WCF 5.1

5.1. Of Providence

God the great Creator of all things doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest even to the least, by His most wise and holy providence, according to His infallible fore-knowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of His own will, to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy.

Proof texts

• Heb. 1:3 — [3] He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
• Dan. 4:34, 35 — [34] At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; [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?”
• Ps. 135:6 — [6] Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.
• Acts 17:25, 26, 28 — [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. [26] And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, [28] for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’
• Job 38–41
• Matt. 10:29, 30, 31 — [29] Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. [30] But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. [31] Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
• Prov. 15:3 — [3] The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
• Ps. 104:24 — [24] O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
• Ps. 145:17 — [17] The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.
• Acts 15:18 — [18] known from of old.’
• Ps. 94:8, 9, 10, 11 — [8] Understand, O dullest of the people! Fools, when will you be wise? [9] He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see? [10] He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? He who teaches man knowledge — [11] the LORD — knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath.
• Eph. 1:11 — [11] In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
• Ps. 33:10, 11 — [10] The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. [11] The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.
• Isa. 63:14 — [14] Like livestock that go down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. So you led your people, to make for yourself a glorious name.
• Eph. 3:10 — [10] so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
• Rom. 9:17 — [17] For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”
• Gen. 45:7 — [7] And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors.
• Ps. 145:7 — [7] They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Heb. 1:3 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 18 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. WSC Q11 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. WSC Q12 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q11 · WSC Q12 · WLC Q18 · WLC Q19 · WLC Q20 · HC Q26 · HC Q27 · HC Q28 · BC 3.1 · BC 3.2 · SC60 2.1 · IAR 4.1 · IAR 4.2 · IAR 4.3 · IAR 4.4 · SHC 2.1 · SHC 2.2