Westminster Confession on Extent of the atonement
Definite — for the elect, effectually
Wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ... Neither are any other redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.
THE POSITION
The restriction is stated in chapter 3 rather than chapter 8, and it is stated as an exclusive: no one other than the elect is redeemed by Christ. Chapter 8 then makes purchase and application coextensive - 8.5 says Christ purchased reconciliation and inheritance 'for all those whom the Father hath given unto Him', and 8.8 says that to all those for whom he purchased redemption he 'doth certainly and effectually apply and communicate the same'. The argument is about the design and the effect of the atonement, not about its value.
9 I ask on their behalf. I do not ask on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those You have given Me; for they are Yours.
7 OTHERS HOLD THIS
ABOUT THIS FIGURE
The confessional standard of English-speaking Presbyterianism, completed by the Westminster Assembly in 1646 and adopted with its Scripture proofs. This entry rests on the 1646 text from the manuscript of Cornelius Burges as edited by S. W. Carruthers (1937) for chapters 1-24, and on the 1647 text for chapters 25-33; the Assembly's own proof texts attached to each paragraph supply every reference below.
Cite this page
"Westminster Confession on Extent of the atonement", Examined Doctrine, July 2026 edition, https://examineddoctrine.com/position/westminster/atonement-extent (archived at https://examineddoctrine.com/editions/2026-07/position/westminster/atonement-extent).