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
I. 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.
II. 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 Fax: (219) 481-2126
______________________________________________________________________
(
geocities.com/heartland)