A couple of clarifying amendments to the Westminster Confession

It seems to me, given some rather enlightening interaction I have recently benefited from, that some salutary amendments could be implemented to clarify the real meaning of the Westminster Confession.

For example we could change this:

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 Spirit speaking in the Scripture.

to this:

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 Spirit speaking in the Scripture, as interpreted in much clearer language by a council’s documents that have been adopted as the church’s doctrinal standards.

Or we could modify this:

3. All synods or councils, since the Apostles’ times, whether general or particular, may err; and many have erred. Therefore they are not to be made the rule of faith, or practice; but to be used as a help in both.

to this:

3. All synods or councils, since the Apostles’ times, whether general or particular, may err; and many have erred. Therefore they are not to be made the rule of faith, or practice; but to be used as a help in both, so that, their interpretation of Scripture, may be used as a rule of faith.

One thought on “A couple of clarifying amendments to the Westminster Confession

  1. David

    Mark,

    There is no reason to go through the trouble of modifying the Confession given that we already have an oral tradition …

    David

    Reply

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