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Notes to the Reader$

Notes to the Reader

Words or phrases in brackets [] are generally synonyms or short definitions of the word just preceding the brackets. Occasionally brackets contain explanatory material. Footnotes give longer definitions or explanations. Also, some footnotes point out variations between the source texts used in this translation;[1] such variations are typically very minor. Helpful Hint: When using Adobe Reader, you can click on a footnote to jump to it. Then use <alt><left-arrow> to return to the main text. Other PDF readers and non-Windows computers will have a similar keyboard shortcut; check the menus or toolbars in the browser or PDF reader.

Scripture Proof Texts - Important Information

Scripture proof texts are an important concern in this document; the WSC is, after all, only a summary of teachings from the Word of God. Portions of the WSC are typically followed by superscripted letters that correspond to the same superscripted letter preceding one or more Scripture references. These superscripted letters mirror the WSC/Scripture proof text linkage of the original WSC. These letters are omitted when all references pertain to the whole paragraph. Also, in certain cases, the letters may not exactly mirror the original linkage due to rearrangement of the text for readability.

All Scripture references are followed by four hyperlinks: ESV, KJ3, NASB, and WEB, standing for the English Standard Version, the King James 3 Bible, the New American Standard Bible, and the World English Bible respectively. Some comments on these four versions and their differences are in order. These four are the only faithful, reliable, and contemporary Bible versions for which the editor was able to obtain permission to quote extensively. At the time of the writing of the Westminster documents, both the Geneva Bible and the King James Version (KJV) (also known as the Authorized Version) were in common use, but quotations within the Westminster documents are from the KJV, and much of the wording of the Westminster standards comes straight out of the KJV. In light of this, the KJ3 and the WEB are quite helpful as they are direct descendants of the KJV and of the original language manuscript streams from which the KJV was translated. Of these two, the WEB is by far the more readable. The KJ3 is a “literal translation” of the original languages. It can be extremely helpful to the careful reader by showing idiomatic and other features of the original languages that are often lost by other translations; knowledge of such features adds color and depth to our understanding of God’s Word. On the other hand, the KJ3 can mislead the reader for this very same reason. By way of example, consider Daniel 10:4 $vr$PESV_Daniel 10$4.doc@01253@(ESV KJ3 $vr$PNASB95_Daniel 10$4.doc@01255@NASB WEB) in the KJ3: “And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the hand of the great river.” Other versions put “side” or “bank” instead of “hand,” which makes the meaning immediately clear. It is the editor’s considered opinion that most readers should not use the KJ3 without simultaneously consulting another translation. This caution applies to all other literal translations as well. The ESV and NASB draw upon other original language manuscript streams (at least to some extent) than did the KJV, and thus, in some cases, the reasons that the Westminster Divines chose a particular passage may be harder to discern. The NASB has long had a reputation for precision, while the ESV is among the easiest of contemporary and faithful translations to read. The careful seeker of Divine Truth will routinely consult multiple translations (Proverbs 11:14 $vr$PESV_Proverbs 11$14.doc@00669@(ESV KJ3 $vr$PNASB95_Proverbs 11$14.doc@00671@NASB WEB) ) under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.[2]

These hyperlinks will jump to the referenced text, which text is included in this document. Each proof text also has a nearby “Back” link. The reader should note the difference between these Back links and the browser or reader Back button: the included Back link returns the reader to the proof text hyperlink, while the browser or reader Back button returns the reader to the former page location. Also, on the web version only, pausing the mouse over a hyperlink will display the passage in a screen tip, up to the first 256 characters. (This is true whether the web version is accessed online or as files on your computer.) Most web browsers and PDF readers will allow the user to open a “New Window” displaying the same document in two windows. Some readers will find this feature helpful as they study the WSC text and proof Scriptures together, something the editor highly recommends. Also, some Scripture passages may seem incomplete to some readers. This is because the WSC was written for those with some amount of Bible knowledge; they would recognize the context. In such cases, the reader is strongly encouraged to study the broader context of the Scripture passage.

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Scripture Texts Back to Main Page Next Chapter

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Daniel 10:4 (ESV) Back

⁴On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river (that is, the Tigris)

Daniel 10:4 (KJ3) Back

⁴ And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the hand of the great river,

Daniel 10:4 (NASB95) Back

⁴On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was by the bank of the great river, that is, the Tigris,

Daniel 10:4 (WEB) Back

⁴ In the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel,

Proverbs 11:14 (ESV) Back

¹⁴Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

Proverbs 11:14 (KJ3) Back

¹⁴¶ In the absence of wise counsels the people fall, but safety is in a great counselor.

Proverbs 11:14 (NASB95) Back

¹⁴Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory.

Proverbs 11:14 (WEB) Back

¹⁴ Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls,

[1] The two primary source texts were those found in the Constitution of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, C-1, http://reformedpresbyterian.org/downloads/constitution2010.pdf (accessed September 30, 2014) and three web sites: http://www.semperreformanda.com/creeds/westminster-shorter-catechism/, http://www.westminsterconfession.org/confessional-standards/the-westminster-shorter-catechism.php, and http://www.grace4families.org/index.php/doctrine/shorter-catechism (accessed January 3, 2015). These three were electronically compared and found identical. See Appendix B for more information.

[2] The editor is well aware of the “KJV Only,” Westcott-Hort, Majority Text, and other schools of thought and the attending, often uncharitable, controversies concerning them. He does not apologize for the simplifications presented here, since these topics are outside of the scope of this document.