1. WHAT IS A CONFESSION OF FAITH?

The Second London Confession of Faith, 1677/89 (2LCF) is a confession of faith. It contains, in summary form, what subscribers to it believe the totality of the Bible teaches on given subjects.

2. The doctrinal formulations were crafted as a result of contemplation upon the entirety of Holy Scripture.

3. The confession is not merely a reference point from which one subsequently or further develops doctrinal conclusions; it is the doctrinal conclusions on the subjects which it addresses.

4. Because the confession summarizes what the Bible teaches on given subjects, this means all of Holy Scripture is considered in the formulation of its chapters. You can see this, for example, by noticing the Scripture references at 4.1.

5. These texts are cited: John 1:2–3; Hebrews 1:2; Job 26:13; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:16; and Genesis 1:31.
These references display an unrestricted, canonical consultation while formulating 4.1.

6. Citing Scripture references indicates to readers that the doctrinal formulation was made, in part, by the fruits of previous exegetical work in the biblical text. In other words, this is not some form of simplistic proof-texting. Indeed, it is far from it.

7. When the confession cites scriptural texts, it assumes exegetical labor and its fruit. It also assumes long-standing methods of biblical interpretation and doctrinal formulation. Stefan Lindblad’s words are especially important to ponder and with which we ought to agree:

8. “The texts cited here by the 2LCF are regarded as the primary seat of the doctrine, the primary (not exclusive) place in Scripture where the doctrine was either explicitly taught or ‘by just consequence deduced’.”

9. This indicates to us that the texts cited are not the only scriptural bases from which the confessional formulations were derived. It also alerts us to the fact that the formulations are not mere recitations of the words of Scripture.

10. Doctrines taught in Scripture must be formulated into words other than Scripture in order to explicate their meanings for us.
The use of Scripture in the formulation of the confession’s doctrinal statements also indicates a distinct working hermeneutic (confessed in 1.9).

11. This method of interpretation is an illustration of the analogy of faith. In other words, when formulating Christian doctrine, we must allow the totality of Scripture to speak prior to our formulations. This is the method exemplified in the 2LCF.

12. A confession of faith is a written and public document which contains doctrinal formulations on various scriptural topics. The 2LCF is a confession of faith.