Discover Confession Origins and Rise in the Church

Confession of sins is very important to any believer in order to even begin the process of repentance according to the Bible; however, there are varying views of how to confess one’s faults and to whom to confess them to.

Many people who are not of the Catholic faith tend to think confession is definitely not to a priest in some booth, but most any Catholic could not be convinced any other way of confession is a correct way to receive pardon of sins.

Most of the protestant world believes the confession is to God alone and a believer needs only Christ alone to confess their sins to. Why do some feel that they must confess their sins to a Priest and why do the Priest feel they have the right to forgive sins?

When did Confession become Popular in Church?

This common practice, even considered by some an essential sacrament, was not always so prevalent in the church. Researching the history of confession and penance in the church gives important light to finding out how confession has become so paramount in the Catholic Church.

There is much evidence for the Catholic Church deciding many times that Confession of sins was essential for any believer. At the Council of Chalcuth (787 AD) it was decided "If any one depart this life without penance or confession, he shall not be prayed for."

What does the Historians Say about the Practice in the Church?

King Edgar later writes, On Confession, in the canons he published in 960 A.D. he writes, "When one wishes to confess his sins, let him act manfully, and not be ashamed to confess his misdeeds and crimes, accusing himself; because hence comes pardon, and because without confession there is no pardon; confession heals; confession justifies." (As noted in: Penance. The Catholic Encyclopedia in 15 volumes – Volume 12. New York, Robert Appleton Company, 1911.)

The rise of confession originally came from people denying Christ before the Romans to escape execution. If the denier came back to the church wanting in they had to make public "confession" of their sin and pay penitence.

Now you know a little known fact about the origins of Confession.



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