoption?

    Adoption is an act of God’s free grace, whereby we are received into the number and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God.

    Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647), Question 34

    What is adoption?

    Adoption is an act of God’s free grace whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges, of the sons of God.

    The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 37

    What is adoption?

    Adoption is an act of God’s free grace, whereby we are received into the number and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God.

    The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 37

    What is adoption?

    Adoption is an act of God’s free grace, whereby we are received into the number and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God.

    Westminster Shorter Catechism (modernized) (1647), Question 34

    What is adoption?

    Adoption is an act of God’s free grace whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges, of the sons of God.

    The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 37

    What is adoption?

    Adoption is an act of God’s free grace, whereby we are received into the number and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God.

    Related (1)

    Westminster Larger Catechism (1647), parallel to this question

    Question 74

    What is adoption?

    Adoption is an act of the free grace of God, in and for his only Son Jesus Christ, whereby all those that are justified are received into the number of his children, have his name put upon them, the Spirit of his Son given to them, are under his fatherly care and dispensations, admitted to all the liberties and privileges of the sons of God, made heirs of all the promises, and fellow heirs with Christ in glory.

    Commentaries (9)

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

      What is Adoption? Adoption is an act of Gods free grace, whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the priviledges of the sons of God.

      Joseph Alleine’s text

    • Thomas Lye, 1672, The Assemblies Shorter Catechism Drawn out into Distinct Propositions

      What is Adoption? Adoption is an act of Gods Free-grace, whereby, we are received into the number, and have right to all the priviledges of the Sons of God.

      Thomas Lye’s text

    • Thomas Vincent, 1673, An Explicatory Catechism

      What is Adoption? Adoption is an Act of Gods free Grace, whereby we are received into the Number, and have a right unto all the Priviledges of the Sons of God.

      Thomas Vincent’s text

    • 1675, An Explicatory Catechism

      What is Adoption? Adoption is an act of Gods free-grace, whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the Priviledges of the Sons of God.

      Its text

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

      What is Adoption? Adoption is an act of God’s Free-grace, whereby we are received into the number, and have a Right to all the Priviledges of the Sons of God.

      John Flavel’s text

    • Thomas Watson, 1692, A Body of Practical Divinity

      Joh. 1.12. To them he gave power to become the sons of GOD. Having spoken of the great Points of Faith and Justification, the next is Adoption: 1\. The Qualification of the…

      Thomas Watson’s text

    • Matthew Henry, 1703, A Scripture Catechism

      What is Adoption? Adoption is an Act of God’s Free Grace, whereby we are received into the Number, and have a Right to all the Priviledges of the Sons of God.

      Matthew Henry’s text

    • Alexander Whyte, 1883, A Commentary on the Shorter Catechism

      Adoption is an act whereby a man takes into his family one who was not originally a member of it, and gives him the standing and privileges of a son. “Neither is there only a…

      Alexander Whyte’s text

    • Benjamin Beddome, 1752, A Scriptural Exposition of the Baptist Catechism

      On The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 37, which adapts this question

      Are some the sons of God by creation? Yes. All the sons of God shouted for joy, Do the saints receive the nature of sons? Yes. They are made partakers of a divine nature, Are…

      Benjamin Beddome’s text