MY COMMENTS ON CONFESSION COMMENTARIES

                         MY COMMENTS ON CONFESSION COMMENTARIES

1.     Probably my favourite commentary on the Confession is Rowland Ward’s The Westminster Confession for the Church Today. I like it for its terse straight to the point brevity. Snapshots as opposed to full length movies makes it great for ready reference.

2.     My next favourite is AA Hodge’s The Confession of Faith for its in-depth analysis with its plethora of Scriptural logical discussion, apt illustrations, and practical applications.

3.     Next favourite is RC Sproul’s Truths We Confess for its affable, pastoral manner. It easily and readily engages the teachable reader for a comprehensive analysis of the Confession.

4.     Next is Robert Shaw’s An Exposition of the Westminster Confession of Faith for being just that, an exposition of the Confession. It was first published in 1845, but its Scriptural truths are, of course, timeless.

5.     GI Williamson’s The Westminster Confession of Faith for Study Classes, like all of the above, is excellent too. He gives pithy and good discussion.

Also, we would be remiss not to note that Presbyterians worldwide, some more than others, have tweaked the Confession as originally written and intended. Some felt the need to add a chapter or two. Others rewrote portions. WCF 23 Of the Civil Magistrate (particularly Section 3) gets a lot of attention.

Westminster Confession of Faith 23, Section III. The civil magistrate may not assume to himself the administration of the word and sacraments, or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven: yet he hath authority, and it is his duty, to take order, that unity and peace be preserved in the church, that the truth of God be kept pure and entire, that all blasphemies and heresies be suppressed, all corruptions and abuses in worship and discipline prevented or reformed, and all the ordinances of God duly settled, administered, and observed. For the better effecting whereof, he hath power to call synods, to be present at them, and to provide that whatsoever is transacted in them be according to the mind of God.

Says RC Sproul on Chapter 23, “Some people say that the longest word in the dictionary is antidisestablishmentarianism. That word is awkward because it includes a double negative. Antidisestablishmentarianism is the same thing as establishmentarianism, which is a political philosophy that argues that the state should have an established church, such as the Church of England. In many European and Asian nations, a particular faith is supported financially by government taxation and politically by the power of the sword.”

The Confession as originally written was, of course, intended for a national church. I favour the original.