The Shorter Catechism Explained from Scripture

by Thomas Vincent

In the opinion of B.B. Warfield, the Westminster divines left to posterity not only the most thoroughly thought out statement ever penned of the elements of evangelical religion but also one which breathes the finest fragrance of spiritual religion . Their most influential work, The Shorter Catechism , was intended as a teaching basis for an introduction to the Christian Faith. No London pastor made more effective use of it than Thomas Vincent (1634-1678) and when his explanation was first published in 1674, John Owen, Thomas Watson along with 38 other signatories to the Preface, declared their belief that it would be greatly useful to all Christians in general .

Genres: Theology, Nonfiction, Christian, Church History

282 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1980

Reviews

[Justin Andrusk · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent exposition on the Westminster Shorter Catechism.

[Seth Goodale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great. A sufficient explanation of the Shorter Catechism. Please read this if you want to understand the catechism.

[Jacob Aitken · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the “unofficial” commentary on the Westminster Shorter Catechism, having received imprimaturs from John Owen and Thomas Watson. It differs from Watson’s in that it follows a more exegetical approach to the Catechism (though Watson’s is written with more verve). It is mildly polemical, as Vincent will take pains to show why the “Papist” or antinomian is wrong, but even then he doesn’t let himself be sidetracked.

After quoting a particular Q&A, Vincent will then ask several follow up questions and most of his answers are quotes from Scripture. He is particularly strong on the doctrine of God, 5th, 6th, and 7th commandments, and the sacraments. Some examples:

God’s substance is spirit. A spirit is an immaterial substance. God’s knowledge: “The wisdom of God is his essential property, whereby, by one simple and eternal act, he knoweth both himself and all possible things perfectly, and according to which he maketh, directeth, and ordereth all future things for his own glory” (29).

“A covenant is a mutual agreement and engagement, between two or more parties, to give or to do something” (51). Vincent’s definition of covenant is superior to accoutns that try to define covenant as “a bond in blood.” The Pactum Salutis made in eternity is bloodless, for example.

“God doth bring his elect into an estate of salvation in the way of his covenant” (68). The covenant of grace was made with Christ and the elect as his seed (68). Vincent rightly notes this is not the same covenant God made with Christ in eternity.

[Adam Nesmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have read all year, hands down. After memorizing the Westminster shorter catechism, I wanted a commentary of sorts to make sure I understood the catechism. This volume by Vincent blew me away. Warm, pastoral, devotional, deep without being dry. Vincent himself wrote it as a tool for members of his congregation to use in family discipleship and personal devotions. This pastoral writing goal shows in every page. The format of the book is simple: for each question and answer of the shorter catechism, Vincent asks further questions and gives answers (with copious scriptural references) to expound the catechism answer.

The whole book is excellent but for me it really shone in the sections on the 10 commandments. Yet it’s honestly hard to even pick a part to emphasize because the whole thing is a gem. I read it as a personal devotional but it is also an amazing reference for Sunday Schools or catechism focused sermons and, as I mentioned, it literally was created to be used in family worship.

If you were on a desert island and could have only one book summarizing Biblical doctrine and the Christian life, this book would be at the top of my list. In many ways the tone reminded me of Matthew Henrys commentary on the whole Bible. I plan on re-reading it, referencing it, and hopefully using it in family worship in the future. In short, you should probably own this book and leverage it in your own life and the life of your family.

[Caleb Plattner · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the more practical books I've read in a while - very easy to understand, great for new believers. Has a tendency to overapply some principles, but helpful overall.

[CJ Bowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An updated version in more modern language would turn this helpful resource into a fantastic one. As it stands, the prose is a hindrance. The content, however, is very good. I was struck, however, by the sheer dominance of the sections on the Ten Commandments, which takes up nearly half of the book. And while that might be a helpful corrective today, it certainly affects the overall feel and tone of the book, I think in a less than positive direction.

While some Reformed folk today will have trouble swallowing some of Vincent's interpretations (viz., when he articulates the WSC's teaching on the sacraments as effectual means of salvation), his careful work and historical proximity to the Standards make this a valuable tool for understanding a key foundation of Reformed theology.

