WLC 103

Westminster Larger Catechism

Q103. Which is the first commandment?

The first commandment is, Thou shall have no other gods before me.

Proof texts

For discussion

  1. The Assembly cited Ex. 20:3 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
  2. HC Q92 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
  3. The Assembly divided over this: Justification and the Antinomian Crisis. How do you secure sola fide without letting the law fall away? What turns on the answer?
  4. The Assembly divided over this: The Third Use of the Moral Law. Does the moral law remain the rule of life for the regenerate? What turns on the answer?

Read alongside

HC Q92

Leader's notes

A Body of Divinity (Thomas Ridgley): Quest. CIII., CIV. QUEST. CIII. Which is the first commandment? ANSW. The first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other gods before me. QUEST. CIV. What are the duties required in the first commandment? ANSW. The duties required in the first commandment, are, the knowing and acknowledging of God to be the only true God, and our God; and to worship and glorify him accordingly, by thinking, meditating, remembering, highly esteeming, honouring, adoring, choosing, loving, desiring, fearing of him, believing him, trusting, hoping, delighting, rejoicing in him, being zealous for him, calling upon him, giving all praise and thanks, and yielding all obedience and submission to him, with the whole man, being careful in all things to please him, and…