What Is the Westminster Confession of Faith?

The Confession is a summary of Christian doctrine in thirty-three chapters, one of several such declarations that came out of the Protestant Reformation in Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries. Written by English Puritans (Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and Independents) at the behest of Parliament, it was intended to guide the British nation into the purest possible expression of biblical Christianity.

The purpose of this blog is to examine the Confession chapter by chapter to see what we can learn from it. Why? Simply put, the Westminster Confession of Faith is one of the best doctrinal statements of Christianity written in English; in the succeeding 350 years since its composition few have found any lack or need of improvement, although we will look at some of the changes that were made in later years. It was the product of a body of men who possessed great learning, sagacity, and personal holiness and who should command a respectful hearing. By standing on the shoulders of such giants, as Isaac Newton remarked in another context, we may see farther. As such, it is a valuable part of our Christian heritage, particularly for Christians who belong to the Presbyterian tradition. Furthermore, because the Confession has had great historical influence in American history, citizens of that land can gain insight into their nation's past through an understanding of the principles taught in this document.

The most important point to stress about the Confession is that no matter how useful or valuable it may be it does not have authority on a par with that of Scripture and must always be compared to that standard to which it submits.

May God be glorified in all that is posted here, and may his Spirit remove from our thoughts and memories any error.