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Westminster Shorter Catechism

Complete Q1-Q107 import from Wikisource raw text. Public-domain historical catechism text; digital source is Wikisource; edition comparison with a trusted Westminster edition is pending. Proof lines are preserved and extraction is partial.

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Author: Westminster Assembly

Kind: catechism

Tradition: reformed

Original work: Public-domain historical catechism

Digital source: Wikisource transcription

Edition status: Edition comparison pending

Proof texts: Proof lines preserved; extraction partial

Use guidance: Use with source citation; compare edition before formal reuse

Source provider: Wikisource

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Edition citation: Westminster Shorter Catechism, Wikisource digital text, accessed 2026-07-03.

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Sections

Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 1, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: 1CO.6.20, ISA.12.2, ISA.60.21, LUK.2.10, PHP.4.4, PSA.144.15, PSA.16.5-PSA.16.11, PSA.86.9, REV.21.3-REV.21.4, REV.4.11, ROM.11.36

Q. 3. What do the Scriptures principally teach?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 3, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: 2TI.3.15, 2TI.3.16-2TI.3.17, DEU.10.12-DEU.10.13, GEN.1.1, JHN.5.39, JOS.1.8, MIC.6.8, PSA.119.105, ROM.10.17

Q. 4. What is God?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 4, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: 1JN.3.20, 1JN.3.3, 1JN.3.5, 1KI.8.27, 1PE.1.15-1PE.1.16, 1TI.1.17, ACT.17.29, DEU.32.4, DEU.33.27, DEU.4.15-DEU.4.19, GEN.17.1, GEN.18.25, HEB.1.12, HEB.1.13, HEB.4.13, HEB.6.18, JAS.1.17, JER.23.24, JER.32.17, JHN.1.18, LUK.24.39, MAL.3.6, MAT.19.17, MAT.19.26, PSA.103.5, PSA.104.24, PSA.115.2-PSA.115.3, PSA.139.7-PSA.139.10, PSA.145.3, PSA.147.5, PSA.33.11, PSA.62.11, PSA.86.15, PSA.90.2, PSA.96.13, REV.1.4, REV.1.8, REV.15.4, ROM.11.33-ROM.11.34, ROM.11.33-ROM.11.36, ROM.2.4, ROM.3.26, ROM.3.5

Q. 5. Are there more Gods than one?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 5, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: 1CO.8.4-1CO.8.6, 1JN.5.20, DEU.6.4, ISA.44.6, JER.10.10, JHN.17.3

Q. 6. How many persons are there in the Godhead?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 6, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: 1PE.1.2, 2CO.13.14, ACT.5.3-ACT.5.4, COL.2.9, JHN.1.1, MAT.28.19, MAT.3.16-MAT.3.17, PSA.45.6, ROM.9.5

Q. 7. What are the decrees of God?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 7, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: ACT.2.23, EPH.1.11-EPH.1.12, ISA.14.24, PSA.33.11

Q. 8. How doth God execute his decrees?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 8, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: ACT.4.24-ACT.4.28, DAN.4.35, ISA.40.26, PSA.148.8, REV.4.11

Q. 9. What is the work of creation?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 9, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: GEN.1.1, GEN.1.31, HEB.11.3, PSA.33.6, PSA.33.9

Q. 10. How did God create man?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 10, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: COL.3.10, EPH.4.24, GEN.1.27, GEN.1.28

Q. 11. What are God's works of providence?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 11, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: EPH.1.19-EPH.1.22, HEB.1.3, MAT.10.30, NEH.9.6, PRO.16.33, PSA.104.24, PSA.145.17, PSA.36.6

Q. 14. What is sin?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 14, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: 1JN.3.4, JAS.4.17, LEV.5.17

Q. 18. Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 18, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: COL.3.10, EPH.2.3, EPH.4.24, GAL.5.19-GAL.5.21, GEN.6.5, JAS.1.14-JAS.1.15, JHN.3.6, MAT.15.19, PSA.51.5, PSA.53.1-PSA.53.3, ROM.3.10, ROM.3.10-ROM.3.18, ROM.3.18, ROM.3.23, ROM.5.12, ROM.5.19

