WCF 01 Of the Holy Scriptures

Question 1

What are the two ways God makes himself know to all people?

Answer 1

The Light of Nature in Man, and the Works of God in creation and providence.

Question 2

What are the uses of natural revelation?

Answer 2

Strips all excuses, reveal the divinity and excellency of God

Question 3

Is one able to construct a natural theology form General revelation?

Answer 3

Nature declares plainly that God is, but nature is not sufficient to reveal God effectually to their salvation

Question 4

What are the two stages of special revelation?

Answer 4

verbal (prophets); Scripture

Question 5

What are the three ways God revealed Himself in the history of redemption?

Answer 5

visions, dreams, and face-to-face

Question 6

According to Calvin, why inscripturation necessary?

Answer 6

We are prone to forget God and we tend toward error. “By His word, God rendered faith unambiguous forever.” –Calvin Inscripturation preserves and propagates the truth on “public tablets”.

Question 7

Are there other places or means today by which God reveals Himself?

Answer 7

Still in nature, but with regard to special revelation, those former ways God reveals his will unto HIs people being now ceased Heb. 1

Question 8

Define Scripture?

Answer 8

The Written Word of God

Question 9

Define Inspiration?

Answer 9

Not dictation but God guides the writer in his selection of words.

2 Peter 1:21 Supernatural control of the writer of Scripture so that what he writes is as though God is speaking.

Supernatural. God-breathed. Dynamic-organic. The whole man is really involved. Verbal Plenary

Question 10

What should be your response to Scripture?

Answer 10

Calvin: “reverently embrace” Obey and treasure his word Ps 119

Question 11

Wherein lies the authority of Scripture?

Answer 11

God is its author. The Spirit of God bearing witness by and with Scripture in the heart of man

Question 12

What three types of evidence?

Answer 12

External (witness of the church), Internal (heavenliness of the matter, efficacy of the doctrine, majesty of the style, consent of the whole), Spiritual (The Holy Spirit bearing witness in and with our hearts)

Question 13

How does the witness of the church bear on the authority of Scripture?

Answer 13

The church’s reverence for Scripture testifies to its esteem of its authority to those outside.

Question 14

What are the internal evidences listed here?

Answer 14

heavenliness of the matter efficacy of the doctrine majesty of the style consent of the whole scope of whole in giving glory to God

Question 15

What the ultimate proof? (of Scripture)

Answer 15

The Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Scriptures in the heart of man.

Question 16

How (does the Spirit’s testimony to Scripture) this work?

Answer 16

bearing witness in and with our hearts

Question 17

What two great areas to which God speaks in Scripture?

Answer 17

faith and practice (What man is to believe concerning God and what duty God requires of man)

Question 18

What two-fold manner teaching?

Answer 18

Expressly set down in Scripture Or by good and necessary consequence deduced from Scripture

Question 19

What two aspects of church life emphasized here?

Answer 19

The worship of God and the government of the Church.

Question 20

What does perspicuity of Scripture mean?

Answer 20

Not all things are equally plain, but all that we need to know for salvation can be understood by anyone who studies the Bible using ordinary means.

Question 21

What are ordinary means?

Answer 21

Reading and meditating on Scripture with prayer. Along with the preaching of God’s word.

Question 22

What principles may we derive for interpreting the Bible?

Answer 22

Scripture interprets Scripture, the meaning of Scripture is single, and the more clear passages interpret the less clear.

Question 23

What is the most important rule of interpretation?

Answer 23

Scripture interprets Scripture.

Question 24

Why must we learn Greek and Hebrew?

Answer 24

Because they are the original languages the Bible was written in, so those texts are authentical.

Question 25

What mean authentical?

Answer 25

They are authoritative for deciding doctrinal questions.

Question 26

Should we consider our English language Bibles as authoritative?

Answer 26

A translation that is faithful to the original is important for teaching salvation, but not adequate for resolving controversies.