WCF 1.6

Westminster Confession of Faith

1.6. Of the Holy Scripture

The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men. Nevertheless we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word: and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the Church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.

Proof texts

For discussion

  1. The Assembly cited 2 Tim. 3:15, 16, 17 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
  2. 6 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
  3. WSC Q2 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
  4. WSC Q3 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q2 · WSC Q3 · WLC Q3 · WLC Q5 · WLC Q1 · WLC Q2 · WLC Q4 · WSC Q1 · BC 1.1 · BC 1.2 · HC Q1 · HC Q2 · BC 1.3 · BC 1.4 · BC 1.5 · BC 1.6 · BC 1.7 · 1689 1.1 · SD 1.1 · IAR 1.1 · SC60 6.4 · SHC 1.1 · SHC 1.2

Leader's notes

A Commentary on the Confession of Faith (A.A. Hodge): This section teaches the following propositions : 1st. The inspired Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are a complete rule of faith and practice ; they embrace the whole of whatever supernatural revelation God now makes to men, and are abundantly sufficient for all the practical necessities of men or communities. This is proved (a) from the design of Scripture. It professes to lead us to God. Whatever is necessary to that end it must teach us. If any supplementary knowledge is necessary, it must refer to it. Incompleteness in such an undertaking would be falsehood. But (6) while Christ and his apostles constantly refer to Scripture as an authoritative rule, neither they nor the Scriptures themselves ever refer…

An Exposition of the Confession of Faith (Robert Shaw): These sections relate to the perfection and perspicuity of the Scriptures. 1, In regard to the ])erfection, or sufficiency, of the Scriptures, it is acknowledged that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the Church, in regard to which no express injunctions are given in Scripture, and which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word. The Apostolic rule in such cases is, — " Let all things be done decently and in order," — 1 Cor. xiv. 40 ; but this general iide does not authorise the introduction into the Church of rites and ceremonies of human invention, in order to set…