The Westminster Standards
A companion to the Westminster Standards — the Confession of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms — walking each text and showing its biblical grounding with ESV proofs. The Standards are subordinate standards: faithful summaries of Scripture, authoritative only as they accord with the Word. Each entry cross-links to the parallel chapters and questions.
Westminster Confession of Faith
The 33 chapters of the Confession, each with its proofs and exposition.
- 1. Of the Holy Scripture
- 2. Of God and of the Holy Trinity
- 3. Of God’s Eternal Decree
- 4. Of Creation
- 5. Of Providence
- 6. Of the Fall of Man of Sin and of the Punishment Thereof
- 7. Of God’s Covenant with Man
- 8. Of Christ the Mediator
- 9. Of Free Will
- 10. Of Effectual Calling
- 11. Of Justification
- 12. Of Adoption
- 13. Of Sanctification
- 14. Of Saving Faith
- 15. Of Repentance unto Life
- 16. Of Good Works
- 17. Of the Perseverance of the Saints
- 18. Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation
- 19. Of the Law of God
- 20. Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience
- 21. Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day
- 22. Of Lawful Oaths and Vows
- 23. Of the Civil Magistrate
- 24. Of Marriage and Divorce
- 25. Of the Church
- 26. Of the Communion of Saints
- 27. Of the Sacraments
- 28. Of Baptism
- 29. Of the Lord’s Supper
- 30. Of Church Censures
- 31. Of Synods and Councils
- 32. Of the State of Men after Death and of the Resurrection of the Dead
- 33. Of the Last Judgment
Westminster Larger Catechism
196 questions and answers, grouped by section.
- Q1–5 · Chief End and the Word
- Q6–11 · God and the Trinity
- Q12–14 · The Decrees and Their Execution
- Q15–17 · Creation
- Q18–20 · Providence and the Covenant of Life
- Q21–29 · The Fall Sin and Misery
- Q30–35 · The Covenant of Grace
- Q36–45 · Christ the Mediator
- Q46–56 · Humiliation and Exaltation
- Q57–65 · The Church and Benefits Begun
- Q66–90 · Union Justification and Benefits to Glory
- Q91–97 · The Moral Law and Its Uses
- Q98–102 · Rules Preface and Sum of the Law
- Q103–106 · The First Commandment
- Q107–110 · The Second Commandment
- Q111–114 · The Third Commandment
- Q115–121 · The Fourth Commandment
- Q122–133 · The Fifth Commandment
- Q134–136 · The Sixth Commandment
- Q137–139 · The Seventh Commandment
- Q140–142 · The Eighth Commandment
- Q143–145 · The Ninth Commandment
- Q146–148 · The Tenth Commandment
- Q149–153 · Inability Aggravations and the Way of Escape
- Q154–160 · The Outward Means and the Word
- Q161–177 · The Sacraments Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
- Q178–196 · Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer
Westminster Shorter Catechism
107 questions and answers, grouped by section.
- Q1 · Man’s Chief End
- Q2–3 · The Word the Rule
- Q4–6 · What God Is the Trinity
- Q7–8 · The Decrees and Their Execution
- Q9–11 · Creation and Providence
- Q12–19 · Covenant of Life the Fall
- Q20 · The Covenant of Grace
- Q21–28 · Christ the Redeemer
- Q29–31 · Effectual Calling Union
- Q32–36 · Benefits in This Life
- Q37–38 · Benefits at Death and Resurrection
- Q39–44 · The Moral Law and Ten Commandments
- Q45–48 · Preface and First Commandment
- Q49–52 · Second Commandment
- Q53–56 · Third Commandment
- Q57–62 · The Fourth Commandment
- Q63–66 · Fifth Commandment
- Q67–69 · Sixth Commandment
- Q70–72 · Seventh Commandment
- Q73–75 · Eighth Commandment
- Q76–78 · Ninth Commandment
- Q79–81 · Tenth Commandment
- Q82–84 · Inability and the Desert of Sin
- Q85–87 · Faith Repentance the Means
- Q88–90 · The Word as a Means of Grace
- Q91–93 · The Sacraments
- Q94–95 · Baptism
- Q96–97 · The Lord’s Supper
- Q98–107 · Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer