Confession in the Bible
We know that the early church practiced sacramental Confession. We also know that the early church composed, collected, and canonized the Bible. You might surmise that Confession is therefore in the Bible; if you did so, you’d be correct!
The Old Testament
he shall confess his sin that he has committed. And he shall make full restitution for his wrong, adding a fifth to it and giving it to him to whom he did the wrong. Numbers 5:7
Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners, and they stood and confessed their sins and the guilt of their fathers. While they stood in their places, they read from the book of the law of the LORD their God for a fourth of the day and spent another fourth of the day in confession and worship of the LORD their God. Nehemiah 9:2-3
And read out publicly this scroll which we send you, in the house of the LORD, on the feast day and during the days of assembly: “Justice is with the LORD, our God; and we today are flushed with shame, we men of Judah and citizens of Jerusalem, that we, with our kings and rulers and priests and prophets, and with our fathers, have sinned in the LORD’S sight and disobeyed him. We have neither heeded the voice of the LORD, our God, nor followed the precepts which the LORD set before us.” Baruch 1:14-18
The New Testament
Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him [John the Baptist] in the Jordan River. Matthew 3:6
And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. Mark 1:5
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16
Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. Acts 19:18
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
We know that the early church practiced sacramental Confession. We also know that the early church composed, collected, and canonized the Bible. You might surmise that Confession is therefore in the Bible; if you did so, you’d be correct!
The Old Testament
he shall confess his sin that he has committed. And he shall make full restitution for his wrong, adding a fifth to it and giving it to him to whom he did the wrong. Numbers 5:7Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners, and they stood and confessed their sins and the guilt of their fathers. While they stood in their places, they read from the book of the law of the LORD their God for a fourth of the day and spent another fourth of the day in confession and worship of the LORD their God. Nehemiah 9:2-3
And read out publicly this scroll which we send you, in the house of the LORD, on the feast day and during the days of assembly: “Justice is with the LORD, our God; and we today are flushed with shame, we men of Judah and citizens of Jerusalem, that we, with our kings and rulers and priests and prophets, and with our fathers, have sinned in the LORD’S sight and disobeyed him. We have neither heeded the voice of the LORD, our God, nor followed the precepts which the LORD set before us.” Baruch 1:14-18
The New Testament
Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him [John the Baptist] in the Jordan River. Matthew 3:6And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. Mark 1:5
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16
Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. Acts 19:18
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9