The Westminster Larger Catechism

Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) Modern English edition with English Standard Version

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Q.1. What is the primary and highest purpose of human beings?

A. The primary and highest purpose of human beings is to glorify God[1] and to enjoy him completely forever.[2]

1. Romans 11:36 [36] For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
1 Corinthians 10:31 [31] So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
2. Psalms 73:24-28 [24] You guide me with your counsel,
  and afterward you will receive me to glory.
[25] Whom have I in heaven but you?
  And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
[26] My flesh and my heart may fail,
  but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
[27] For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
  you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
[28] But for me it is good to be near God;
  I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,
  that I may tell of all your works.
John 17:21-24 [21] that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
[22] The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,
[23] I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
[24] Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

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End Notes

  1. This question and answer in Modern English was extracted from EPC Larger Catechism PDF. Used by permission. See also EPC Afterword on the Texts.
  2. All Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated into any other language.

    Users may not copy or download more than 500 verses of the ESV Bible or more than one half of any book of the ESV Bible.

    “The Holy Bible.” Crossway, 2016. https://esv.org/.