Reformed Confessions
1561The Reformed confessions

The Belgic Confession

Written in 1561, the Belgic Confession owes its origin to the need for a clear and comprehensive statement of the Reformed faith during the Spanish Inquisition in the Lowlands. Guido de Brès, its primary author, was pleading for understanding and toleration from King Philip II of Spain, who was determined to root out all Protestant factions in his lands. It emphasizes the Reformed faith’s continuity with the ancient creeds while distinguishing it from Roman Catholicism and Anabaptism.

Begin with Article 1 The contents
37articles
1561written by Guido de Brès
Title page of the 1566 French edition of the Belgic Confession, Confession de Foy, quoting 1 Peter 3:15
Confession de Foy, the French edition of 1566
The contents

Thirty-Seven Articles

God and His Word

  1. There Is One Only God
  2. By What Means God Is Made Known unto Us
  3. Of the Written Word of God
  4. Canonical Books of the Holy Scriptures
  5. Whence Do the Holy Scriptures Derive Their Dignity and Authority
  6. The Difference Between the Canonical and Apocryphal Books
  7. The Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures to Be the Only Rule of Faith
  8. God Is One in Essence, Yet Distinguished in Three Persons
  9. The Proof of the Foregoing Article of the Trinity of Persons in One God
  10. Jesus Christ Is True and Eternal God
  11. The Holy Ghost Is True and Eternal God

Creation and the Fall

  1. Of the Creation
  2. Of Divine Providence
  3. Of the Creation and Fall of Man, and His Incapacity to Perform What Is Truly Good
  4. Of Original Sin

Christ and Redemption

  1. Of Eternal Election
  2. Of the Recovery of Fallen Man
  3. Of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ
  4. Of the Union and Distinction of the Two Natures in the Person of Christ
  5. God Hath Manifested His Justice and Mercy in Christ
  6. Of the Satisfaction of Christ, Our Only High-Priest, for Us

Salvation in Christ

  1. Of Our Justification Through Faith in Jesus Christ
  2. Our Justification Consists in the Forgiveness of Sin and the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness
  3. Of Man's Sanctification and Good Works
  4. Of the Abolishing of the Ceremonial Law
  5. Of Christ's Intercession

The Church and the Sacraments

  1. Of the Catholic Christian Church
  2. Every One Is Bound to Join Himself to the True Church
  3. Of the Marks of the True Church, and Wherein She Differs from the False Church
  4. Concerning the Government of, and Offices in, the Church
  5. Of the Ministers, Elders, and Deacons
  6. Of the Order and Discipline of the Church
  7. Of the Sacraments
  8. Of Holy Baptism
  9. Of the Holy Supper of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Government and the Last Things

  1. Of Magistrates
  2. Of the Last Judgment

Try a number, like 32 for Lord’s Day 32 or Q 1, or a word from a question.