Noah Webster defines catechism as “a form of instruction by means of questions and answers, particularly in the principles of religion” (An American Dictionary of the English Language [New York: S. Converse, 1828]). In this series, I examine Benjamin Keach’s “The Youth’s Catechism,” from his Instructions for Children, to challenge readers to think deeply about their religious convictions. Keach wrote this thorough catechism for children of a mature age.
After considering how creation proves that there is a God, Keach turns to special revelation. Due to length, this post considers the first part of his discussion on this topic. The father requests that his son prove that Scripture is God’s Word. The son argues this point in many ways. In this article, I briefly examine the first seven.
Fa.
What other means hast thou to teach thee there is a God?
Son.
The holy Scriptures.
Fa.
What grounds or arguments hast thou to believe the Scriptures are the Word of God?
Son.
By the contents or matters therein discoursed and treated of; which are so transcendently sublime and mysterious, that they could never be the product of humane Invention.
Fa.
How else?
Son.
By its antiquity: The books of Moses being, as Tertullian well observes in the 19th Cap. of his Apology, the first writings in the world.
Fa.
Thou sayst well: What other arguments hast thou?
Son.
The majesty and authoritativeness of the Spirit of God speaking in them, and the inimitable stile wherein they are written, shews, doubtless, they are of God.
Fa.
How else?
Son.
By the excellent Spirit of holiness, which every where breathes in them; this is another fair lineament of the hand of God in the framing of them.
Fa.
‘Tis a good Argument: What other hast thou?
Son.
The sweet and admirable agreement, consent, dependence and harmony that is found in every part of holy Scripture, though there are so many books thereof written by so many different persons, of various conditions, of many ages, removed in several places, and different languages; yet all agreeing with each other, & every part with the whole, is a great argument, doubtless, of its divine authority.
Fa.
What other argument hast thou besides these?
Son.
The approved credit and sincerity of the pen-men, whom none could ever prove guilty of the least imposture.
Fa.
I like these too hast got any more?
Son.
Another proof that the holy Scriptures are from God, is, the exact and punctual fulfilling of the prophecies therein contained: To fore-tell events is the prerogative of God only, Isai. 41.22. This, sir, I could make very clear.
Benjamin Keach, Instructions for children, 48–51, https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/evans/N29515.0001.001/1:6.3?rgn=div2;view=fulltext
In the following, I trace seven ways that the son defends the divine inspiration of Scripture. First, because of the transcendent matters discussed within, Scripture must be of divine origin. The son explains that the content is both lofty and grand. Second, the antiquity of the writing proves its divine inspiration. Specifically, he refers to the writings of Moses, The Pentateuch. Third, the son explains that the unique style and authoritative working of the Spirit of God through the Bible prove that God inspired it. Fourth, the perfection, excellence, and holiness found throughout evince the divine formation of Scripture. Fifth, the son turns to the consistency seen throughout the Bible. Despite being written over many years by multiple human penmen, divine harmony is displayed in all the books of the Bible. To state this another way, agreement pervades throughout the pages of Scripture. Sixth, the credibility and sincerity of the human penmen support the claim that God inspired the Bible. Seventh, the son argues that the perfect fulfillment of the prophecies contained within Scripture prove that it is the Word of God. It is solely God’s prerogative to foretell future events. To defend this claim, Keach references Isaiah 41:22 which states, “Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.” For clarity on this passage, consider John Gill’s explanation,
Let them bring them forth,…. Not their reasons, as before, but their gods; let them cause them to come nigh, let them appear in court, and speak for themselves, when their worshippers have said all they can in defence of their deity: and show us what shall happen: what shall come to pass hereafter; and by that prove their divinity; for none but God can foretell things to come with certainty; for everything else but what comes from God, by his prophets, is all conjecture, ambiguous, uncertain, mere juggle, trick, and deception, as were the oracles of the Heathens; but what is clearly and plainly foretold, and agreeably to the prediction comes to pass, is a proof of deity, and as such is here challenged. The “us” here, and the “we” in the following clauses, either design God, and the Christians, the true worshippers of him; or rather the three divine Persons in the Godhead, Father, Son, and Spirit, the one true God, in opposition to the gods of the Heathens.
John Gill, Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible, https://biblehub.com/commentaries/isaiah/41-22.htm
Thus, prophecy being fulfilled within Scripture supports the argument that God inspired the Bible.
Dear readers, I implore you to ponder upon how you should read, study, and apply the Scripture since it is the Word of God.