Q. 19. What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 19, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: ECC.2.22-ECC.2.23, EPH.2.12, EPH.2.3, GAL.3.10, GEN.3.16-GEN.3.19, GEN.3.24, GEN.3.8, JHN.3.36, JHN.8.34, JHN.8.42, JHN.8.44, JOB.5.7, MAT.25.41, MAT.25.46, REV.14.9-REV.14.11, REV.22.3, ROM.1.18, ROM.5.12, ROM.8.18-ROM.8.23

Q. 21. Who is the Redeemer of God's elect?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 21, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: 1TI.2.5-1TI.2.6, ACT.1.11, ACT.4.12, GAL.4.4, HEB.7.24-HEB.7.25, ISA.9.6, JHN.1.14, JHN.1.18, JHN.14.6, MAT.1.23, MAT.3.17, PSA.2.7

Q. 23. What offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 23, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: 1CO.15.25, ACT.2.33, DEU.18.18, HEB.1.1-HEB.1.2, HEB.4.14-HEB.4.15, HEB.5.5-HEB.5.6, ISA.9.6-ISA.9.7, JHN.18.37, LUK.1.32-LUK.1.33

Q. 24. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 24, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: 1PE.1.11, ACT.1.1-ACT.1.2, ACT.1.8, HEB.2.3, JHN.15.26-JHN.15.27, JHN.20.30-JHN.20.31, JHN.4.41-JHN.4.42, LUK.4.18-LUK.4.19, LUK.4.21

Q. 25. How doth Christ execute the office of a priest?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 25, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: 2CO.5.18, ACT.8.32-ACT.8.35, COL.1.21-COL.1.22, HEB.10.12, HEB.7.25, HEB.9.26-HEB.9.28, ROM.5.10-ROM.5.11, ROM.8.34

Q. 26. How doth Christ execute the office of a king?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 26, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: 1CO.15.24-1CO.15.26, COL.1.13, COL.2.15, JHN.17.2, MAT.12.28, MAT.28.18-MAT.28.20, PSA.110.1-PSA.110.2, PSA.110.3, PSA.2.6-PSA.2.9

Q. 27. Wherein did Christ's humiliation consist?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 27, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: 1CO.15.3-1CO.15.4, 1JN.2.2, 2CO.8.9, GAL.3.13, GAL.4.4, HEB.2.18, ISA.53.10, ISA.53.3, JHN.4.6, LUK.2.7, LUK.9.58, MAT.12.40, MAT.27.46, PHP.2.8, PSA.22.1

Q. 28. Wherein consisteth Christ's exaltation?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 28, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: 1CO.15.4, ACT.1.11, ACT.17.31, ACT.2.33-ACT.2.34, EPH.4.8, HEB.1.3, MAT.16.27, PSA.110.1, PSA.68.18

Q. 31. What is effectual calling?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 31, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: 1CO.2.10, 1CO.2.12, 2CO.4.6, ACT.16.14, ACT.26.18, DEU.30.6, EPH.1.17-EPH.1.18, EZK.36.26-EZK.36.27, ISA.45.22, JHN.3.5, JHN.6.44-JHN.6.45, MAT.11.28-MAT.11.30, REV.22.17, TIT.3.5

Q. 33. What is justification?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 33, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: 2CO.5.19, 2CO.5.21, GAL.2.16, PHP.3.9, ROM.3.24, ROM.4.11, ROM.4.6, ROM.4.6-ROM.4.8, ROM.5.19

Q. 34. What is adoption?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 34, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: 1JN.3.1, JHN.1.12, ROM.8.17

Q. 35. What is sanctification?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 35, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: 1PE.2.24, 2CO.5.17, 2CO.7.1, EPH.4.23-EPH.4.24, EZK.36.27, PHP.2.13, ROM.6.12-ROM.6.14, ROM.6.4, ROM.6.6

Q. 51. What is forbidden in the second commandment?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 51, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: COL.2.18-COL.2.23, DEU.4.15-DEU.4.19, JER.19.4-JER.19.5, LEV.10.1-LEV.10.2, ROM.1.22-ROM.1.23

Q. 54. What is required in the third commandment?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 54, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: 1CH.29.10-1CH.29.13, 1CO.11.27-1CO.11.28, ACT.2.42, DEU.10.20, MAT.6.9, PSA.107.21-PSA.107.22, PSA.138.2, PSA.29.2, REV.15.3-REV.15.4, REV.22.18-REV.22.19, REV.4.11

