What does the Augsburg Confession Confess?
The Augsburg Confession is divided into two sections. The first section contains 21 articles (doctrinal statements) on core teachings of the Christian Faith: God, Original Sin, Jesus, Justification by Faith, Ministry, New Obedience, Church, Baptism, Lord’s Supper, Confession, Repentance, Use of the Sacraments, Ecclesiastical Order, Ecclesiastical Usages, Civil Affairs, Christ’s Return to judgment, Free Will, Cause of Sin, Faith and Good Works, and Worship of Saints. The second section addresses seven teachings or practices in the Roman Catholic Church that the confessors believed were abuses: withholding the cup from the laity, celibacy, false ideas about the Mass, the enumeration of all sins in confession, compulsory regulations concerning foods and traditions, monastic vows, and the power of bishops. Most clearly, the two teachings that are the hallmark of Lutheran belief stand out boldly in this Confession: (1) The Scriptures as the Word of God are the source of all doctrine in the
