The Westminster Confession of Faith
A Contemporary Edition

Single copy $6.95
Ten or more copies $5.95 each
plus postage

A very useful tool for:
Congregational Worship
Officer Training
New Membership Classes
Training of Youth
Theological Instruction
Dialogue/Study Groups
Sunday School
Community and Church Library
Personal Reading

Why a Contemporary Version of the Confession
The Westminster Confession was presented to the English people in 1646, only 35 years after the King James Bible was published in 1611. Its original grammar and vocabulary reveal a mode of communication "foreign" to modern usage. This modernizing of the text reflects the finest grammar and theological clarification making the text available to the contemporary reader.

The following principles guided the efforts of the editor in preparing the contemporary version.

1. Using common vocabulary translate the text into modern English.
2. Avoid long complicated sentences.
3. Avoid idioms and cliches.
4. Extract the junk words "such, just, very, that, which, etc."
5. Translate static verbs "to be" into action verbs when appropriate.
6. Make verb tenses and pronouns uniform.
7. Do not use redundant phrases.
8. Do not depart extensively from the style nor vocabulary of the original text. Make it a revision of language, not a new confession.
9. Write clearly, succinctly and unambiguously designing an effective medium for communication.
10. Write enabling carpenters, machinists, farmers, office workers, students, etc. to think about God biblically, consistently and integratively.

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We present this work to the public for the purpose of facilitaing the clear thought of the original statement. It is not the authorized text of any body of Christians. Obviously, the contemporary text reflects something of the editor's point of view. Whenever an editor does the rewriting task, the commentary/interpretative nature of the effort inevitably emanates through the chosen new words and their grammatical arrangement. Even when someone reads a text the same commentary/interpretative process takes place as reflected in word emphasis, voice inflection and flow of the reading. The editor sought to faithfully reflect the intent of the original document. He desires only for the truth of biblical faith to be more effectively communicated. May the Spirit of Christ persuade all of us of biblical truthfulness.