Scots Confession

The Scots Confession (1560), drafted by John Knox and five other reformers, was the first confession of faith of the Reformed Church of Scotland. Its 25 articles remained the subordinate standard of the Church of Scotland until superseded by the Westminster Confession in 1647.

All Sections

The one God in three persons

Sections 1.1–1.1

1.1 We confess and acknowledge one only God, to whom only we must cleave, whom only we must serve, whom only …

The creation of man and original sin

Sections 2.1–2.2

2.1 We confess and acknowledge this our God to have created man (to wit, our first father Adam) to his own … 2.2 By which transgression, commonly called Original Sin, was the image of God utterly defaced in man; and he and his …

The promise of redemption and the continuity of the Kirk

Sections 3.1–3.2

3.1 For this we constantly believe: that God, after the fearful and horrible defection of man from his obedience, did seek … 3.2 We most constantly believe that God preserved, instructed, multiplied, honoured, decored, and from death called to life his kirk in …

The incarnation, passion, resurrection, and ascension of Christ

Sections 4.1–4.6

4.1 When the fulness of time came, God sent his Son—his Eternal Wisdom, the substance of his own glory, in this … 4.2 We acknowledge and confess that this most wondrous conjunction betwixt the Godhead and the manhood in Christ Jesus did proceed … 4.3 For that same Eternal God and Father, who of mere grace elected us in Christ Jesus his Son, before the … 4.4 We confess that our Lord Jesus Christ offered himself a voluntary sacrifice unto his Father for us; that he suffered … 4.5 We undoubtedly believe that, insomuch as it was impossible that the dolours of death should retain in bondage the Author … 4.6 We nothing doubt but that the selfsame body, which was born of the virgin, was crucified, dead, and buried, and …

Faith, good works, and the work of the Holy Spirit

Sections 5.1–5.4

5.1 This our faith, and the assurance of the same, proceeds not from flesh and blood, that is to say, from … 5.2 So that the cause of good works we confess to be, not our free will, but the Spirit of the … 5.3 We confess and acknowledge that God has given to man his holy law, in which not only are forbidden all … 5.4 The law of God we confess and acknowledge most just, most equal, most holy, and most perfect: commanding those things …

The nature, authority, and marks of the true Kirk

Sections 6.1–6.5

6.1 As we believe in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; so do we most constantly believe that from the … 6.2 The elect departed are in peace and rest from their labours: not that they sleep and come to a certain … 6.3 Because that Satan from the beginning has laboured to deck his pestilent synagogue with the title of the kirk of … 6.4 As we believe and confess the scriptures of God sufficient to instruct and make the man of God perfect, so … 6.5 As we do not rashly damn that which godly men, assembled together in general councils, lawfully gathered, have proponed unto …

The sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper

Sections 7.1–7.3

7.1 As the fathers under the law (besides the verity of the sacrifices) had two chief sacraments—to wit, circumcision and the … 7.2 That sacraments be rightly ministered, we judge two things requisite: the one, that they be ministered by lawful ministers, whom … 7.3 We confess and acknowledge that baptism appertains as well to the infants of the faithful, as unto those that be …

The civil magistrate and the final resurrection

Sections 8.1–8.2

8.1 We confess and acknowledge empires, kingdoms, dominions, and cities to be distinguished and ordained by God: the powers and authorities … 8.2 Albeit that the word of God truly preached, and the sacraments rightly ministered, and discipline executed according to the word …

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Section of the Day

Ascension

We nothing doubt but that the selfsame body, which was born of the virgin, was crucified, dead, and buried, and which did rise again, did ascend into the heavens, for the accomplishment of all things; where, in our names, and for our comfort he has received all power in heaven …

Scots Confession

Chapter 1: God and the Trinity

Chapter 2: Creation and the Fall

Chapter 3: The Promise and the Law

Chapter 4: The Incarnation and Passion

Chapter 5: Salvation and the Holy Spirit

Chapter 6: The Kirk

Chapter 7: Sacraments

Chapter 8: Civil Government and Last Things

Ascension