Of the Baptist Catechism
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Question What is God?
Answer God is a Spirit, 1 infinite, 2 eternal, 3 and unchangeable 4 in his being, 5 wisdom, 6 power, 7 holiness, 8 justice, goodness, and truth. 9
[1] John 4:24
[2] Job 11:7, 8, 9
[3] Psalm 110:2
[4] James 1:17
[5] Exodus 3:14
[6] Psalm 147:5
[7] Revelation 4:8
[8] Revelation 15:4
[9] Exodus 34:6

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Is God a Spirit?
Yes.

God is a Spirit,
John 4:24

Is he incorporeal and invisible?
Yes.

Ye have not heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape,
John 5:37

Is he a perfect spirit?
Yes.

He is light, and in him is no darkness,
1 John 1:5

Is he an active spirit?
Yes.

My Father worketh hitherto,
John 5:17

Is he a self-sufficient and independent spirit?
Yes.

His name is I am that I
Exodus 3:14

Is he an immortal spirit?
Yes.

Who only hath immortality,
1 Timothy 6:16

Is he above all other spirits?
Yes.

He is the Father of spirits,
Hebrews 12:9


Can we then form any adequate conception of the divine Being?
No.

What likeness can you compare unto him,
Isaiah 40:18

Are the organs of sense improperly ascribed unto him?
Yes.

Hast thou eyes of flesh or seest thou as man seeth,
Job 10:4

Can he be gratified with carnal things?
No.

I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he-goats out of thy fold,
Psalm 50:9

Should he be worshipped in a spiritual manner?
Yes.

Whom I serve with my spirit,
Romans 1:9

May we expect spiritual blessings from him?
Yes.

Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings,
Ephesians 1:3

And is he the only suitable portion for our spirits?
Yes.

The Lord is my portion saith my soul,
Lamentations 3:24


Is God infinite and omnipresent?
Yes.

Whither shall I flee from thy presence,
Psalm 139:7

Is he in heaven?
Yes.

If I ascend up into heaven thou art there,
Psalm 139:8

But is he confined to heaven?
No.

The heaven of heavens cannot contain thee,
2 Chronicles 2:6

Is his essence diffused through the whole universe of things?
Yes.

He is above all and through all and in all,
Ephesians 4:6

Is he then near to every one of us?
Yes.

He is not far from every one of us,
Acts 17:27

Should this be a support to the saints under their burden?
Yes.

Be strong for I am with you, saith the Lord,
Haggai 2:4

And a spur to holy actions?
Yes.

Walk before me, and be thou perfect,
Genesis 17:1


Is God eternal?
Yes.

The eternal God is thy refuge,
Deuteronomy 33:27

Was he from everlasting?
Yes.

Art thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God,
Habakkuk 1:12

Will he be to everlasting?
Yes.

From everlasting to everlasting thou art God,
Psalm 90:2

Is he only eternal?
Yes.

I am the first, and I am the last, and besides me there is no God,
Isaiah 44:6

Should he therefore be feared?
Yes.

He is the living God, and an everlasting King, at his wrath the earth shall tremble,
Jeremiah 10:10

And be trusted?
Yes.

Trust ye in the Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength,
Isaiah 26:4

Is this perfection of God humbling to man?
Yes.

Where wast thou when I laid the foundation of the earth,
Job 38:4

And glorious to himself?
Yes.

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, be honour and glory for ever and ever,
1 Timothy 1:17


Is God unchangeable?
Yes.

Thou art the same,
Psalm 102:27

Is he absolutely so?
Yes.

With him there is no shadow of turning,
James 1:17

Is he so in his own nature and perfections?
Yes.

I am the Lord, I change not,
Malachi 3:6

And in his will?
Yes.

His Counsel shall stand,
Isaiah 46:10

And in his love?
Yes.

I have loved thee with an everlasting love,
Jeremiah 31:3

And in his special favours?
Yes.

The gifts and calling of God are without repentance,
Romans 11:29

May not God change through some unforeseen accident?
No.

For known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world,
Acts 15:18

Or through want of power to effect what he has determined?
No.

For he is the Almighty God,
Genesis 17:1

Is it well for us that God is unchangeable?
Yes.

Therefore the sons of Jacob are not consumed,
Malachi 3:6


Is God wise?
Yes.

Counsel is mine and sound wisdom,
Proverbs 8:14

Doth his wisdom appear in creation and providence?
Yes.

He is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working,
Isaiah 28:29

And in redemption?
Yes.

Herein he hath abounded towards us in all wisdom and prudence,
Ephesians 1:8

Is he infinitely wise?
Yes.

His understanding is infinite,
Psalm 147:5

Is he originally so?
Yes.

With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him,
Isaiah 40:14

Is he perfectly so?
Yes.

The foolishness of God is wiser than man,
1 Corinthians 1:25

And is he incomprehensibly so?
Yes.

