Here are my answers to the study notes as I prepare for my oral exam next week. I thought some people might be interested in the types of things I must know. Since there are over 300 questions, I’ll go chapter by chapter through the Westminster Confession of Faith. Please …. I’m not putting them up to debate issues. I recognize that not all Christians will agree on these matters. It may not represent your doctrinal standards, but it is mine. If you think I misunderstood the Confession of Faith, I’m open to correction as long as you keep in mind that perhaps you have misunderstood the Westminster Confession of Faith.
Chapter I: Of The Holy Scriptures
1. Distinguish between “general” and “special” revelation. “General” revelation is available to all men everywhere. The creation declares God’s invisible attributes (Ps. 19, Rom. 1). “Special” revelation is the Scriptures.
2. Is general revelation clear? Is it authoritative? Is it sufficient? To what end? “General” revelation is clear, and it is authoritative. It is sufficient only that we may know that God exists. Our sinful nature distorts and twists “general” revelation such that people either deny there is a God or they worship a false god. It is insufficient for us to know how we may be saved. As a result, it is sufficient to condemn us.
3. According to the Confession, why are the Scriptures necessary? They are necessary that we might know what we are to believe concerning God and what duty He requires of us. They are necessary due to the lies and attacks of the flesh, Satan and the world against God and truth.
4. What are the four attributes of Scripture and what is meant by them? Authority, sufficiency, infallible, & clarity. The Scriptures have authority on all matters to which they speak because they are God’s Word to us. They are sufficient in that they tell us all we need to know for our salvation and life of godliness. They are infallible meaning they are fully reliable and not deceived or deceiving. Clarity means that all that we need to know is clearly expressed. Non-essential matters are less clear.
5. What is meant by the Scripture’s self attestation? Scripture itself teaches that God is its author.
6. Describe for us your understanding of inerrancy? The original manuscripts contain no errors or falsehoods, therefore Scripture is reliable.
7. Does the authority of Scripture rest on the authority of the Church? Why is it important? No, the Church rests on the authority of the Scripture. Roman Catholicism reverses the order and claims to offer the only authoritative interpretation of Scripture.
8. What is necessary if one is to have a “full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority” of the Scripture? The inward work of God the Spirit bearing witness in our hearts as we read & hear the Word is necessary.
9. What role do “evidences” play in establishing the truthfulness of Scripture? They confirm the truthfulness of Scripture objectively, though, due to our sinful natures, insufficiently.
10. What is meant by “good and necessary consequence”? Give an example. A good and necessary consequence is an application of the Scripture which is not explicitly mentioned but is appropriate and required if we are to apply Scriptural principles to the matter. Ephesians 5 states we should not be drunk on wine, but filled with the Holy Spirit. A good and necessary consequence is that we should not be under the intoxicated by any illegal drugs like heroin or cocaine either. The argument for infant baptism would be one from good and necessary consequence since it is not explicitly mentioned in Scripture, but is a good and necessary consequence of its instruction concerning circumcision.
11. What does the confession mean by the statement that “the former ways of God’s revealing Himself unto His Church are now ceased (I.10)”? The ways in which God revealed Himself in biblical times, including dreams and visions, have now ceased. All we need to know and believe has been given to us in Scripture. There is no new revelation.
12. How does the above relate to the sufficiency of Scripture? Scripture is sufficient for our knowledge of God, His salvation and to prepare us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16).
13. What is inspiration? What does II Timothy 3:16 mean by inspiration? Inspiration means that God the Spirit worked through human agents to not only provide the idea but the actual words of Scripture. God breathed, or spoke, Scripture. It did not originate in the mind of man.
14. What is the difference between inspiration and illumination? Inspiration is the work of the Spirit which gave us Scripture. It is the Word of God. Illumination is the work of the Spirit in us that we might understand the meaning of Scripture. Like Calvin, we always keep Word and Spirit together.
15. What do we believe about the transmission of the Biblical text? What assurance do we have about the accuracy of today’s English versions? We are to believe that God, in His providence, has protected the transmission of the Biblical texts so they are kept pure in all matters necessary for faith and life. Today’s English versions are also reliable by God’s providence (the translators are not inspired, but protected from grievous error.
16. Why do you think the divines begin their Confession with a chapter on Sacred Scripture? In the controversy with Rome the question of authority was foremost. They set the framework for how we do theology before they assert that which the Scriptures teach us about God and what He requires of us.
17. What does it mean that “the infallible rule of interpreting scripture is Scripture itself” (I.9)? The less clear passages of Scripture are to be interpreted using the more clear passages of Scripture. This keeps Scripture in its proper context.
18. What does it mean that “the true and full sense of any Scripture is not manifold, but one” (I.9)? After the time of the Apostles a false method of interpretation arose in which there was a literal meaning, an allegorical meaning and a spiritual meaning. The Confession rejects this method of interpretation to affirm that God had one meaning. That one meaning has numerous applications.
19. Why is it important to confess that the Holy Spirit is still “speaking in the Scripture” (I.10)? God is not silent, but speaks to us in the Scripture. We are not to think God speaks to us apart from the Scripture (mysticism). Nor are we to think that we are able to understand Scripture on our own (rationalism). We need the Spirit to illuminate and apply the Scripture for us.
Cavman Considers 
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