10. How did God create man?

A. God created man male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures.

Supportive Scriptures

Genesis 1:26-28

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

27 So God created man in his own image,

in the image of God he created him;

male and female he created them.

28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Colossians 3:10

10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

Ephesians 4:24

24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible

Questions and Answers from the Shorter Catechism, Westminster Confession – Copyright: Public Domain

Westminster Assembly. The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition. Philadelphia: William S. Young, 1851.

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9. What is the work of creation?

A. The work of creation is, God’s making all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good.

Supportive Scriptures

Genesis 1 – 2

Hebrews 11:3

3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible

Questions and Answers from the Shorter Catechism, Westminster Confession – Copyright: Public Domain

Westminster Assembly. The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition. Philadelphia: William S. Young, 1851.

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8. How doth God execute his decrees?

A. God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence.

Supportive Scriptures

Revelation 4:11

11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they existed and were created.”

Ephesians 1:11

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible

Questions and Answers from the Shorter Catechism, Westminster Confession – Copyright: Public Domain

Westminster Assembly. The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition. Philadelphia: William S. Young, 1851.

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7. What are the decrees of God?

A. The decrees of God are, his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.

Supportive Scriptures

Ephesians 4:3-14 

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love

5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight

9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ

10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Romans 9:22-23 

22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,

23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—

Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible

Questions and Answers from the Shorter Catechism, Westminster Confession – Copyright: Public Domain

Westminster Assembly. The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition. Philadelphia: William S. Young, 1851.

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6. How many persons are there in the Godhead?

A. There are three persons in the Godhead; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.

Supportive Scriptures

1 John 5:7 (KJV)

7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Matthew 28:19 (ESV)

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible and the KJV

Questions and Answers from the Shorter Catechism, Westminster Confession – Copyright: Public Domain

Westminster Assembly. The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition. Philadelphia: William S. Young, 1851.

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5. Are there more Gods than one?

A. There is but One only, the living and true God.

Supportive Scriptures

Deuteronomy 6:4

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.

Jeremiah 10:10

10 But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King.  At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible 

Questions and Answers from the Shorter Catechism, Westminster Confession – Copyright: Public Domain

Westminster Assembly. The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition. Philadelphia: William S. Young, 1851.

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4. What is God?

A. God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.

Supportive Scriptures

John 4:24

24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.

Job 11:7

7 Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?

Psalm 90:2

2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

James 1:17

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Exodus 3:14

14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

Psalm 147:5

5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.

Revelation 4:8

8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!”

Revelation 15:4

4 Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy.
All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.

Exodus 34:6

6 The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,

Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible 

Questions and Answers from the Shorter Catechism, Westminster Confession – Copyright: Public Domain

Westminster Assembly. The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition. Philadelphia: William S. Young, 1851.

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3. What do the scriptures principally teach?

A. The scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.

Supportive Scriptures

2 Timothy 1:13-14

13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible 

Questions and Answers from the Shorter Catechism, Westminster Confession – Copyright: Public Domain

Westminster Assembly. The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition. Philadelphia: William S. Young, 1851.

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2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?

A. The word of God, which is contained in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.

Supportive Scriptures

Ephesians 2:19-20

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.

1 John 1:3-4

3 That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible

Questions and Answers from the Shorter Catechism, Westminster Confession – Copyright: Public Domain

Westminster Assembly. The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition. Philadelphia: William S. Young, 1851.

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1. What is the chief end of man?

A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.

Supportive Scriptures

1 Corinthians 10:31 

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Romans 11:36 

36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Psalm 73:25–28 

25 Whom have I in heaven but you?

And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

26  My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;

you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.

28 But for me it is good to be near God;

I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,

that I may tell of all your works.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible 

Questions and Answers from the Shorter Catechism, Westminster Confession – Copyright: Public Domain

Westminster Assembly. The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition. Philadelphia: William S. Young, 1851.

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