《聖經》的必須性The Necessity of Scripture:
一、雖然自然之光 (light of nature)、 上帝的創造、 護理工作彰顯上帝的善良、智慧、權能，叫人無可推諉，卻不足以使人認識上帝及其旨意，以致得救。所以上帝願意多次多方將自己向祂的教會啟示，並向教會宣佈祂的旨意；之後為了更加保守、 傳揚真理，更加堅立、 安慰教會，抵擋肉體的敗壞、 撒但與世界的惡意，就把這些全部記載下來，因此《聖經》是最必需要的，因為上帝先前啟示祂旨意給祂百姓的方法，現在已經不再有新的啟示了。
Although the light of nature and the works of creation and providence manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, to such an extent that men are without excuse (a), yet they are not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and of his will which is necessary for salvation (b). Therefore it pleased the Lord, at various times and in diverse ways, to reveal himself and to declare his will to his church
二、稱為《聖經》，或「記載下來的聖言」的，包括舊、 新約全書，即舊約 39卷，新約 27 卷 (書卷名從略)。 這些書都是上帝所默示的 ，作信仰與生活的準則。
Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the written Word of God, are all the books of the Old and New Testaments, namely: (names of 66 books – omitted here) All these are given by inspiration of God to be the rule of faith and life (g).
三、通稱為「旁經」的各卷書，不是上帝的默示，所以不屬《聖經》正典，在上帝的教會中沒有權威，不能認為它高過其他人的著作而使用。
The books commonly called the Apocrypha, because they are not divinely inspired, are not part of the canon of Scripture, and therefore are of no authority in the church of God and are not to be approved, or made use of, in any manner different from other human writings (h).
四、我們應信服《聖經》的權威，這權威不在乎任何人或教會的見證，乃完全在乎上帝(祂自己就是真理)。上帝是《聖經》的作者，所以我們應當接受《聖經》，因為《聖經》是上帝的話。
The authority of the Holy Scripture, because of which it ought to be believed and obeyed, does not depend upon the testimony of any man or church, but entirely upon God, its author (who is truth itself); therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God (i).
五、我們可能受教會的見證的感動與影響，因而高舉聖經、 敬重《聖經》。對《聖經》屬天的性質、 教義的效力、 文體的莊嚴、 各部的一致、 整體的要旨（將一切的榮耀歸給上帝），人類惟一得救之道的完整彰顯，和其他許多無比卓越、 全然完美之處，都足以證明《聖經》本身就是上帝的話。雖然如此，最讓我們完全確信《聖經》無謬真理與屬上帝權威的原因，是聖靈在我們心中作見證，藉著上帝的話在我們心中所作的見證，也與上帝的話在我們心中一同作見證。
We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church to a high and reverent esteem for the Holy Scripture (k). The heavenly character of its content, the efficacy of its doctrine, the majesty of its style, the agreement of all its parts, the scope of the whole (which is to give all glory to God), the full disclosure it makes of the only way of man’s salvation, its many other incomparable excellencies, and its entire perfection, are arguments by which it gives abundant evidence that it is the Word of God. Nevertheless, our full persuasion and assurance of its infallible truth and divine authority is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts (l).
六、上 帝 全 備 的旨 意， 與上 帝自 己的 榮耀 、 人的 得救 ，信 仰、 和生 活有 關的 一 切 必 要之 事 ，《聖經》都明明記載，或是可以用正當且必要的推論，從 《聖經》 引申 出來。 所以無論在 任何時刻 都不可加 添；無論是 藉著「 聖 靈 的 新啟 示」 ，或憑人的遺傳，都不能加添《聖經》的內容成為最高權威。不過我們承認： （1） 除非聖靈在我們裡面光照我們，否則我們對《聖經》啟示的上帝全備旨意，即使有某種程度的認識，這樣的認識也不足以使我們得救﹔ （2） 有時候上帝和教會行政，也與人類的行事為人原則有相通，這時我們就應該用人的「自然之光」、基督徒的判斷、按照《聖經》的一般規則(這原是我們應該一直遵守的) 來規定有關敬拜上帝、教會行政的相關事務。
The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory and man’s salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly stated in Scripture or by good and necessary inference may be deduced from Scripture, unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit or by traditions of men (m). Nevertheless, we acknowledge that the inward illumination of the Spirit of God is necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word (n). We also acknowledge that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God and the government of the church – circumstances common to human activities and societies – which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed (o).
七、《聖經》 的內容並不是每個地方都同樣清楚，也不是對每個人都同樣明白；但是得救所必須知道、 相信、 遵守的事，我們總能在《聖經》找到，而且解釋得非常清楚明白；不但有學問的人，就是無學問的人，不必用什麼巧妙的辨法，只要用一般的方法，就能充分理解。
Not all things in Scripture are equally plain in themselves or equally clear to all (p); yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation are so clearly stated and explained in one place or another in Scripture, that not only the educated but also the uneducated may gain a sufficient understanding of them by a proper use of the ordinary means (q).
八、舊約是用希伯來文寫成（這是古時上帝選民的母語），新約是用希臘寫成（這是當時各國最通行的語言）。 希伯來文舊約，和希臘文新約，都是受上帝直接的默示，因此上帝在歷世歷代都以獨特的方式照顧護理，保守純正，所以是真確的﹔ 一切信仰上的爭議，教會最後都要以《聖經》為最高依歸。 但因上帝的百姓並不都通曉這些《聖經》原文，可是他們對《聖經》都有權利，也都有份，而且上帝吩咐他們以敬畏上帝的態度誦讀查考《聖經》﹔ 所以凡《聖經》所到之處，都應譯成當地通行的語言，使上帝的話可以豐豐富富地存在眾人心裏，他們就可以用上帝所喜悅的方式敬拜祂，並可以因《聖經》所生的忍耐和安慰得著盼望。
The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language of the people of God of old) and the New Testament in Greek (which at the time it was written was the language most generally known to the nations), being directly inspired by God and by his unique care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authoritative (r), so that in all controversies of religion the church is finally to appeal to them(s). But, because these original languages are not understood by all the people of God, who have a right to, and a vital interest in, the Scriptures and are commanded to read and search them in the fear of God (t), therefore the Scriptures are to be translated into the common language of every nation to which they come (u); so that, the Word of God dwelling abundantly in all, they may worship him in an acceptable manner (w) and by perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures may have hope (x).
九、只有一個解釋《聖經》的規則不會產生錯誤，就是以經解經。所以當我們對任何一處《聖經》的真實完整意義(每處《聖經》都只有一個意思，而沒有多種意思)有疑問時，就當查考《聖經》其他比較清楚的經文，以明白其真義。
The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself. Therefore, when there is a question about the true and full meaning of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one), that meaning must be searched out and ascertained by other places that speak more clearly (y).
十、在處理信仰上一切爭論， 教會會議一切決議、 古代作者意見，人的道理、個人屬靈領受事務時，我們可以放心：其裁判最高審判者只有一位，就是在《聖經》中說話的聖靈。
The supreme judge by whom all controversies of religion are to be settled and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and claims to private revelations are to be examined, can be only the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture. With his decision we are to be satisfied (z).
