6. The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man’s salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down *or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture:* unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelation of the Spirit or traditions of men. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God and government of the church common to human actions and societies which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed. **WC in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture:
1. The Bible is sufficient. It teaches all we need to know for God’s glory and our salvation, what to believe and what to do. If not set out explicitly there, it can be logically deduced from it. Our need is not fresh revelation but better Bible knowledge. Study it to know what honours God, how to be saved, what to believe, how to live. Even less obvious things can be known by a more diligent study of its contents.
1. The Bible is sufficient. It teaches all we need to know for God’s glory and our salvation, what to believe and what to do. If not set out explicitly there, it can be logically deduced from it. Our need is not fresh revelation but better Bible knowledge. Study it to know what honours God, how to be saved, what to believe, how to live. Even less obvious things can be known by a more diligent study of its contents.
2. Add nothing to the Bible – not old traditions nor 'new revelations'. Reject both Catholicism and Charismania. Don't follow mere tradition or expect prophecies to supplement the Bible.
3. To understand the Word in a way that leads to salvation we need the Spirit to enlighten our minds. Some have a vast knowledge of the Bible but are unsaved because they lack the Spirit. Pray he will illumine your thinking so that you understand the Bible and are changed by it.
4. The Bible does not go into every practical detail of worship and church order. Some things have to be worked out with honesty and sanctified common sense in light of its general teaching. The Bible does not tell what time to meet on Sundays! With a good conscience work at thinking through the practical details of worship and organising church life on biblical lines.
7. All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all. Yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed and observed for salvation are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned but the unlearned, in a due use of ordinary means, may attain to a sufficient understanding of them.
1. The Bible is clear but not all parts are equally clear and some parts are less easy to understand. Also, some see things quicker than others. Don’t be surprised if there are parts that at first you find hard to understand.
2. However, the Bible is clear enough for both educated and uneducated, by ordinary means, to know all they need to know - what to believe and how to be saved. Never doubt that the Bible is clear enough for even the least educated to be saved if they are willing to hear.
3. The way to know how to be saved is to read the Bible and hear it preached. To be saved – read the Word and hear it preached. Pray that more will hear and be saved.
8. The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language of the people of God of old) and the New Testament in Greek (which at the time of the writing of it was most generally known to the nations), being immediately inspired by God and by his singular care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentic; so as in all controversies of religion, the church is finally to appeal to them. But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who have a right unto, and interest in the Scriptures, and are commanded in the fear of God to read and search them, therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come, that the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship him in an acceptable manner, and through patience and comfort of the Scriptures may have hope.
1. The Bible, as originally given, is directly inspired by God. He has also watched over it so that we can still have its message today. Consider the Bible, as originally given, truly God-breathed.
2. The Bible has supreme authority for God's people, the church. Accept that our highest authority must always be the Bible.
3. All believers have a right and a duty to read and study the Bible so it should be translated for that to read it, each having his own copy. Be thankful for the Bible in your own language and read it every day.
4. This is how we can all know the riches in God’s Word and worship acceptably, full of hope. Reverently study the Bible and fill your mind with it so that you can worship him in an acceptable way and, helped by the Bible, be filled with hope.
9. The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself and therefore when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not manifold but one), it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly.
1. The only infallible rule for interpreting the Bible is the Bible itself. Get help from other authorities but don't make them your rule for understanding the Bible. Your rule for understanding the Bible should be the Bible itself.
2. The Bible is a unity and there are no real contradictions. Accept that though the Bible may appear to contradict itself at certain points it never does so in fact.
3. The clearer parts of the Bible should be used to interpret the less clear. Always understand the Bible on its own terms. Compare Scripture with Scripture. What we need is, as it were, two Bibles – one to interpret the other.
4. The Bible has only one meaning. It may have different applications or different fulfilments but there is only one true meaning.
10. The supreme judge by which all controversies of religion are to be determined and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men and private spirits are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but *the Holy Scripture delivered by the Spirit, into which Scripture so delivered, our faith is finally resolved.*
7. All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all. Yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed and observed for salvation are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned but the unlearned, in a due use of ordinary means, may attain to a sufficient understanding of them.
1. The Bible is clear but not all parts are equally clear and some parts are less easy to understand. Also, some see things quicker than others. Don’t be surprised if there are parts that at first you find hard to understand.
2. However, the Bible is clear enough for both educated and uneducated, by ordinary means, to know all they need to know - what to believe and how to be saved. Never doubt that the Bible is clear enough for even the least educated to be saved if they are willing to hear.
3. The way to know how to be saved is to read the Bible and hear it preached. To be saved – read the Word and hear it preached. Pray that more will hear and be saved.
8. The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language of the people of God of old) and the New Testament in Greek (which at the time of the writing of it was most generally known to the nations), being immediately inspired by God and by his singular care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentic; so as in all controversies of religion, the church is finally to appeal to them. But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who have a right unto, and interest in the Scriptures, and are commanded in the fear of God to read and search them, therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come, that the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship him in an acceptable manner, and through patience and comfort of the Scriptures may have hope.
1. The Bible, as originally given, is directly inspired by God. He has also watched over it so that we can still have its message today. Consider the Bible, as originally given, truly God-breathed.
2. The Bible has supreme authority for God's people, the church. Accept that our highest authority must always be the Bible.
3. All believers have a right and a duty to read and study the Bible so it should be translated for that to read it, each having his own copy. Be thankful for the Bible in your own language and read it every day.
4. This is how we can all know the riches in God’s Word and worship acceptably, full of hope. Reverently study the Bible and fill your mind with it so that you can worship him in an acceptable way and, helped by the Bible, be filled with hope.
9. The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself and therefore when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not manifold but one), it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly.
1. The only infallible rule for interpreting the Bible is the Bible itself. Get help from other authorities but don't make them your rule for understanding the Bible. Your rule for understanding the Bible should be the Bible itself.
2. The Bible is a unity and there are no real contradictions. Accept that though the Bible may appear to contradict itself at certain points it never does so in fact.
3. The clearer parts of the Bible should be used to interpret the less clear. Always understand the Bible on its own terms. Compare Scripture with Scripture. What we need is, as it were, two Bibles – one to interpret the other.
4. The Bible has only one meaning. It may have different applications or different fulfilments but there is only one true meaning.
10. The supreme judge by which all controversies of religion are to be determined and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men and private spirits are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but *the Holy Scripture delivered by the Spirit, into which Scripture so delivered, our faith is finally resolved.*
**WC the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture.
1. The Bible is the supreme judge in every religious question. Accept that what the Bible says is the final judge in any and every religious question.
2. It is superior to statements by church councils, ancient writers and all other human opinions public or private. Beware of giving human opinion of any sort a higher place than the Bible. Even this confession is subject to the Bible.
3. Our faith must rest only on what God has said in the Bible through his Spirit. Be sure that all you believe is rooted only in what the Bible says.
1. The Bible is the supreme judge in every religious question. Accept that what the Bible says is the final judge in any and every religious question.
2. It is superior to statements by church councils, ancient writers and all other human opinions public or private. Beware of giving human opinion of any sort a higher place than the Bible. Even this confession is subject to the Bible.
3. Our faith must rest only on what God has said in the Bible through his Spirit. Be sure that all you believe is rooted only in what the Bible says.
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