1 in Faith: A Christian Bible Study


	Exegesis Confessions Inerrancy Rules NewTestament Paul Gospels Acts Others OldTestament Pentateuch Writings Prophets Worship Hymns Prayers Scriptures Sermons Ethics Ecology Rights Sex War Dialogue Critiques Interfaith Links QandAs References Parables Site Map
	† Hymns (mp3) Be Still My Soul Follow Christ God of Earth If You Have Faith O God of Love Keep Us Safe O God of Life God of Abraham Cry for Justice This is My Prayer To Make You True Where are You
	† Carols (mp3) Ding Dong Coventry Friendly Beasts Lo a Rose Patapan What Child Unto Us Huron Carol Jesus Born Dark of Winter Foom All Mortal Flesh Drummer Boy Gabriel's Message Hush My Dear Infant Holy Savior Come We Three Kings
	† Books Faith, Belief, and Religion Quest for Truth Faith in Human Rights Jerusalem Journal

Scots Confession

Written in 1560 by John Knox and five other "Johns" (Willock, Winram, Spottiswood, Row and Douglas) in five days at the conclusion of the Scottish civil war in response to medieval Catholicism and at the behest of the Scottish Parliament. Its central doctrines are those of election and the Church. It was approved by the Reformation Parliament and Church of Scotland, attaining full legal status with the departure of Mary, Queen of Scots in 1567.

Chapter XVIII (3.18)

"The interpretation of Scripture, we confess, does not belong to any private or public person, not yet to any Kirk for pre-eminence or precedence, personal or local, which it has above others, but pertains to the Spirit of God by whom the Scriptures were written. When controversy arises about the right understanding of any passage or sentence of Scripture, or for the reformation of any abuse within the Kirk of God, we ought not so much to ask what men have said or done before us, as what the Holy Ghost uniformly speaks within the body of the Scriptures and what Christ Jesus himself did and commanded. . .. So if the interpretation or opinion of any theologian, Kirk or council is contrary to the plain Word of God written in any other passage of the Scripture, it is most certain that this is not the true understanding and meaning of the Holy Ghost. . .. We dare not receive or admit any interpretation which is contrary to any principal point of our faith, or to any other plain text of Scripture, or to the rule of love."

Comment: The Scots Confession takes it for granted that Christians interpret the Christian Bible. The last sentence of this excerpt sums up its guidelines for interpretation. A particular text should be interpreted in the context of Christian faith as understood from the whole Bible, and its understanding should not violate a common sense reading or the rule of love that is revealed in the New Testament.

To read all of the Scots Confession.

Home Exegesis Scripture Worship Ethics Dialogue Parables Email