Q. 60. How is the sabbath to be sanctified?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 60, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: ACT.20.7, ISA.58.13-ISA.58.14, LEV.23.3, LUK.4.16, MAT.12.1-MAT.12.13, NEH.13.15-NEH.13.22

Q. 64. What is required in the fifth commandment?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 64, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: 1PE.2.17, EPH.5.21-EPH.5.22, EPH.5.24, EPH.6.1, EPH.6.4-EPH.6.5, EPH.6.9, ROM.13.1, ROM.13.7

Q. 80. What is required in the tenth commandment?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 80, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: 1TI.6.6, HEB.13.5, LUK.15.11-LUK.15.32, LUK.15.6, LUK.15.9, PHP.2.4, PHP.4.11, PSA.34.1, ROM.12.15

Q. 84. What doth every sin deserve?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 84, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: EPH.5.6, GAL.3.10, JAS.2.10, MAT.25.41

Q. 86. What is faith in Jesus Christ?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 86, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: EPH.2.8-EPH.2.9, GAL.2.15-GAL.2.16, JHN.20.30-JHN.20.31, PHP.3.3-PHP.3.11

Q. 87. What is repentance unto life?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 87, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: 2CH.7.14, 2CO.7.10, 2TI.2.25, ACT.11.18, ACT.2.37, JER.31.18-JER.31.19, JOL.2.13, LUK.1.16-LUK.1.17, LUK.15.10, LUK.15.7, MAT.3.8, PSA.119.57-PSA.119.64, PSA.51.1-PSA.51.4

Q. 92. What is a sacrament?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 92, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: 1CO.1.22-1CO.1.26, 1CO.10.16-1CO.10.17, GAL.3.27, LUK.22.19-LUK.22.20, MAR.14.22-MAR.14.25, MAT.28.19

Q. 94. What is Baptism?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 94, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: 1PE.3.21, ACT.2.38-ACT.2.42, ACT.22.16, GAL.3.26-GAL.3.27, MAT.28.19, ROM.6.3-ROM.6.4

Q. 95. To whom is Baptism to be administered?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 95, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: ACT.16.32-ACT.16.33, ACT.2.38-ACT.2.39, ACT.2.41, COL.2.11-COL.2.12, GEN.17.7, GEN.17.9-GEN.17.11

Q. 96. What is the Lord's Supper?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 96, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: 1CO.10.16-1CO.10.17, 1CO.11.23-1CO.11.26, LUK.22.19-LUK.22.20

Q. 98. What is prayer?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 98, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: 1JN.1.9, 1JN.5.14, DAN.9.4-DAN.9.19, JHN.16.23-JHN.16.24, MAT.7.7-MAT.7.8, PHP.4.6, PSA.10.17, PSA.103.1-PSA.103.5, PSA.32.5-PSA.32.6

Q. 101. What do we pray for in the first petition?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 101, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: PSA.100.3-PSA.100.4, PSA.67.1-PSA.67.3, PSA.99.3, REV.4.11, ROM.11.33-ROM.11.36

Q. 102. What do we pray for in the second petition?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 102, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: 1CO.15.24-1CO.15.25, 1JN.3.8, LUK.22.32, MAT.12.25-MAT.12.28, MAT.24.14, PSA.119.5, PSA.72.8-PSA.72.11, REV.22.20, ROM.16.20

Q. 105. What do we pray for in the fifth petition?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 105, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: 1JN.1.7, COL.3.13, DAN.9.17-DAN.9.19, EPH.4.32, MAT.18.21-MAT.18.35, PSA.51.1-PSA.51.2, PSA.51.7, PSA.51.9

Q. 106. What do we pray for in the sixth petition?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 106, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: 1CO.10.13, 2CO.12.7-2CO.12.9, HEB.2.18, JHN.17.15, LUK.22.31-LUK.22.32, MAT.26.41, PSA.19.13

Q. 107. What doth the conclusion of the Lord's Prayer teach us?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 107, Wikisource digital text.

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scripture refs: 1CH.29.10-1CH.29.13, 1CO.14.16, 1TI.1.17, DAN.9.16-DAN.9.19, DAN.9.4, DAN.9.7-DAN.9.9, LUK.18.1, LUK.18.7-LUK.18.8, REV.22.20, REV.5.11-REV.5.13