Why Study A Confession? Pt 1

The first question one might ask before entering into a study of a confession is why?  Before answering that question, it would be of benefit to briefly answer a couple other questions: What is a confession and what is the purpose of a confession?

What is a confession?
The simple definition most would think is a formal admittance to a crime. I think that is a good place to start because that sets our mind in the legal realm. Possibly the other area which comes to mind would be a confessional booth, which again is placing a legal aspect to the understanding, but adds a religious perspective to it. But in both cases, the confession is of someone admitting their guilt before another.  The other religious definition is that it is a statement of one's religious doctrines or principles.

Underlying all three definitions is a simple statement: it is a person's admittance to what they know is real and true.  In two instances, it is admitting what they believe is real, right, and true, and how they do not conform to it, thus creating the legal status of guilty.  The third is just a statement about what they believe is true.

What is the purpose of a Confession? Why Subscribe to One?

Inherent to the answer above comes our meaning or purpose to a confession.  A confession is created in order to set a standard of doctrines or statements that express one's beliefs regarding what is true. From this set standard can come multiple uses such as public expression, unification with others, defense against heresies, and discipline & correction within a common group.  It provides definition to who we are and what we believe, establishing identity for our own sake and for those around us.

That is a VERY brief summary of what a confession is and does, but hopefully this will provide the basis to better answer the question "Why study a confession?"