Westminster Standards on Sola Scriptura

Since I have "Sola Scriptura" on the brain these days and am trying to drum up entries for our first ever Carnival of the Reformation on the subject of Sola Scriptura I thought I would post a few of the classic reformed statements on Sola Scriptura for your perusal and edication. Here are some statements from the Westminster Standards:

Shorter Catechism Questions 1-3
Question 1: What is the chief end of man?
Answer 1: Man's chief end is to glorify God,[1] and to enjoy Him for ever.[2]

1. I Cor. 10:31
2. Psa. 73:25-26

Q2: What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him?
A2: The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments,[1] is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him.[2]

1. Eph. 2:20; II Tim. 3:16
2. I John 1:3

Q3: What do the Scriptures principally teach?
A3: The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.[1]

1. II Tim. 1:13

Larger Catechism Questions 3-6

Q3: What is the word of God?
A3: The holy scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the word of God,[1] the only rule of faith and obedience.[2]

1. II Tim. 3:16; II Peter 1:19-21
2. Eph. 2:20; Rev. 22:18-19; Isa. 8:20; Luke 16:29, 31; Gal. 1:8-9; II Tim. 3:15-16

Q4: How doth it appear that the scriptures are the word of God?
A4: The scriptures manifest themselves to be the word of God, by their majesty [1] 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. Hosea 8:12; I Cor. 2:6-7, 13; Psa. 119:18, 129
2. Psa. 12:6; 119:140
3. Acts 10:43; 26:22
4. Rom. 3:19, 27
5. Acts 23:28; Heb. 4:12; James 1:18; Psa. 19:7-9; Rom. 15:4; Acts 20:32
6. John 16:13-14; 20:31; I John 2:20, 27

Q5: What do the scriptures principally teach?
A5: The scriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.[1]

1. II Tim. 1:13

Q6: What do the scriptures make known of God?
A6: The scriptures make known what God is,[1] the persons in the Godhead,[2] his decrees,[3] and the execution of his decrees.[4]

1. Heb. 11:6
2. I John 5:17
3. Acts 15:14-15, 18
4. Acts 4:27-28

Westminster Confession Chapter 1

I. Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men unexcusable;[1] yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of his will, which is necessary unto salvation.[2] Therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manners, to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his church;[3] and afterwards, for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing:[4] which maketh the Holy Scripture to be most necessary;[5] those former ways of God's revealing his will unto his people being now ceased.[6]

1. Rom. 1:19-20; 1:32-2:1; 2:14-15; Psa. 19:1-4
2. John 17:3; I Cor. 1:21; 2:13-14
3. Heb. 1:1-2
4. Luke 1:3-4; Rom. 15:4; Matt. 4:4, 7, 10; Isa. 8:20
5. II Tim. 3:15; II Peter 1:19
6. John 20:31; I Cor. 10:11; 14:37; I John 5:13; Heb. 1:1-2; 2:2-4

II. Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testaments, which are these:

What follows here is a listing of the books of the Old and New Testaments which I have omitted for the sake of brevity.

All which are given by inspiration of God to be the rule of faith and life.[7]

7. Luke 16:29, 31; 24:27, 44; II Tim. 3:15-16; John 5:46-47

III. The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon of the Scripture, and therefore are of no authority in the church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved, or made use of, than other human writings.[8]

8. Rev. 22:18-19; Rom. 3:2; II Peter 1:21

IV. The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, and obeyed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man, or church; but wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the author thereof: and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God.[9]

9. II Peter 1:19-20; II Tim. 3:16; I John 5:9; I Thess. 2:13; Rev. 1:1-2

V. We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church to an high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scripture.[10] And the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is, to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man's salvation, the many other incomparable excellencies, and the entire perfection thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God: yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.[11]

10. I Tim 3:15
11. I Cor. 2:4-5, 9-10; Heb. 4:12; John 10:35; Isa. 55:11, 59:21; Rom. 11:36: Psa. 19:7-11; II Tim. 3:15; I Thess. 1:5; I John 2:20, 27

VI. The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men.[12] 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:[13] 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.[14]

12. II Tim. 3:16-17; Gal. 1:8-9; II Thess. 2:2
13. John 6:45; I Cor. 2:12, 14-15; Eph. 1:18; II Cor. 4:6
14. I Cor. 11:13-14; 14:26, 40

VII. All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all:[15] 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 the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.[16]

15. II Peter 3:16
16. Psa. 119:105, 130; Deut. 29:29; 30:10-14; Acts 17:11

VIII. 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 authentical;[17] so as, in all controversies of religion, the church is finally to appeal unto them.[18] But, because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who have right unto, and interest in the Scriptures, and are commanded, in the fear of God, to read and search them,[19] therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come,[20] that, the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship him in an acceptable manner;[21] and, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, may have hope.[22]

17. Matt. 5:18; Psa. 119;89
18. Isa. 8:20; Matt. 15:3, 6; Acts 15:15; Luke 16:31
19. John 5:39; Acts 17:11; Rev. 1:3; II Tim. 3:14,15
20. Matt. 28:19-20; I Cor. 14:6; Mark 15:34
21. Col. 3:16; Exod. 20:4-6; Matt. 15:7-9
22. Rom. 15:4

IX. 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.[23]

23. Acts 15:15; John 5:46; II Peter 1:20-21

X. 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 Spirit speaking in the Scripture.[24]

24. Matt. 22:29,31; Acts 28:25; I John 4:1-6

Comments

[Rey]

I love how the confession says "IX. 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.[23]" and previously ignores two verses out of an entire section to support it's thesis: Acts 15:14-15, 18

Thanks for the posting of it though. Perhaps the discussion can now be directed as to the nature of the posts.

[Darren]

"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 Spirit speaking in the Scripture."

This is extremely optimistic of the nature of fallible men and women, is it not? We inheritors of the Reformation doctrine of sola scriptura are faced on all sides with a myriad of differing interpretations by seemingly faithful Christians, even those who prayerfully seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Yet what may allow us to decide which interpretation really is "the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture?"

As a spiritual ideal I find it spot-on; as an epistemology it is severely lacking.

[Rey]

Great point Darren and definitely worth considering. Personally, I have often found myself against very Godly Christians with a differing point of view on some subjects...sometimes even to the point that I would be called Pelagian...offensive.

I have very strong opinions about certain things in Scriptures as do other believers of opposing point of views. Spurgeon and Wesley, two very different opinions with certain things and both immensely blessed.

We're called to be fully convinced within ourselves...which is a good thing. And yet, someone once said that all Scripture is inspired, God breathed and profitable...but my interpretation may not be either of those things...