Reformed Confessions
1–5The Chief End of Man and the Scriptures
  1. 1The Chief End of Man and the Scriptures
  2. 6God and the Trinity
  3. 12God’s Decrees, Creation and Providence
  4. 21The Fall and Sin
  5. 30The Covenant of Grace and Christ the Mediator
  6. 57The Benefits of Christ’s Mediation
  7. 91The Moral Law and the First Table
  8. 122The Second Table, and Sin’s Desert
  9. 153The Means of Grace

Westminster Larger Catechism · Q 1–5

The Chief End of Man and the Scriptures

  • Questions 1–5

Questions & Answers

Q1

What is the chief and highest end of man?

A.

Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God,1 and fully to enjoy him forever.2

  1. 1Rom. 11:36; 1 Cor. 10:31
  2. 2Ps. 73:24–28
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;1 but his word and Spirit only do sufficiently and effectually reveal him unto men for their salvation.2

  1. 1Rom. 1:19–20; Ps. 19:1–3; Acts 17:28
  2. 21 Cor. 2:9–10; 2 Tim. 3:15–17; Isa. 59:21
Q3

What is the word of God?

A.

The holy scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the word of God,1 the only rule of faith and obedience.2

  1. 12 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:19–21
  2. 2Eph. 2:20; Rev. 22:18–19; Isa. 8:20; Luke 16:29; Luke 16:31; Gal. 1:8–9; 2 Tim. 3:15–16
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 majesty1 and purity;2 by the consent of all the parts,3 and the scope of the whole, which is to give all glory to God;4 by their light and power to convince and convert sinners, to comfort and build up believers unto salvation:5 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.6

  1. 1Hos. 8:12; 1 Cor. 2:6–7; 1 Cor. 2:13; Ps. 119:18; Ps. 119:129
  2. 2Ps. 12:6; Ps. 119:140
  3. 3Acts 10:43; Acts 26:22
  4. 4Rom. 3:19; Rom. 3:27
  5. 5Acts 23:28; Heb. 4:12; Jas. 1:18; Ps. 19:7–9; Rom. 15:4; Acts 20:32
  6. 6John 16:13–14; John 20:31; 1 John 2:20; 1 John 2:27
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.1

  1. 12 Tim. 1:13

Try a number, like 32 for Lord’s Day 32 or Q 1, or a word from a question.