PROJECT WITTENBERG
Luther's Little
Instruction Book
(The Small Catechism of Martin Luther)
Translated by Robert E. Smith
May 22, 1994
V. CONFESSION
How One Should Teach the
Uneducated to Confess
Q. What is confession?
A. Confession has two
parts:
First, a person admits
his sin
Second, a person
receives absolution or forgiveness from the confessor,
as if from God Himself, without doubting it, but
believing firmly that his sins are forgiven by God in
Heaven through it.
Q. Which sins should
people confess?
A. When speaking to
God, we should plead guilty to all sins, even those we
don't know about, just as we do in the "Our Father," but
when speaking to the confessor, only the sins we know
about, which we know about and feel in our hearts.
Q. Which are these?
A. Consider here your
place in life according to the Ten Commandments. Are you
a father? A mother? A son? A daughter? A husband? A
wife? A servant? Are you disobedient, unfaithful or
lazy? Have you hurt anyone with your words or actions?
Have you stolen, neglected your duty, let things go or
injured someone?
This text was translated in 1994
for Project Wittenberg by Robert E. Smith and is in the public
domain. You may freely distribute, copy or print this text. Please
direct any comments or suggestions to:
Rev. Robert E. Smith
Walther Library
Concordia Theological Seminary.
E-mail: smithre@mail.ctsfw.edu
Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA
Phone: (260) 452-3149 - Fax: (260) 452-2126
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