London Baptist Confession Table of Contents

Of the Holy Scriptures

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I appreciate the logic that is presented about revelation in point one. Natural revelation is there pointing us to God, but it is insufficient for a true knowledge of God and salvation.

Therefore, God has revealed himself out of his own good will in various ways for the good of his people. But due to the corruption, he has commited the message to writing.

Therefore, the Holy Scriptures are most necessary because the former ways of revelation have ceased.

The LBC assumes a basically cessationist position. There’s probably room here for an open but cautious perspective, but the emphasis is clearly on the Scriptures as the Word of God. The place we should be looking for the will of God, the place for all comfort and knowledge, encouragement and training is the Scriptures.

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Mildly interesting that the Apochrypha is considered to be no more helpful than any other human writing. In other places you will see a recommendation to read the apochrypha as historically significant or as spiritually uplifting texts. Similar to how we might uphold the puritans as a generally helpful category of writings.

In the Protestant world, the Apochrypha has been treated with suspicion at best. Most Protestants, even widely read ones, have not read the Apochrypha.

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Very Van Tillian.

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The role of the Holy Spirit and the mind of believers have a specific relation to the Word. The Holy Spirit is not providing new revelation but opening up the minds and hearts of humans to the written Word.

The sanctified mind has freedom within the boundaries of the rules of the Word to make wise decisions for the running of church, government, and other affairs.

This is a carefule application of the Word. It is sufficient and there, but it is not alone. The Holy Spirit must open our eyes and give us a new heart to understand it. As believers, we must use our reason and the principles of the Word to make righteous decisions.

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The Scriptures should be translated. Ultimately, it is the Scriptures in the original languages that are inspired, but the word ought to be translated into every common tongue to which the gospel goes in order that the people may possess the benefits of the word.

The implication for missions is clear. The Scriptures should be translated as the Gospel spreads.

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Our confidence in theology rests not in any preacher or council or tradition, but in the Holy Scriptures alone.