[Joonas Laajanen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite book of the year. Invaluable. The Shorter Catechism is the most able catechism in terms of content, breadth, depth, and clarity. This work by Vincent is *better*. Why? It explains it with the same clarity, showing that this is indeed the teaching of the Scriptures without a reasonable doubt. This work is able to cure the poor theology of today if only every Christian family would give it serious attention.

[Matt Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thomas Vincent’s explanation of the catechism is a gold mine of theological and biblical truth. He uses the Socratic w and a method. Same as the catechism itself to further explain it. There is no intro or conclusion, literally just the catechism and a few questions to dive deeper. Each answer has multiple scripture references making it impactful for his day and ours.

[Diaan vd Berg · Rating 4 out of 5]

2024: Helpful to explain the Shorter Catechism.

Sometimes I find the Longer Catechism explanations or even the Confession of Faith have better/more answers than Vincent, however his answers for the 10 commandments were particularly helpful.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful, detailed exploration of the Biblical basis for the Westminster Shorter Catechism (WSC). For each each catechism question, it asks and answers several questions that dive deeper into the topic, giving proof texts along the way.

Any confession, creed, or catechism is only as valuable as it is based on the Bible, and this book shows just that for each answer in the WSC.

The book is made more difficult to read by lack of whitespace between paragraphs, and use of Roman numerals in Bible references and WSC question numbers.

According to the back cover, John Owen, Thomas Watson, and 38 other signatories to the Preface of the WSC said this book would "be greatly useful to all Christians in general."

Notes
Q2
Apocryphal books aren't inspired or canonical
1. They weren't written in Hebrew, or acknowledged as canonical by Jews.
2. They contain falsities and contradictions to canonical books.
3. They lack power and majesty of canonical books.
4. Author of Ecclesiasticus asks for pardon if anything in that book is amiss, showing it's not infallible.

Q5
One argument for God's existence
1. Material objects can't have existed eternally, or they couldn't be altered or destroyed, which isn't the case.
2. Things can't give being to themselves.
3. Therefore, there must be a God who's necessary, infinite, eternal, omnipotent, and Creator of all that's created.

Q12
At Fall, humanity lost aspects of image of God: knowledge, righteousness, holiness (Col 3:10; Eph 4:24).

At Fall, Adam and Eve became liable to temporal/physical death, and experienced spiritual death (separation from God).

Q21
We can't ascribe the properties of Christ's divine nature to His human nature, or vice versa, but because of the "near union of both natures in one person," Christ has the properties of both natures.

Q33
James 2:24 means that our works justify our faith before people (Jas 2:18), not before God (Rom 3:19-28; 4:2-5).

Q35
Image of God (knowledge, righteousness, holiness) is renovated by sanctification (Col 3:10; Eph 4:24).

Q40
Christ delivers us from the moral law's curse, condemnation, and irritation, but moral law remains a permanent rule of obedience for us to follow, and a reason to thank Christ for fulfilling it for us (Rom 7:6, 12; Titus 2:11-12).

Q51
Images of God are forbidden (Ex 20:4-5; Deut 4:15-16; 5:8-9). Images of God that aren't intended to be used for worship are unlawful because they debase God and can lead to idolatry. Images of Jesus are unlawful because His divine nature can't be pictured, and His glorified human body can't be pictured. If a picture of God or Jesus doesn't cause devotion or worship, that's sinful ("it is in vain"), and if it does cause devotion or worship, that's also sinful (because it's worshipping by an image).

We may only worship God as prescribed in Bible (Col 2:20-23; Matt 15:9).

Q52
God only "visits the iniquity of the fathers upon their children" if the children follow their parents in committing the same sins (Ezek 18:14, 17).

Q58
Sabbath is 1 day in 7, a full 24 hrs.

Sabbath began in morning (Ex 16:23; Matt 28:1; Mark 16:9).

