Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647), Westminster Assembly

Question 90

How is the Word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation?

That the Word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence,a preparation,b and prayer;c receive it with faith and love,d lay it up in our hearts,e and practice it in our lives.f

How is the Word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation?

That the Word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence,a preparation,b and prayer;c receive it with faith and love,d lay it up in our hearts,e and practice it in our lives.f

  1. a. Proverbs 8:34

    Proverbs 8:34

    8:34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

    8:34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  2. b. 1 Peter 2:1–2

    1 Peter 2:1–2

    2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

    2:1 Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  3. c. Psalm 119:18

    Psalm 119:18

    119:18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

    119:18 Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things from Your law.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  4. d. Hebrews 4:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:10

    Hebrews 4:2

    4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

    4:2 For we also received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, since they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it.

    2 Thessalonians 2:10

    2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

    2:10 and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  5. e. Psalm 119:11

    Psalm 119:11

    119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

    119:11 I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  6. f. Luke 8:15; James 1:25

    Luke 8:15

    8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

    8:15 But the seeds on good soil are those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, cling to it, and by persevering produce a crop.

    James 1:25

    1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

    1:25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so-not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer-he will be blessed in what he does.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

Diff style

Changes in The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 95

No change, but in spelling and punctuation.

No change, but in spelling and punctuation.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 95

How is the word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation?

That the word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence, preparation, and prayer; receive it with faith and love, lay it up in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.

Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647), Question 90

How is the Word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation?

That the Word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence, preparation, and prayer; receive it with faith and love, lay it up in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 95

How is the word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation?

That the word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence, preparation, and prayer; receive it with faith and love, lay it up in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 95

How is the word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation?

That the word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence, preparation, and prayer; receive it with faith and love, lay it up in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.

Westminster Shorter Catechism (modernized) (1647), Question 90

How is the Word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation?

That the Word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence, preparation, and prayer; receive it with faith and love, lay it up in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 95

How is the word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation?

That the word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence, preparation, and prayer; receive it with faith and love, lay it up in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.

Related (2)

Westminster Larger Catechism (1647), parallel to this question

Question 157

How is the word of God to be read?

The holy scriptures are to be read with an high and reverent esteem of them; with a firm persuasion that they are the very word of God, and that he only can enable us to understand them; with desire to know, believe, and obey the will of God revealed in them; with diligence, and attention to the matter and scope of them; with meditation, application, self-denial, and prayer.

Question 160

What is required of those that hear the word preached?

It is required of those that hear the word preached, that they attend upon it with diligence, preparation, and prayer; examine what they hear by the scriptures; receive the truth with faith, love, meekness, and readiness of mind, as the word of God; meditate, and confer of it; hide it in their hearts, and bring forth the fruit of it in their lives.

Commentaries (9)

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

    How is the Word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation? That the word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence,…

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

    How is the Word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to Salvation? That the Word may become effectual to Salvation, we must attend thereunto, with diligence,…

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

    How is the Word to be read and heard, that it may be effectual unto Salvation? That the Word may become effectual unto Salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence,…

    Thomas Vincent’s text
  • 1675, An Explicatory Catechism

    How is the Word to be read and heard that it may become effectual to Salvation? That the Word may become effectual to Salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence,…

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

    How is the Word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to Salvation? That the Word may become effectual to Salvation, we must attend thereunto with Diligence,…

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

    Quest. What doth God require of us, that we may escape the Wrath and Curse due to us for Sin? Answ. Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance unto Life, with the diligent use of all the…

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

    How is the Word to be read and heard that it may become effectual to Salvation? That the Word may become effectual to Salvation, we must attend thereunto with Diligence,…

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

    We must attend with diligence—Trench, in his seventh lecture on The Study of Words, as if he had had this very answer in his eye, says: “But ‘attentive’ and ‘assiduous’ are words…

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

    On The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 95, which adapts this question

    That the word of God may profit, should we attend thereto with diligence? Yes. All the people were attentive to hear him, Is preparation also necessary in order to our profiting…

    Benjamin Beddome’s text