SD 2.2

2.2. Of God and of the Holy Trinity

God hath all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in, and of himself; and is alone, in, and unto himself, all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures, which he hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting his own glory in, by, unto, and upon them: He is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things; and hath most sovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth. In his sight all things are open and manifest, his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain. He is most holy in all his counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands. To him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service or obedience, as creatures, they owe unto the Creator, and whatever he is further pleased to require of them.

Proof texts

• John 5:26 — [26] For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.
• Acts 7:2 — [2] And Stephen said: “Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,
• Ps. 119:68 — [68] You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.
• 1 Tim. 6:15 — [15] which he will display at the proper time — he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
• Rom. 9:5 — [5] To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
• Acts 17:24, 25 — [24] The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, [25] nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
• Job 22:2, 3 — [2] “Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself. [3] Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are in the right, or is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless?
• Rom 11:36 — [36] For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
• Rev. 4:11 — [11] “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
• 1 Tim. 6:15 — [15] which he will display at the proper time — he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
• Dan. 4:25, 35 — [25] that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. [35] all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”
• Heb. 4:13 — [13] And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
• Rom. 11:33, 34 — [33] Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! [34] “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”
• Ps. 147:5 — [5] Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.
• Acts 15:18 — [18] known from of old.’
• Ezek. 11:5 — [5] And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and he said to me, “Say, Thus says the LORD: So you think, O house of Israel. For I know the things that come into your mind.
• Ps. 145:17 — [17] The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.
• Rom. 7:12 — [12] So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
• Rev. 5:12, 13, 14 — [12] saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” [13] And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” [14] And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited John 5:26 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 19 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. WCF 2.1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. WCF 2.2 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WCF 2.1 · WCF 2.2 · WCF 2.3