CONFESSION
Luther's Little Instruction Book (The Small Catechism of Martin
Luther)
Part Five: Confession
Translated
by Robert E. Smith
June 10, 1994
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 has been placed in the public domain by him. You may freely
distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any comments
or suggestions to Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther Library
at:
Concordia
Theological Seminary.
E-mail: CFWLibrary@CRF.CUIS.EDU
Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA
Phone: (219) 481-2123
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