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Q5. What do the scriptures principally teach?

A. The scriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.

See also in WCF: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8 See also in WSC: Q1, Q2, Q3 Compare: Man's Chief End and Holy Scripture
2 Tim. 1:13
[13] Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Quest. V.

QUEST. V. What do the scriptures principally teach?

ANSW. The scriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.[46]

Having, in the foregoing answer, proved the scriptures to be the word of God, there is in this a general account of the contents thereof; there are many great doctrines contained therein, all which may be reduced to two heads, to wit, what we are to believe, and what we are to do. All religion is contained in these two things, and so we may apply the words of the apostle to this case, Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum, Heb. viii. 1. and accordingly, as this Catechism is deduced from scripture, it contains two parts, viz. what we are to believe, and in what instances we are to yield obedience to the law of God. And that the scriptures principally teach these two things, appears from the apostle’s advice to Timothy, Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me in faith and love, 2 Tim. i. 13.

From the scriptures’ principally teaching us matters of faith and practice, we infer, that faith without works is dead; or that he is not a true Christian who yields an assent to divine revelation, without a practical subjection to God, in all ways of holy obedience, as the apostle observes, and gives a challenge, to this effect, to those who separate faith from works; Shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works, James ii. 17, 18. and, on the other hand, works without faith are unacceptable. A blind obedience, or ignorant performance of some of the external parts of religion, without the knowledge of divine truth, is no better than what the apostle calls bodily exercise which profiteth little, 1 Tim. iv. 18. therefore we ought to examine ourselves, whether our faith be founded on, or truly deduced from scripture? and whether it be a practical faith, or, as the apostle says, such as worketh by love? Gal. v. 6. whether we grow in knowledge, as well as in zeal and diligence, in performing many duties of religion, if we would approve ourselves sincere Christians?

Footnote 46:

What we are to believe reaches to Qu. 91. the rest is of practice.

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Q4: How doth it appear that the scriptures are … Q6: What do the scriptures make known of God?

Scripture and the Knowledge of God

The Scriptures as the Word of God and the rule of faith and life

Q1. What is the chief and highest end of man?

A. Man's chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever.

Q2. How doth it appear that there is a God?

A. The very light of nature in man, and the works of God, declare plainly that there is a God; but his word and Spirit only do sufficiently and effectually reveal him unto men for their salvation.

Q3. What is the word of God?

A. The holy scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the word of God, the only rule of faith and obedience.

Q4. How doth it appear that the scriptures are the word of God?

A. The scriptures manifest themselves to be the word of God, by their majesty and purity; by the consent of all the parts, and the scope of the whole, which is to give all glory to God; by their light and power to convince and convert sinners, to comfort and build up believers unto salvation: but the Spirit of God bearing witness by and with the scriptures in the heart of man, is alone able fully to persuade it that they are the very word of God.

Q5. What do the scriptures principally teach?

A. The scriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.