PCA HISTORICAL CENTER
Archives and Manuscript Repository for the Continuing Presbyterian Church

The Historical Development of the Book of Church Order

Chapter 53 : The Preaching of the Word

"Of the Preaching of the Word", from the
Directory for the Publick Worship of God (1645)

Paragraph 1 :

53-1. The preaching of the Word is an ordinance of God for the salvation of men. Serious attention should be paid to the manner in which it is done. The minister should apply himself to it with diligence and prove himself a “worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
DIGEST :

BACKGROUND AND COMPARISONS :
PCA 1973, Adopted text, Directory for Worship 6-1 [M1GA, Appendix, p. 156]
The preaching of the Word is an ordinance of God for the salvation of men, and serious attention should be paid to the manner in which it is done. The minister should apply himself to it with diligence, and prove himself a "workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

Continuing Presbyterian Church 1973, DfW Proposed text,

PCUS 1933, DfW VI, §322.
The preaching of the Word is an ordinance of God for the salvation of men, and serious attention should be paid to the manner in which it is done. The minister should apply himself to it with diligence, and prove himself a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

PCUS 1925, DfW VI-1 [§322]
and
PCUS 1894, DfW VI-1
The preaching of the word being an institution of God for the salvation of men, great attention should be paid to the manner of performing it. Every minister ought to give diligent application to it; and endeavor to prove himself a workman that needeth not to be ashamed; rightly dividing the word of truth.

PCUSA 1789, DfW VI-1
The preaching of the word being an institution of God for the salvation of men, great attention should be paid to the manner of performing it.—Every minister ought to give diligent application to it; and endeavour to prove himself a workman that needeth not to be ashamed; rightly dividing the word of truth.

PCUSA 1786, DfW 2d draft
The Preaching of the Word, being an institution of God for the salvation of men, should be so performed, that the workman need not be ashamed, but may save himself and those that hear him.
Chapter Index [links are to Paragraph 1 in each chapter]:
FoG..
1
2
3.
4
5.
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
I. King & Head of Church
.§1.
§4
§5
RoD
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
II. Preliminary Principles
§1
§2
§3
§4
§5
§6
§7
§8
DfW
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
[FoG = Form of Government ; RoD = Rules of Discipline ; DfW = Directory for Worship]

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