Explanation of the Shorter Catechism · Presbyterian / Reformed

Fisher’s Catechism

Note. This text was transcribed from a supplied digital edition and has not been proofread against a printed one. Numbering and page-layout irregularities in that edition may remain in places. James Fisher’s prefaces are included; the publisher’s introduction, editorial footnotes and index are not. Topics are the Shorter Catechism questions each item explains.

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96 topics. Open a topic to see its questions.

WSC 1. What is the chief end of man? (49)

WSC 2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him? (51)

WSC 3. What do the scriptures principally teach? (18)

WSC 4. What is God? (170)

WSC 5. Are there more Gods than one? (19)

WSC 6. How many persons are there in the Godhead? (44)

WSC 7. What are the decrees of God? (48)

WSC 8. How doth God execute his decrees? (10)

WSC 9. What is the work of creation? (35)

WSC 10. How did God create man? (35)

WSC 11. What are God’s works of providence? (55)

WSC 12. What special act of providence did God exercise toward man in the estate wherein he was created? (44)

WSC 13. Did our first parents continue in the estate wherein they were created? (33)

WSC 14. What is sin? (27)

WSC 15. What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created? (20)

WSC 16. Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first transgression? (25)

WSC 17. Into what estate did the fall bring mankind? (11)

WSC 18. Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell? (45)

WSC 19. What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell? (43)

WSC 20. Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery? (121)

WSC 21. Who is the Redeemer of God’s elect? (41)

WSC 22. How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man? (32)

WSC 23. What offices doth Christ excecute as our Redeemer? (31)

WSC 24. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet? (27)

WSC 25. How doth Christ execute the office of a priest? (72)

WSC 26. How doth Christ execute the office of a king? (53)

WSC 27. Wherein did Christ’s humiliation consist? (46)

WSC 28. Wherein consisteth Christ’s exaltation? (128)

WSC 29. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ? (26)

WSC 30. How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ? (40)

WSC 31. What is effectual calling? (53)

WSC 32. What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life? (10)

WSC 33. What is justification? (66)

WSC 34. What is adoption? (36)

WSC 35. What is sanctification? (53)

WSC 36. What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctfication? (71)

WSC 37. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death? (37)

WSC 38. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection? (59)

WSC 39. What is the duty which God requireth of man? (15)

WSC 40. What did God at first reveal to man for the rule of his obedience? (96)

WSC 41. Where is the moral law summarily comprehended? (38)

WSC 42. What is the sum of the ten commandments? (27)

WSC 44. What doth the preface to the ten commandments teach us? (37)

WSC 46. What is required in the first commandment? (39)

WSC 47. What is forbidden in the first commandment? (50)

WSC 48. What are we specially taught by these words [before me] in the first commandment? (11)

WSC 50. What is required in the second commandment? (36)

WSC 51. What is forbidden in the second commandment? (36)

WSC 52. What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment? (34)

WSC 54. What is required in the third commandment? (79)

WSC 55. What is forbidden in the third commandment? (28)

WSC 56. What is the reason annexed to the third commandment? (9)

WSC 58. What is required in the fourth commandment? (42)

WSC 59. Which day of the seven hath God appointed to be the weekly sabbath? (34)

WSC 60. How is the sabbath to be sanctified? (44)

WSC 61. What is forbidden in the fourth commandment? (15)

WSC 62. What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment? (20)

WSC 64. What is required in the fifth commandment? (36)

WSC 65. What is forbidden in the fifth commandment? (7)

WSC 66. What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment? (13)

WSC 68. What is required in the sixth commandment? (20)

WSC 69. What is forbidden in the sixth commandment? (41)

WSC 71. What is required in the seventh commandment? (23)

WSC 72. What is forbidden in the seventh commandment? (39)

WSC 74. What is required in the eighth commandment? (28)

WSC 75. What is forbidden in the eighth commandment? (40)

WSC 77. What is required in the ninth commandment? (24)

WSC 78. What is forbidden in the ninth commandment? (33)

WSC 80. What is required in the tenth commandment? (20)

WSC 81. What is forbidden in the tenth commandment? (25)

WSC 82. Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God? (29)

WSC 83. Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous? (31)

WSC 84. What doth every sin deserve? (12)

WSC 85. What doth God require of us, that we may escape his wrath and curse due to us for sin? (25)

WSC 86. What is faith in Jesus Christ? (79)

WSC 87. What is repentance unto life? (61)

WSC 88. What are the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption? (22)

WSC 89. How is the word made effectual to salvation? (63)

WSC 90. How is the word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation? (22)

WSC 91. How do the sacraments become effectual means of salvation? (13)

WSC 92. What is a sacrament? (35)

WSC 93. Which are the sacraments of the New Testament? (24)

WSC 94. What is baptism? (50)

WSC 95. To whom is baptism to be administered? (46)

WSC 96. What is the Lord’s supper? (73)

WSC 97. What is required to the worthy receiving of the Lord’s supper? (45)

WSC 98. What is prayer? (84)

WSC 99. What rule hath God given for our direction in prayer? (32)

WSC 100. What doth the preface of the Lord’s prayer teach us? (31)

WSC 101. What do we pray for in the first petition? (26)

WSC 102. What do we pray for in the second petition? (44)

WSC 103. What do we pray for in the third petition? (19)

WSC 104. What do we pray for in the fourth petition? (24)

WSC 105. What do we pray for in the fifth petition? (32)

WSC 106. What do we pray for in the sixth petition? (59)

WSC 107. What doth the conclusion of the Lord’s prayer teach us? (23)

Edition & Source Public domain

Source: The Westminster Assembly’s Shorter Catechism Explained, by Way of Question and Answer
Author: James Fisher and Ebenezer Erskine
Edition: Digital text supplied by reformededucation.org
Published: Part 1, 1753; Part 2, 1760
Copyright: Public domain.
License: Public domain
Attribution: The text is in the public domain. Text supplied by reformededucation.org. Scripture is quoted within the answers.

Cite as James Fisher and Ebenezer Erskine. The Westminster Assembly’s Shorter Catechism Explained, by Way of Question and Answer. Digital text supplied by reformededucation.org. Part 1, 1753; Part 2, 1760.