Sabbath is moral, not ceremonial, commandment
1. It was instituted before Fall, before ceremonial law.
2. Reasons given for it are perpetual, not ceremonial.
3. It's in 10 Commandments, and all are moral, written by God on stone.
4. Gentiles had to observe it, though they didn't have to observe ceremonial law.
5. Matt 24:20 refers to Sabbath in AD 70, after abrogation of ceremonial law.

Q59
God's people knew of Sabbath before God gave 10 Commandments (Ex 16:23).

God hallowed Sabbath, not 7th day.

Evidence that Sabbath was changed to 1st day of week
1. As 7th day was based on God's resting from creation, so 1st day was based on Christ's resting from work of redemption (Heb 4:10).
2. 1st day is called Lord's Day by inspired author in Rev 1:10.
3. Paul told Gentile churches to take collections on 1st day (1 Cor 16:1-2).
4. Disciples assembled on 1st day several times, and risen Christ met with them that day (John 10:19, 26; Acts 10:6-7).

Q68
We may not lie to save our lives (Rom 3:8).

We may not lie to save others' lives. Rahab was commended for her faith, not her lie.

Q74
We may make use of human laws to recover or defend what's rightfully ours
1. Matt 5:40 and 1 Cor 6:7 aren't absolutes that apply in every case.
2. Matt 5:40 means to be willing to part with minor goods to avoid contention, not to give our belongings to anyone who asks.
3. 1 Cor 6:7; forbids Christians taking legal action against each other before non-Christian courts.
4. God appointed magistrate to execute laws protection personal property, and God gave Israel judicial laws about personal property.

Q82
1 John 3:9 means saints don't sin with full consent of their will, don't live in a course of sin, don't commit sin undo death (1 John 5:17-18).

When Bible calls people perfect (Job 1:8; 2 Kings 20:3; Phil 3:15) it refers to sincerity or relative perfection, not absolute perfection.

[Dirk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful tool to teach Catechism, meditate on church dogmatics.

[David Goetz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid resource for further study of the Westminster Shorter Catechism and, more generally, of the biblical and theological thinking of confessional Reformed Christianity. In my judgment, its value lies in two characteristics: (1) Vincent's reliance on Scripture to demonstrate the doctrines of the catechism, which rightly accents the Westminster Standards as subordinate standards; and (2) the way the catechism itself forces exposition not merely of the doctrines we share in common with all other Christian traditions but also the Reformed doctrinal distinctives (e.g., the munus triplex, the Reformed view of the law with thorough exposition of the Ten Commandments, sacraments).

[Andrew Bowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like it says on the tin. Do you want the Westminster Confession of Faith broken down into even more subquestions, with each being explained? Then this is the book for you.

It is impressive how much good theology is packed into one book. Whatever your opinion on the Westminster Confession (I think it's pretty neat, for the record) the breakdown on theology proper in the first five questions and the section on the sacraments alone are worth the read.

I would recommend this to be used in conjunction with a reading plan of the Shorter Catechism. Reading it straight through might become a bit tedious and difficult to parse out. It is also a good resource and I will try to use it to explain more difficult theological topics because of how precisely the questions are broken down.

[Clay Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

#16 of 60+ in the Puritan Paperbacks series by Banner of Truth.

A solid reference to have on your shelf that expands on each question in the shorter catechism. If you ever have a question of how one of the answers to the catechism questions is supported with scripture, this will show you.

[Mark Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid commentary on the shorter catechism.

VT Reading Challenge 2025: A book that focuses on God’s attributes for kids

[WH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each question of the shorter catechism is explained further using a series of questions and answers--a sort of catechism within a catechism. So many gems within this volume. And several different "a-haǃ" moments when familiar words shone with new clarity. I had not read Vincent before, but he has suddenly become one of my favorite Puritans.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a little outdated in some ways, but it still contains some rare jewels of truth. I refer to his language as being outdated for the most part. Of course the author can't engage with modern theories on origins because he wrote during the 17th century!

[Chris Comis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had no idea so much could be gleaned from the Westminster Shorter C. I feel bad for all the little kiddies who had to sit through his catechism class.

[Sean McGowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great.

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good and helpful overall.