The Westminster Shorter Catechism

Q2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him?

A. The Word of God,—which is contained in the Scriptures of
the Old and New Testaments,[1]—is the only rule to direct us
how we may glorify and enjoy Him.[2]

Proofs

[1] 2 Timothy 3:16; Ephesians 2:20;  [2] 1 John 1:3–4.

Comments

In Question 1, we are taught that the chief end of man is to glorify and enjoy God forever. But how are we to do so? Left to ourselves, there is no way we can be sure that what we do is acceptable to God at all, not to mention glorify Him. This question, therefore, teaches us where to find help and direction for attaining that end.

We are not to find help in the mere works of man whether ancient or modern—be it in religious writings such as the Vedas, or the writings of Gautama or Mohammed; be it in the writings of philosophers such as Socrates or Confucius; or be it in the writings of psychologists such as Freud or Maslow. Neither are we to look to the mere traditions of the church for these are fallible (Mt 15:6–9).

The only rule that is sufficient to show us how we may serve God acceptably must come from God Himself, and it must come from Him inerrantly (without errors) and infallibly (incapable of mistake, perfect). This rule is wholly contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments alone, which are the verbally and plenarily inspired Word of God. The books commonly called Apocrypha are not divinely inspired, and therefore are only on par with other human writings, and so not part of the inspired Scripture.

The Scripture is verbally inspired in that every sentence, every word, and in fact every jot and tittle in the original language, is inspired by God (Mt 5:18). And it is plenarily inspired in that it is wholly, not partially, inspired of God.

It is to the Word of God, therefore that every believer must reverently go to find help and direction on how to glorify and enjoy God. Which also means that, writings based on the Word of God (including the WCF and catechisms), though helpful, must be measured against the Scripture alone.