---
title: "Question 12: What special act of providence did God exercise toward man in the estate wherein he was created? | Westminster Shorter Catechism"
description: "Westminster Shorter Catechism, question 12: What special act of providence did God exercise toward man in the estate wherein he was created? When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience; forbidding him to"
canonical: "https://ctkrp.org/shorter-catechism/question-12-what-special-act-of-providence-did-god-exercise-toward/"
source: "https://ctkrp.org/assets/rpcna-constitution-2026.pdf#page=160"
---

# Question 12: What special act of providence did God exercise toward man in the estate wherein he was created? | Westminster Shorter Catechism

When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience; forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon the pain of death.

Scripture proofs: Gal. 3:12; Gen. 2:17.

Original source: [2026 RPCNA Constitution](https://ctkrp.org/assets/rpcna-constitution-2026.pdf#page=160)

## Related reading

- [Understanding covenant theology](https://ctkrp.org/learn/topics/covenant-theology/)
- [Westminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 7: Of God’s Covenant with Man](https://ctkrp.org/confession/chapter-7-gods-covenant-with-man/)
- [Westminster Larger Catechism · Question 20: What was the providence of God toward man in the estate in which he was created?](https://ctkrp.org/larger-catechism/question-20-what-was-the-providence-of-god-toward-man-in/)
- [Question 11](https://ctkrp.org/shorter-catechism/question-11-what-are-gods-works-of-providence/)
- [Question 13](https://ctkrp.org/shorter-catechism/question-13-did-our-first-parents-continue-in-the-estate-wherein/)

Canonical page: https://ctkrp.org/shorter-catechism/question-12-what-special-act-of-providence-did-god-exercise-toward/