St. John's Reformed Church

Benjamin Keach, a pastor who was involved in the development of the Confession, is often attributed with writing this catechism, which is also commonly known as “Keach's Catechism.” It is likely that it was actually compiled by William Collins, another prominent pastor involved in drafting the Confession. The catechism was officially published by the British Baptists in 1693. There is a later revision of the catechism which was adopted by the Philadelphia Baptist Association in 1742. This is the original 1693 version.

The Bible

Q. 1.
Who is the first and best of beings?

A.
God is the first and best of beings.

Isaiah 44:6; Psalm 8:1; 97:9

Q. 2.
Ought everyone to believe there is a God?

A.
Everyone ought to believe there is a God (Hebrews 11:6); and it is their great sin and folly who do not.

Psalm 14:1

3.
The books commonly called the Apocrypha were not given by divine inspiration and therefore are not part of the canon or the standard of the Bible. This means they have no authority over the church of God and are not to be recognized or used in any way different from other human writings.⁶

⁶ Luke 24:27, 44; Romans 3:2

4.
The authority of the Bible requires belief in them. This authority does not depend on the testimony of any person or church but on God, the author alone, who is truth itself. Therefore,  the Bible is to be received because it is the Word of God.⁷

⁷ 2 Peter 1:19–21; 2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 John 5:9

5.
The testimony of the church of God may stir and persuade us to adopt a high and reverent respect for the Bible. The heavenliness of the contents, the power of the system of truth, the majesty of the style, the harmony of all the parts, the central focus on giving all glory to God, the full revelation of the only way of salvation, and many other incomparable qualities and complete perfections, all provide abundant evidence that the Bible is the Word of God. Even so, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority of the Bible comes from the internal work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.⁸

⁸ John 16:13,14; 1 Corinthians 2:10–12; 1 John 2:20, 27

6.
The whole counsel of God concerning everything necessary for his own glory and man’s salvation, faith, and life is either explicitly stated or by necessary inference contained in the Bible. Nothing is ever to be added to the Bible, either by new revelation of the Spirit or by human traditions.⁹ Nevertheless, we acknowledge that the inward illumination of the Spirit of God is necessary for a saving understanding of what is revealed in the Word¹⁰ and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God and government of the church that are common to human actions and organizations and are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian wisdom, following the general rules of the Word, which must always be observed.¹¹

⁹ 2 Timothy 3:15–17; Galatians 1:8,9
¹⁰ John 6:45; 1 Corinthians 2:9–12
¹¹ 1 Corinthians 11:13, 14; 1 Corinthians 14:26, 40

7.
Some parts of the Bible are clearer than others, and some people understand the teachings more clearly than others.¹² However, the things that must be known, believed, and obeyed for salvation are so clearly set forth and explained in one part of the Bible or another that both the educated and uneducated may attain a sufficient understanding of them by properly using ordinary measures.¹³

¹² 2 Peter 3:16
¹³ Psalm 19:7; Psalm 119:130

8.
The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, the native language of the ancient people of God.¹⁴ The New Testament was written in Greek, which at the time it was written was most widely known to the nations. These Testaments were inspired immediately by God and by his unique care and providence were kept pure throughout all the ages. They are therefore true and authoritative, so that in all religious controversies the church must make its ultimate appeal to them.¹⁵ All God’s people have a right to and a claim on the Bible and are commanded in the fear of God to read¹⁶ and search the Bible.¹⁷ Not all of God’s people know these original languages, so the Bible can be translated into the common language of every nation to which they come.¹⁸ In this way, the Word of God may dwell richly in all, so that they may worship him in an acceptable manner and through patience and the comfort of the Bible have hope.¹⁹

¹⁴ Romans 3:2
¹⁵ Isaiah 8:20
¹⁶ Acts 15:15
¹⁷ John 5:39
¹⁸ 1 Corinthians 14:6, 9, 11, 12, 24, 28
¹⁹ Colossians 3:16

9.
The infallible rule for the interpretation of the Bible is the Bible itself. Therefore, when there is a question about the true and full meaning of any part of the Bible (and each passage has only one meaning, not many), it must be understood in light of other passages that speak more clearly.²⁰

²⁰ 2 Peter 1:20, 21; Acts 15:15, 16

10.
The supreme judge for deciding all religious controversies and for evaluating all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, human teachings, and individual interpretations, and in whose judgment we are to rest, is nothing but the Bible delivered by the Spirit. In the Bible, our faith finds its final resolution.²¹

²¹ Matthew 22:29, 31, 32; Ephesians 2:20; Acts 28:23