[Glossary] Innate Knowledge of Morality

1. (Clark 1965, 10): "Is it not possible that the knowledge of God is innate? May we not have been born with an intuition of God, and with this a priori equipment we see the glory of God upon the heavens? In this way we would be not forced to the peculiar position that the Apostle Paul was giving his advance approval [Romans 1:20] to the Aristotelian intricacies of Thomas Aquinas."


2. (Clark 1965, 11): "Perhaps it would be better to understand the situation in terms of innate or a priori ideas. In the act of creation God implanted in man a knowledge of His existence. Romans 1:32 and 2:15 seem to indicate that God also implanted some knowledge of morality. We are born with this knowledge; it is not manufactured out of sensory experience."

 
3. (Clark 1965, 11): "The Confession on the other hand, from its systematic construction, immediately makes it clear that any knowledge of God's great power displayed in creation is insufficient for salvation."

"Even innate knowledge of morality gives no information how or even whether sin may be forgiven. 'Therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times and in divers manners, to reveal himself, and to declare his will unto the Church.' "

We seem to have some innate knowledge of morality.

This innate knowledge of morality is partial and incomplete.

In particular, this innate knowledge of morality gives no information on how or even whether sin may be forgiven.


Reference:

Clark, Gordon H. 1965. What Do Presbyterians Believe? The Westminster Confession: Yesterday and Today. Phillipsburg, New Jersey: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company.

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