WSC 13
Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q13. Did our first parents continue in the estate wherein they were created?
Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate wherein they were created, by sinning against God.
Proof texts
- Gen. 3:6-8,13 — [6] So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. [7] Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. [8] And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. [13] Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
- Ecc. 7:29 — [29] See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Gen. 3:6-8,13 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 Q21 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
- HC Q3 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?