G. I. Williamson’s The Westminster Confession of Faith for Study Classes is a well known reference on the WCF. Williamson provides a commentary for each of the Confession’s chapters with closing questions. I am going to blog through the questions for personal review and comprehension. Let’s roll.
WCF. I. Of the Holy Scriptures – 1.
1. How many kinds of revelation are there? Name them.
There are two kinds of revelation: the two kinds of revelation are natural and special.
2. It has been imagined by some that natural revelation spoke clearly to Adam (some even imagined that he needed no word revelation before the fall), but that it does not speak clearly to us. Disprove.
Natural revelation certainly spoke clearly to Adam, however, it was not intended to exist in isolation from special revelation. Special (word) revelation was also present in the Garden (see Genesis 1:28-30; 2:16-17). Natural revelation speaks clearly to us today, but we suppress because of our rebellion (Romans 1:18-20).
3. Is there proof for the existence of God? Where?
Yes. Proof for the existence of God is everywhere: the general creation is proof, man himself is proof, etc.
4. What is wrong with the traditional “proofs” for the existence of God?
The traditional “proofs” for the existence of God merely make God’s existence a probability. This is wrong because it makes man’s perceptions the measure of all things; this is wrong because it makes man’s “perceptions” the base of Epistemology.
5. What are the two aspects of man’s nature as “the image of God”?
The two aspects are metaphysical (man’s being) and ethical (man’s will/purpose).
6. Which of these could man “lose”?
Man was created with freedom – “man is free to do as he will” (2). When Adam freely chose to rebel against God this ethical aspect was lost.
7. Which of these was produced wholly by God?
Man’s being was produced wholly by God; man’s being is entirely dependent upon God. However, “even in his freedom of will man cannot escape the absolute control of God because the being of man (he is only an image) is wholly dependent upon God. . . . man can only violate, but can never destroy, his dependent relationship to God” (2).
8. Which of these was partly produced by man?
Man’s will/purpose is partly produced by man. Because we have been created with free will the “purpose of man is a matter of choice” (2).
9. Was natural revelation alone sufficient before the fall? Why?
Natural revelation was not “alone sufficient before the fall” because the “two forms of revelation are always coordinate” (3). There was no deficiency in God’s revelation before the fall because both natural and special revelation were “related to, and designed to operate through, Adam’s obedience” (3).
10. What does natural revelation now declare that it did not declare before the fall of man?
It reveals the wrath of God (see Romans 1:18).
11. Does man still exist in the image of God?
Yes. Man still exists in the image of God. In our nature (being) we are image bearers of God. Sin is merely an ethical disease that defiles our natures; sin cannot destroy our nature, it only defiles. “As long as men are men they exist in God’s image” (2).
12. What prevents man from having consciousness of the true and living God who hates sin?
We prevent ourselves. The revelation is still there, but in our sin we shrink back and make up lies about reality (Romans 1:20-21).
13. Why must the remedy to man’s condition come by special (word) revelation?
Natural and special (word) revelation are “always coordinate” — this was true under the Covenant of Works made with Adam, as well as under the Covenant of Grace made with the Second Adam — “But just as the test of man’s obedience came by the way of word revelation, so the remedy for man’s present need comes by way of word revelation” (3).