(This is a booklet that was discovered in our church library. It is a wonderful discussion of the doctrines of Presbyterianism as described in the Westminster Confession and Catechisms and other Presbyterian doctrinal papers. It was scanned and OCR'ed and converted to HTML (Internet format) and is published here online with permission of the author, Dr. Joseph M. Gettys. Dr. Gettys can be reached at 801 Musgrove Street, Clinton, S. C. 29325.

The Table of Contents indicing and Bible citation links were added as part of the HTML conversion. A few typos were also corrected, with notes showing the original text in those places. The original booklet is in the form of a class study guide, with worksheets at the end of each chapter which contained questions to be answered by students for the purposes of reviewing the concepts discussed in the chapter and also to facilitate class discussion. The worksheets are not reproduced here.)

What Presbyterians Believe

An Interpretation of the Westminster Standards

by

JOSEPH M. GETTYS

Professor of Bible

PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE

CLINTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

First Printing, 1953

Thirty-first Printing, 1979

COPYRIGHT ©, JOSEPH M. GETTYS

Printed in the United States

Dedicated to my daughter Jean
With a prayer that she may learn in her experience
the meaning of the Presbyterian Faith


PREFACE

PRESBYTERIAN STUDENTS in college often get into “bull sessions” with their friends and feel embarrassed because they do not know what they believe. They know that theirs is a doctrinal church, but they do not know how to define or to give reasons for their faith.

Likewise chaplains in the various branches of the armed services are appalled at the spiritual ignorance of the men they seek to serve. Other groups may know what they believe, but few Presbyterians do.

In many local congregations ministers and educational leaders are seriously hampered in their work because some of their members have learned a mixture of Presbyterian and non-Presbyterian theology and insist upon teaching the mixture to the children and youth of the church.

In every age and every area of life, Presbyterians are revealing a lack of moral and spiritual stamina such as that which comes from a faith clearly understood and firmly held. They are not different from other church members in this respect, but they might be helped by a better understanding of what is contained in their official doctrinal standards. While as members of the church they are not required to accept these standards for admission, as parents and officers they do profess to subscribe to them.

When this book was first written the First Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas, began with the materials provided by the Board of Education and tried to use these materials more effectively than most churches have done. It made a fresh approach to the study of the Bible in relation to life as an important means of spiritual growth. It sought also to discover available materials for elective courses for young people and adults. These materials must be good in content. They must be pedagogically effective. They must be accompanied by suitable teacher’s or leader’s guides. The search for a text in “What Presbyterians Believe” as a basic course ended in disappointment. A number of texts dealing with general beliefs of Christians were examined, but none sufficiently set forth the doctrines contained in the Presbyterian Standards. Other books which interpreted Calvinistic theology, including one on the Presbyterian Standards, did not seem to serve as good study texts for lay people. It became necessary therefore to produce a text for which a leader’s guide might be prepared in order to provide a suitable text for a basic course in our curriculum for older young people and adults. This series of studies, arranged in thirteen units, is designed for this number of class periods. If necessary, combinations may be made to fit into a ten-hour study.

It will become evident from the outline, which is provided in detail because no index is included, that an attempt has been made to include all of the basic doctrines of the Presbyterian Standards. The selection and interpretation would doubtless be different with another author. However, it is hoped that the selection is comprehensive and the interpretation both clear and reasonably accurate. Obviously all Presbyterians cannot be lumped together as though none of them thought for themselves. A freedom in thought and a loyalty to the scriptural faith which makes Presbyterianism a glorious heritage among Protestant bodies is fully recognized. The primary goal of these studies is to present the point of view of the Westminster Standards, and to permit those who differ to differ in the peace and harmony of Christian love.

Two chapters, one dealing with our task in the home and another with our task in society, are included because of the peculiar needs of American Presbyterianism. If these chapters do not properly interpret the spirit and the letter of the Presbyterian Standards, they may at least point a direction in which Presbyterians are moving. Some, of course, are far ahead of others. The presentation is purposely conservative in the hope that those who lag behind in these areas of thought and conduct may be moved to join others who are striving to work out their faith in these special areas of human living.

Any advanced theological student who reads these pages will discover quickly that this is an introductory type of study for lay people. The fine points of speculative or dogmatic theology that appeal to advanced students are avoided in the effort to present the main points of Presbyterian faith clearly. However, many of the controversial questions that concern lay people are dealt with in relation to the Presbyterian Standards. It is hoped that the presentation is fair and that the spirit of love is apparent. Additional reading will be suggested from time to time in the leader’s guide.

Who is expected to use this study book? Older high school and college students, young adults and adults who would understand their faith more clearly, and individual church members who desire a book on the faith of Presbyterians will probably find this book helpful. Some ministers may wish to guide study courses with the faithful members who attend Sunday evening services or study classes. In this case, it is important that two things be done. One is to get a study book in the hands of every pupil or every couple so that preparation may be made in advance of the study period. Worksheets should be filled out before the class hour. [Worksheets are not provided in this online version of the book.] In addition, opportunity should be provided for participation in the study period together, either through group discussion or through the use of questions before or after a lecture. It is highly important that pupils be encouraged to ask questions about matters that are not clear or not acceptable to them. Good theology should not become fruitless through poor pedagogy. Therefore care should be taken to bring the best in teaching to this cooperative learning experience.

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