Confession of faith
Term
A fuller written statement of a church's beliefs, longer than a creed, which its officers and often its members affirm.
Also called: confessional, confessions of faith, confessionalism, doctrinal standards
What it means
A confession of faith is a detailed summary of what a church believes Scripture teaches. Where a creed states the core of the faith in a few lines, a confession sets out doctrine at length: on Scripture, God, creation, sin, Christ, salvation, the church, the sacraments, the Christian life, and the last things. The Reformation produced many, including the Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), used by Presbyterians, and the Second London Baptist Confession (1689), used by Reformed Baptists, which closely follows Westminster.
A confessional church is one that formally adopts such a document and requires its officers to hold to it. Like creeds, confessions are subordinate standards. Scripture alone is the supreme rule, and confessions have authority only as they agree with it. They help a church guard sound teaching, train its members, and tell visitors honestly what it believes.
On this site, a church's adopted confession is strong evidence of what it teaches, though the site also looks at its preaching and practice.
In Scripture
The church is a pillar and foundation of the truth.
Hold to the pattern of sound words.
Always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in you.
Since we have a great high priest, let us hold fast our confession.
The apostles and elders sent a written statement of their judgement to the churches.
Where it comes up
Confessions: WCF 1.10; WCF 31.3; LBCF 1689 1.10
Related terms
CreedTerm
A short, formal statement of the core beliefs of the Christian faith, confessed by the church together.
OrthodoxyTerm
Right belief, measured by Scripture and summarised in the historic creeds the church has confessed together.
ReformedTerm
The branch of Protestantism that grew from the Swiss and Genevan Reformation and is summarised in confessions such as Westminster and the 1689 London Baptist Confession.
CatechismTerm
A summary of Christian teaching in question-and-answer form, used to teach children and new believers the faith; catechesis is that teaching.
Sola ScripturaHistoric orthodoxy
Scripture alone is the final and infallible authority over the church, by which every other authority is judged.