What is the chief and highest end of man?

‹ Dec 31 · Jan 1 · Jan 2 ›

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Shorter Catechism

Q 1. What is the chief end of man?

A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God,¹ and to enjoy him forever.²

Larger Catechism

Q 1. What is the chief and highest end of man?

A. Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God,³ and fully to enjoy him forever.⁴

Psalm 86:9

All the nations you have made shall come
and worship before you, O Lord,
and shall glorify your name.

Isaiah 60:21

Your people shall all be righteous;
they shall possess the land forever,
the branch of my planting, the work of my hands,
that I might be glorified.

Romans 11:36

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

1 Corinthians 6:20

for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

1 Corinthians 10:31

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Revelation 4:11

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.” (ESV)

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Psalm 16:5-11

The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.

You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 144:15

Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall!
Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!

Isaiah 12:2

“Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the Lord God is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation.”

Luke 2:10

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

Philippians 4:4

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.

Revelation 21:3-4

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (ESV)

↩︎
Romans 11:36

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

1 Corinthians 6:20

for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

1 Corinthians 10:31

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Psalm 86:9

All the nations you have made shall come
and worship before you, O Lord,
and shall glorify your name.

Psalm 86:12

I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever. (ESV)

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Psalm 73:24-28

You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
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 17:21-23

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. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 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.

Psalm 16:5-11

The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.

You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Revelation 21:3-4

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (ESV)

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Copyright © 2015–2026 Tim Hopper. Based on Calendar of Readings in the Westminster Standards by Dr. Joey Pipa. Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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