WCF 1.5-7

The larger chapters I will try and break into parts so the posts aren't super long. I neglected to say this in the introduction, but my goal here is not to redefine the Confession, nor is my goal to somehow "dumb it down" or water up its theology. My goal, rather, is to give it a new and fresh expression; perhaps to breathe some contemporary life into it. Let's say, as the analogy goes, that my desire is to put this great old wine into a new wineskin. Hopefully (and prayerfully) the flavor will not be adversely affected in the transition.


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 does 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)

V. We may be moved and inspired by the testimony of the Church to a high and reverent esteem of the Scriptures.(10) The heavenliness of our experience, the efficacy of its doctrine, the majesty of its style, the coherence of all its parts, the historic scope and full disclosure it makes of the only way man can receive salvation (which gives all glory to God), the many other incomparable excellencies and the perfection thereof; these are all arguments which demonstrate the Scriptures to be the Word of God. Nevertheless, our full persuasion and assurance of this infallible truth, and of its divine authority, comes from the inward work of the Holy Spirit which bears witness by and with the Word in our hearts.(11)

Here again I have changed very little of substance (this will be a running theme, I really do like the majority of the Confession as it is).

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)

VI. The expressed will of God concerning all things necessary for His glory, man's salvation, faith and life is clearly and plainly set forth in Scripture or can be deduced, by good and necessary consequence, from what is written in Scripture. Therefore no new revelations or traditions according to man may be added to the Scripture.(12) Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Holy Spirit to be necessary for a saving understanding of what is revealed in the Word.(13) We acknowledge that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and the governing of the Church, which can be ordered by common practices and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word which are always to be observed.(14)

Nothing significant here. I changed "by the light of nature" to "common practice" because that is basically what it means. G.I. Williamson says, "We are not at libert to modify the principle in any degree. But we are at liberty to work out the principle according to changes in circumstances."

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).

VII. Everything in Scripture is not expressed as clearly as the gospel, nor can everything be understood as readily and clearly as the gospel.(15) However, those things which are necessary to be known, believed and observed for salvation are clearly expressed throughout Scripture. The scholar and the layman alike are able to gain a suffient understanding of them through the use of the ordinary means.(16)

I've revamped this section a little bit to express some of the meaning that seemed implicit in the original. Since the previous section mentions the necessity of the illuminating work of Holy Spirit in coming to an understanding of salvation, I think adding something similar to this section would be beneficial. For example, the last sentence could be rendered "The scholar and the layman alike are able, through the Holy Spirit and the use of the ordinary means, to gain a sufficient understanding of them." This would create a little more consistency and clarity between these two sections. I am not, here, implying that there is confusion or that the original is unclear/inconsistent; rather I am thinking of how to improve upon what is already given.