Note that the ARP is the only version which maintains that it is the duty of the civil magistrate to “administer government on Christian principles,” and to rule “according to the direction of [God’s] word.” We in the ARP also confess that it is the duty of the civil magistrate to “promote the Christian religion”

For the past several months, I’ve been teaching the adult Sunday School class at Communion Presbyterian Church (ARP). We’ve been going through the Westminster Confession of Faith one chapter at a time. It’s been a wonderful class, and although I am the one teaching it, I’ve learned a lot about our wonderful system of doctrine.

One of the things I’ve tried to do in the class is point out where our version of the Confession (the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church version) differs from the original text. When we came to Chapter 23 (“Of The Civil Magistrate”), I told my class that I would have to prepare a whole chart on the differences between our version of the Confession, the original, and all the other versions.

After preparing that chart, I came to the realization that the ARP’s version of Chapter 23, Section 3 is quite unique, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing!

The PCA, OPC, EPC, and PCUSA are identical. The RPCNA keeps the original language of the section, but in their Testimony (which is as equally binding on officers in that denomination as their Confession) they reject everything in section 3 after “or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven” and add explanatory notes concerning the relationship of Church and State. Here is the original text of section 3:

“The civil magistrate may not assume to himself the administration of the Word and sacraments, or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven: yet he hath authority, and it is his duty, to take order, that unity and peace be preserved in the Church, that the truth of God be kept pure and entire; that all blasphemies and heresies be suppressed; all corruptions and abuses in worship and discipline prevented or reformed; and all the ordinances of God duly settled, administered, and observed. For the better effecting whereof, he hath power to call synods, to be present at them, and to provide that whatsoever is transacted in them be according to the mind of God.”

The RPCNA text is identical, but their Testimony adds the following three notes:

18. We reject the portion of paragraph 3 after the colon.

19. Both the government of the nation and the government of the visible church are established by God. Though distinct and independent of each other, they both owe supreme allegiance to Jesus Christ. The governments of church and state differ in sphere of authority in that due submission to the government of the visible church is the obligation of members thereof, while due submission to civil government is the obligation of all men. The governments of church and state also have different functions and prerogatives in the advancement of the Kingdom of God. The means of enforcement of the civil government are physical, while those of church government are not. Neither government has the right to invade or assume the authority of the other. They should cooperate to the honor and glory of God, while maintaining their separate jurisdictions.

20. Though responsible for maintaining conditions favorable to the spread of the Gospel, civil government should never attempt to convert men to Christ by the use of force or by persecution. It should guarantee to all its subjects every human right given by God to men. It should, however, restrain and punish its subjects for those sinful actions which fall under its jurisdiction.

Here is the text of the PCA/OPC/EPC/PCUSA version:

“Civil magistrates may not assume to themselves the administration of the Word and sacraments; or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven; or, in the least, interfere in the matters of faith. Yet, as nursing fathers, it is the duty of civil magistrates to protect the Church of our common Lord, without giving the preference to any denomination of Christians above the rest, in such a manner that all ecclesiastical persons whatever shall enjoy the full, free, and unquestioned liberty of discharging every part of their sacred functions, without violence or danger. And, as Jesus Christ hath appointed a regular government and discipline in his Church, no law of any commonwealth should interfere with, let, or hinder, the due exercise thereof, among the voluntary members of any denomination of Christians, according to their own profession and belief. It is the duty of civil magistrates to protect the person and good name of all their people, in such an effectual manner as that no person be suffered, either upon pretence of religion or of infidelity, to offer any indignity, violence, abuse, or injury to any other person whatsoever: and to take order, that all religious and ecclesiastical assemblies be held without molestation or disturbance.”

And finally, here is the text of the ARP section 3:

“The civil magistrate may not assume to himself administration of the word and sacraments, or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven;yet, as the gospel revelation lays indispensable obligations upon all classes of people who are favored with it, magistrates as such, are bound to execute their respective offices in a subserviency thereunto, administering government on Christian principles, and ruling in the fear of God, according to the directions of his word; as those who shall give an account to the Lord Jesus, whom God hath appointed to be the judge of the world. Hence, magistrates, as such, in a Christian country, are bound to promote the Christian religion, as the most valuable interest of their subjects, by all such means as are not inconsistent with civil rights; and do not imply an interference with the policy of the church, which is the free and independent kingdom of the Redeemer; nor an assumption of dominion over conscience.”

Note that the ARP is the only version which maintains that it is the duty of the civil magistrate to “administer government on Christian principles,” and to rule “according to the direction of [God’s] word.” We in the ARP also confess that it is the duty of the civil magistrate to “promote the Christian religion” (note the subtle but important difference between the ARP’s “promote” and the OPC/PCA/EPC/PCUSA editions which state the civil magistrate is to “protect the Church”—promote is an active verb, whereas protect can imply a more passive approach).

The ARP has several other unique changes to its edition of the Confession (including two extra chapters!), and the merits of some of those changes could be debated; however, I believe the ARP got it right on this one.

If you would like to download a PDF of the chart I put together, you can do so here

If you prefer a Microsoft Word version of the chart, you can download that here

Seth Stark serves as a Ruling Elder at Communion Presbyterian Church of Irvine, CA (http://www.communionpres.org), a church plant of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. He has a Master’s Degree in Science and Religion from Biola University and blogs at TheRulingElder.com

[Editor’s note: One or more original URLs (links) referenced in this article are no longer valid; those links have been removed.]