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Barclay's Catechism and Confession of Faith

© Bill Samuel

The catechism is a question and answer format where the answers are all passages of scripture. The confession is a summary of doctrines, using largely Biblical language but with some editorial changes for appropriate flow. Together, these present the faith understandings of Friends through use of the scripture, and directly counter accusations against Friends through appeals to scripture.

Barclay, who was just 24 when this work was first published, had a little fun with it. He took the name originally given Friends in derision, Quakers, and used it in several of the questions in the catechism. He thus uses the scriptural references to people trembling at the words of God to prove the soundness of what others criticized Friends for.

Barclay adds two things to the catechism and confession. The first is a discussion of the logical steps to reasoning together about what the Christian faith means. The second is a tearing apart of some key sections of the Westminster Confession, the most widely used confession of his day. These show the workings of his keen mind.

I found that the editors of the modern English version did a remarkably good job of making the work very easily readable. In addition to updating Barclay's own words, they substituted the New Revised Standard Version for the King James. In many instances, they also put an additional modern translation in footnotes.

The editors think that the modern English version is well suited as a discussion resource and study guide for those wishing to deepen their understanding of Quaker beliefs and perspectives. I agree with them, and feel it is much better suited to this than the better known Apology. Those wondering whether the change in language may have altered the meaning can refer to the online original language version and reach their own conclusions.