( 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Isaiah 8:20; Luke 16:29, 31; Ephesians 2:20; Romans 1:19-21; Romans 2:14,15; Psalms 19:1-3; Hebrews 1:1; Proverbs 22:19-21; Romans 15:4; 2 Peter 1:19,20 )
2.
Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now
contained all the books of the Old and New Testaments, which are these:
OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I Samuel, II Samuel, I Kings, II Kings, I Chronicles, II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, The Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
OF THE NEW TESTAMENT: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, The Acts of the Apostles, Paul's Epistle to the Romans, I Corinthians, II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I Thessalonians, II Thessalonians, I Timothy, II Timothy, To Titus, To Philemon, The Epistle to the Hebrews, Epistle of James, The first and second Epistles of Peter, The first, second, and third Epistles of John, The Epistle of Jude, The Revelation
All of which are given by the inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life.
( 2 Timothy 3:16)
3.
The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration,
are no part of the canon or rule of the Scripture, and, therefore, are
of no authority to the church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved
or made use of than other human writings.
( Luke 24:27, 44; Romans 3:2 )
4.
The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed,
dependeth not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon
God (who is truth itself) the author thereof; therefore it is to be
received because it is the Word of God.
( 2 Peter 1:19-21; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 John 5:9 )
5.
We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church of God to an
high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scriptures; and the heavenliness
of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, and 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, and many other incomparable excellencies, and
entire perfections thereof, are arguments whereby it doth 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.
( John 16:13,14; 1 Corinthians 2:10-12; 1 John 2:20, 27)
6.
The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own
glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down or
necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture: unto which nothing at any
time is to be added, whether by new revelation of the Spirit, or
traditions of men. 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, 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.
( 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Galatians 1:8,9; John 6:45; 1 Corinthians 2:9-12; 1 Corinthians 11:13, 14; 1 Corinthians 14:26,40)
7.
All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike
clear unto all; 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 ordinary means, may attain to a
sufficient understanding of them.
( 2 Peter 3:16; Psalms 19:7; Psalms 119:130)
8.
The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language of the
people of God of old) and the New Testament in Greek (which at the time
of the writing of it was most generally known to the nations) being
immediately inspired by God, and by his singular care and providence
kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentic; so as in all
controversies of religion, the church is finally to appeal to them. But
because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God,
who have a right unto, and interest in the Scriptures, and are
commanded in the fear of God to read and search them, therefore they
are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto
which they come, that the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they
may worship him in an acceptable manner, and through patience and
comfort of the Scriptures may have hope.
( Romans 3:2; Isaiah 8:20; Acts 15:15; John 5:39; 1 Corinthians 14:6, 9, 11, 12, 24, 28; Colossians 3:16 )
9.
The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture
itself; and therefore when there is a question about the true and full
sense of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one) it must be
searched by other places that speak more clearly.
( 2 Peter 1:20, 21; Acts 15:15, 16)
10.
The supreme judge, by which all controversies of religion are to be
determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers,
doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose
sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Scripture
delivered by the Spirit, into which Scripture so delivered, our faith
is finally resolved.
( Matthew 22:29, 31, 32; Ephesians 2:20; Acts 28:23)