O the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God,
Romans 11:33

Is there any counterworking his wisdom?
No.

There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel, against the Lord,
Proverbs 21:30

Doth all wisdom proceed from him?
Yes.

He giveth wisdom unto the wise,
Daniel 2:21

Should we therefore seek it at his hands?
Yes.

If any man lack wisdom, let him ask it of God,
James 1:5


Is God powerful?
Yes.

Power belongeth unto God,
Psalm 62:11

Can he do all things?
Yes.

Is there any thing too hard for me,
Jeremiah 32:27

Can he do all things with the greatest ease?
Yes.

He taketh up the isles as a very little thing,
Isaiah 40:15

Can he do all things in the most perfect manner?
Yes.

He is a rock, his work is perfect,
Deuteronomy 32:4

Is God’s power necessary to give a sanction to his laws?
Yes.

There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy,
James 4:12

Is it irresistible?
Yes.

None can stay his hand,
Daniel 4:35

Is it subject to decay?
No.

The Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,
Isaiah 59:1

Does it extend to evil spirits and wicked men?
Yes.

The deceiver and deceived are his,
Job 12:16

Is it then a great folly to sin against such a God?
Yes.

Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy, are we stronger than he,
1 Corinthians 10:22


Is God holy?
Yes.

He is the holy one of Israel,
Isaiah 41:21

Is he supremely holy?
Yes.

There is none holy as the Lord,
1 Samuel 2:2

Does the holiness of God particularly appear in the work of redemption?
Yes.

Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness,
Isaiah 1:27

Have the heathens by the light of nature acknowledged the holiness of God?
Yes.

I know that the spirit of the holy Gods is in thee,
Daniel 4:9

And do spirits above make it the matter of their praise?
Yes.

They continually say, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty,
Revelation 4:8

And should we imitate them herein?
Yes.

Bless his holy name,
Psalm 103:1


Is God just?
Yes.

The Lord is righteous,
Psalm 129:4

Is he absolutely and perfectly so?
Yes.

Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid,
Romans 9:14

Is he just in inflicting temporal judgments?
Yes.

O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of face,
Daniel 9:7

And eternal vengeance?
Yes.

Is God unrighteous, who taketh vengeance,
Romans 3:5

Does the justice of God eminently appear in the undertaking and sufferings of Christ?
Yes.

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousness,
Romans 3:25

Should we then acknowledge the justice of God?
Yes.

Howbeit thou art just,
Nehemiah 9:33

And seek to avoid the direful effects of it?
Yes.

Escape for thy life, lest thou be consumed,
Genesis 19:17


Is God good?
Yes.

Thou, Lord, art good,
Psalm 86:5

May his goodness excite our wonder?
Yes.

How great is his goodness,
Zechariah 9:17

And should it excite our gratitude?
Yes.

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good,
Psalm 106:1

Is God universally good?
Yes.

He is good to all,
Psalm 145:9

Is he good to sinners?
Yes.

He sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust,
Matthew 5:45

Is he in an especial manner good to his own people?
Yes.

That I may see the good of thy chosen,
Psalm 106:5

Doth God take the contempt of his goodness heinously?
Yes.

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness,
Romans 2:4


Is God a God of truth?
Yes.

These things saith he that is true,
Revelation 3:7

Is he true to his promises?
Yes.

Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob,
Micah 7:20

And to his threatenings?
Yes.

But my words, did not they take hold of your fathers?
Zechariah 1:6

And to Christ?
Yes.

Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David,
Psalm 89:35

Is God unchangeable in his truth?
Yes.

The truth of the Lord endureth for ever,
Exodus 7:2

Should we therefore believe God?
Yes.

We should judge him faithful who hath promised,
Hebrews 11:11

And that rather than man?
Yes.

Let God be true, but every man a liar,
Romans 3:4

But though we believe not, does God continue faithful?
Yes.

For what if some did not believe, shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
Romans 3:3

From A Scriptural Exposition of the Baptist Catechism

The Westminster Larger Catechism Copy a link to this section

#7 Copy this
Question What is God?
Answer God is a Spirit, 1 in and of himself infinite in being, 2 glory, 3 blessedness, 4 and perfection; 5 all-sufficient, 6 eternal, 7 unchangeable, 8 incomprehensible, 9 everywhere present, 10 almighty, 11 knowing all things, 12 most wise, 13 most holy, 14 most just, 15 most merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. 16
[1] John 4:24
[2] Exodus 3:14; Job 11:7–9
[3] Acts 7:2
[4] 1 Timothy 6:15
[5] Matthew 5:48
[6] Genesis 17:1
[7] Psalm 90:2
[8] Malachi 3:6
[9] 1 Kings 8:27
[10] Psalm 139:1–13
[11] Revelation 4:8
[12] Hebrews 4:13; Psalm 147:5
[13] Romans 16:27
[14] Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 15:4
[15] Deuteronomy 32:4
[16] Exodus 34:6