WCF 1.9

Westminster Confession of Faith

1.9. Of the Holy Scripture

The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself: and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one), it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly.

Proof texts

2 Pet. 1:20, 21 — [20] knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. [21] For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Acts 15:15, 16 — [15] And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written, [16] “‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it,

For discussion

The Assembly cited 2 Pet. 1:20, 21 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
WLC Q5 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
WLC Q1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WLC Q5 · WLC Q1 · WLC Q2 · WLC Q3 · WLC Q4 · WSC Q1 · WSC Q2 · WSC Q3 · 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): These sections teach : 1st. That the infallible and only true "rule'' for the interpretation of Scripture is Scripture itself. 2d. That the Scriptures are the supreme "judge'' in all controversies concerning religion. The authority of the Scriptures as the ultimate rule of faith rests alone in the fact that they are the word of God. Since all these writings are one revelation, and the only revelation of his will concerning religion given by God to men, it follows : 1st. That they are complete as a revelation in themselves, and are not to be supplemented or explained by light drawn from any other source. 2d. That the different sections of this revelation mutually supplement and explain one another. The…

An Exposition of the Confession of Faith (Robert Shaw): There are four heads embraced in these sections. Fhst, That the Scriptures, in the original languages, have come down to us uncorrupted, and are, therefore, authentical. Secondly, That the Scriptures are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come^ Thirdly^ That the infallible rule of the intei-pretation of Scnpture is the Scripture itself. Fourthly, That the Scriptures are the supreme standard of religious triith; and that the Suisreme .Judge, by which all controversies in religion are to be determined, is the Holy Spirit speaking to us in the Scriptures. 1. The Old Testament, except a few passages which were written in Chaldee, was originally written in Hebrew, the language of the Jews, to whom…