Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647), Westminster Assembly

Question 7

What are the decrees of God?

The decrees of God are, his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.a

What are the decrees of God?

The decrees of God are, his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.a

  1. a. Ephesians 1:4, 11; Romans 9:22–23

    Ephesians 1:4; Ephesians 1:11

    1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

    1:4 For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love 1:11 In Him we were also chosen as God's own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,

    Romans 9:22–23

    9:22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 9:23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

    9:22 What if God, intending to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the vessels of His wrath, prepared for destruction? 9:23 What if He did this to make the riches of His glory known to the vessels of His mercy, whom He prepared in advance for glory-

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

Diff style

Changes in The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 10

No change, but in spelling and punctuation.

No change, but in spelling and punctuation.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 10

What are the decrees of God?

The decrees of God are his eternal purpose according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.

Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647), Question 7

What are the decrees of God?

The decrees of God are, his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 10

What are the decrees of God?

The decrees of God are his eternal purpose according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 10

What are the decrees of God?

The decrees of God are his eternal purpose according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.

Westminster Shorter Catechism (modernized) (1647), Question 7

What are the decrees of God?

The decrees of God are, his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 10

What are the decrees of God?

The decrees of God are his eternal purpose according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.

Related (2)

Westminster Larger Catechism (1647), parallel to this question

Question 12

What are the decrees of God?

God’s decrees are the wise, free, and holy acts of the counsel of his will, whereby, from all eternity, he hath, for his own glory, unchangeably foreordained whatsoever comes to pass in time, especially concerning angels and men.

Question 13

What hath God especially decreed concerning angels and men?

God, by an eternal and immutable decree, out of his mere love, for the praise of his glorious grace, to be manifested in due time, hath elected some angels to glory; and in Christ hath chosen some men to eternal life, and the means thereof: and also, according to his sovereign power, and the unsearchable counsel of his own will (whereby he extendeth or withholdeth favor as he pleaseth), hath passed by and foreordained the rest to dishonor and wrath, to be for their sin inflicted, to the praise of the glory of his justice.

Commentaries (10)

  • Hugh Binning, 1659, The Common Principles of the Christian Religion (3 parts)

    Eph. 1, Who worketh all things after the Counsell of his own will. Job 23. He is in one mind, & who can turn him, &c. Having spoken something before of God, in his Nature, and…

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

    What are the decrees of God? The decrees of God are his eternal purpose according to the counsel of his Will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath fore-ordained whatsoever comes to…

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

    What are the Decrees of God? The Decrees of God are his Eternal purpose, according to the Counsel of his own Will, whereby, for his own Glory, he hath fore-ordained whatsoever…

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

    What are the Decrees of God? The Decrees of God are his Eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his Will, whereby for his own glory he hath fore-ordained whatever comes to…

    Thomas Vincent’s text
  • 1675, An Explicatory Catechism

    What are the Decrees of God? The Decrees of God are his eternal purpose▪ according to the Counsel of his will, whereby for his own glory, he hath fore-ordained whatsoever comes to…

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

    What are the Decrees of God? The Decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby for his own glory he hath fore-ordained whatsoever comes to…

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

    Quest. VII. What are the Decrees of God? The Decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his own will, whereby for his own glory he hath foreordained…

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

    What are the Decrees of God? The Decrees of God are his Eternal Purpose, according to the Counsel of his own Will• whereby for his own Glory he hath Fore-ordained whatever comes…

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

    The decrees of God—A decree is a determination, an edict, a rule. It is an order from one having supreme authority, deciding what is to be done by a subordinate. “The word decree,…

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

    On The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 10, which adapts this question

    Hath God pre-determined all future events? Yes. He worketh all things according to the counsel of his own will, Are God’s decrees sovereign and free? Yes. They are according to…

    Benjamin Beddome’s text