Shorter Catechism (1 - 10)

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Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?

A. Man's chief end is to glorify God,a and to enjoy him forever.b

(a) Ps 86:9; Isa 60:21; Rom 11:36; 1 Cor 6:20; 1 Cor 10:31; Rev 4:11
(b) Ps 16:5-11; Ps 144:15; Isa 12:2; Luke 2:10; Phil 4:4; Rev 21:3-4

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Q. 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,c is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.d

(c) Matt 19:4-5; Gen 2:24; Luke 24:27,44; 1 Cor 2:13; 1 Cor 14:37; 2 Pet 1:20-21; 2 Pet 3:2,15-16
(d) Deut 4:2; Ps 19:7-11; Isa 8:20; John 15:11; John 20:30-31; Acts 17:11; 2 Tim 3:15-17; 1 John 1:4

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Q. 3. What do the Scriptures principally teach?

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

(e) Gen 1:1; John 5:39; John 20:31; Rom 10:17; 2 Tim 3:15
(f) Deut 10:12-13; Josh 1:8; Ps 119:105; Mic 6:8; 2 Tim 3:16-17

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Q. 4. What is God?

A. God is a Spirit,g infinite,h eternal,i and unchangeable,k in his being,l wisdom,m power,n holiness,o justice,p goodness,q and truth.r

(g) Deut 4:15-19; Luke 24:39; John 1:18; John 4:24; Acts 17:29
(h) 1 Kgs 8:27; Ps 139:7-10; Ps 145:3; Ps 147:5; Jer 23:24; Rom 11:33-36
(i) Deut 33:27; Ps 90:2; Ps 102:12,24-27; Rev 1:4,8
(k) Ps 33:11; Mal 3:6; Heb 1:12; Heb 6:17-18; Heb 13:8; Jas 1:17
(l) Exod 3:14; Ps 115:2-3; 1 Tim 1:17; 1 Tim 6:15-16
(m) Ps 104:24; Rom 11:33-34; Heb 4:13; 1 John 3:20
(n) Gen 17:1; Ps 62:11; Jer 32:17; Matt 19:26; Rev 1:8
(o) Hab 1:13; 1 Pet 1:15-16; 1 John 3:3,5; Rev 15:4
(p) Gen 18:25; Exod 34:6-7; Deut 32:4; Ps 96:13; Rom 3:5,26
(q) Ps 103:5; Ps 107:8; Matt 19:17; Rom 2:4
(r) Exod 34:6; Deut 32:4; Ps 86:15; Ps 117:2; Heb 6:18

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Q. 5. Are there more Gods than one?

A. There is but one only,s the living and true God.t

(s) Deut 6:4; Isa 44:6; Isa 45:21-22; 1 Cor 8:4-6
(t) Jer 10:10; John 17:3; 1 Thess 1:9; 1 John 5:20

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Q. 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;u and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.w

(u) Matt 3:16-17; Matt 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14; 1 Pet 1:2
(w) Ps 45:6; John 1:1; John 17:5; Acts 5:3-4; Rom 9:5; Col 2:9; Jude 24-25

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Q. 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.x

(x) Ps 33:11; Isa 14:24; Acts 2:23; Eph 1:11-12

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Q. 8. How doth God execute his decrees?

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

(y) Ps 148:8; Isa 40:26; Dan 4:35; Acts 4:24-28; Rev 4:11

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Q. 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,z in the space of six days, and all very good.a

(z) Gen 1:1; Ps 33:6,9; Heb 11:3
(a) Gen 1:31

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Q. 10. How did God create man?

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

(b) Gen 1:27
(c) Col 3:10
(d) Eph 4:24
(e) Gen 1:28; Ps 8


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