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Category 1, The Westminster Shorter Catechism
Questions 1 - 12 concerning "God The Creator"
- A. The Bible, The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments,[3] is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.[4]
- A. The Scriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God,[5] and what duty God requires of man.[6]
- A. God is a Spirit,[7] infinite,[8] eternal,[9] and unchangeable,[10] in his being,[11] wisdom,[12] power,[13] holiness,[14] justice,[15] goodness,[16] and truth.[17]
- A. There are three persons in the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost;[20] and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.[21]
- A. The decrees of God are, his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.[22]
- A. God executes his decrees in the works of creation and providence.[23]
- A. The work of creation is, God’s making all things of nothing, by the word of his power,[24] in the space of six days, and all very good.[25]
- A. God created man male and female, after his own image,[26] in knowledge,[27] righteousness, and holiness,[28] with dominion over the creatures.[29]
- A. God’s works of providence are, his most holy,[30] wise,[31] and powerful[32] preserving[33] and governing[34] all his creatures, and all their actions.[35]
- A. When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience; forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon pain of death.[36]
The catechism is composed of 107 questions and answers broken down into six categories.
- Category 1, questions 1 - 12:
- Questions concerning God as Creator.
- Category 2, questions 13 - 20:
- Category 3, questions 21 - 38:
- Category 4, questions 39 - 84:
- Category 5, questions 85 - 97:
- Category 6, questions 98 - 107
This organization mimics the earlier Heidelberg Catechism of the continental Reformed churches.
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