Rationally-Demonstrated
Scripture's authority must be established by external rational proofs alone — the early-modern rationalist tendency the Confession resists.
This is a contested or rejected alternative.
The Westminster baseline on Authority is Self-Authenticating-With-Internal-Witness. Personas and schools listed below hold this alternative position instead — either because they argued for it at the Assembly (like the Erastians on polity) or because they represent a receiving tradition that departed from the Standards on this point.
Other positions on Authority
Self-Authenticating-With-Internal-Witness WCF
Scripture's authority is grounded in God its author and is sealed to the believer's heart by the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness *with and by* the Word (WCF I.4–5).
Church-Bestowed
Scripture's authority depends on the church's reception and definition — the Tridentine and high-mediaeval position.
Immediate-Spirit-Only
Scripture's authority is subordinate to the immediate witness of the Spirit in the believer apart from the written Word — the radical-spiritualist position.