Confessed
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The term "confessed" in the biblical context primarily refers to the acknowledgment of sin, faith, or truth. It is a significant concept in both the Old and New Testaments, reflecting the importance of admitting one's sins before God and others, as well as professing faith in Jesus Christ.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, confession is often associated with repentance and seeking forgiveness from God. The Hebrew word for confess, "yadah," can mean to give thanks, praise, or confess. Confession is a vital part of the sacrificial system, where individuals would confess their sins over a sacrificial animal (Leviticus 5:5). This act symbolized the transfer of sin and the need for atonement.

One notable example is found in the account of Achan, who confessed his sin of taking forbidden items after the Israelites' defeat at Ai (Joshua 7:19-20). His confession was a necessary step before justice could be served.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, confession takes on a more personal and communal aspect. The Greek word "homologeo" means to agree, admit, or confess. Confession is closely linked with repentance and salvation. In 1 John 1:9, the apostle John writes, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." This verse highlights the promise of forgiveness and cleansing that comes with confession.

Confession is also a public declaration of faith in Jesus Christ. In Romans 10:9-10, Paul emphasizes the importance of confessing Jesus as Lord: "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." This confession is both a verbal acknowledgment and a heartfelt belief in the resurrection and lordship of Christ.

Role in the Early Church

The early church placed a strong emphasis on confession as part of the Christian life. James 5:16 encourages believers to "confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed." This practice fostered a sense of community, accountability, and mutual support among believers.

Theological Significance

Confession is a crucial aspect of the Christian doctrine of salvation. It involves recognizing one's sinfulness and the need for God's grace. Through confession, believers experience the transformative power of God's forgiveness and the assurance of salvation. It is both an individual and communal act, reflecting the believer's relationship with God and the body of Christ.

Practical Application

In contemporary Christian practice, confession remains an essential spiritual discipline. It is often incorporated into personal prayer, corporate worship, and the sacraments, such as the Eucharist. Confession encourages humility, honesty, and a deeper reliance on God's mercy and grace.

In summary, the concept of "confessed" in the Bible encompasses the acknowledgment of sin, the declaration of faith, and the communal practice of repentance and forgiveness. It is a foundational element of the Christian faith, underscoring the believer's relationship with God and the community of faith.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(imp. & p. p.) of Confess.
Greek
1843. exomologeo -- to agree, confess
... Word Origin from ek and homologeo Definition to agree, confess NASB Word Usage confess
(2), confessed (1), confessing (2), consented (1), give praise (2 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1843.htm - 8k

3670. homologeo -- to speak the same, to agree
... homologos (of one mind) Definition to speak the same, to agree NASB Word Usage
acknowledge (2), admit (1), assured (1), confess (6), confessed (4), confesses ( ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3670.htm - 8k

Strong's Hebrew
3034. yadah -- to throw, cast
... root Definition to throw, cast NASB Word Usage confess (10), confessed (3), confesses
(1), confessing (2), gave (1), gave praise (1), give you thanks (5), give ...
/hebrew/3034.htm - 6k
Library

The Hoax Confessed.
... Homily V. Chapter XXVIII."The Hoax Confessed. "When I heard this, I said
to Appion: Now I shall confess the truth to you. I was ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter xxviii the hoax confessed.htm

The Divine Christ Confessed, the Suffering Christ Denied
... THE DIVINE CHRIST CONFESSED, THE SUFFERING CHRIST DENIED. 'When Jesus came
into the coasts of Caesarea Phllippi, He asked His disciples ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the divine christ confessed the.htm

How all the Saints have Confessed with Truth that they were ...
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter XVII. How all the saints have
confessed with truth that they were unclean and sinful. And ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter xvii how all the.htm

Sunday after Ascension Day. These all Confessed that they were ...
... These all confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. . . . ... These
all confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. . . . ...
/.../lyra germanica the christian year/sunday after ascension day these.htm

St. Thomas Also Confessed the Same Faith as Peter after the Lord's ...
... Book III. Chapter XV. St. Thomas also confessed the same faith as Peter
after the Lord's resurrection. But I want still to add one ...
/.../cassian/the seven books of john cassian /chapter xv st thomas also.htm

How Hermes Openly Confessed the Error of his Forefathers, the ...
... Book VIII. Chapter 24."How Hermes Openly Confessed the Error of His Forefathers,
the Coming Destruction of Which He Nevertheless Bewailed. ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 24 how hermes openly confessed.htm

Concerning a Bishop who Removes a Man from Communion who Says He ...
... Canon CXXXII. (Greek cxxxiii.) Concerning a bishop who removes a man from communion
who says he has confessed to the bishop alone his crime. ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon cxxxii greek cxxxiii concerning.htm

They Brought up against Me after Thirty Years an Occurrence I had ...
... Section 27. They brought up against me after thirty years an occurrence
I had confessed before? 27. They brought up against me ...
/.../patrick/the confession of st patrick/section 27 they brought up.htm

"But as Soon as it is Known and Confessed...
... Address 64: "But as soon as it is known and confessed? "But as soon as it
is known and confessed, that all the happiness or misery ...
/.../address 64 0 0 but as soon.htm

"For as Soon as it is Known and Confessed...
... [Way-2-132] "For as soon as it is known and confessed? "For as soon as
it is known and confessed, that God is all in all; that ...
/.../law/the way to divine knowledge/way-2-132 for as soon as.htm

Thesaurus
Confessed (19 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Confessed (19 Occurrences). ... (See NAS). John 1:20 And he
confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. ...
/c/confessed.htm - 12k

Acknowledge (61 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 8:33 In Thy people Israel being smitten before an enemy, because they sin
against Thee, and they have turned back unto Thee, and have confessed Thy name ...
/a/acknowledge.htm - 26k

Confess (65 Occurrences)
... NAS). John 1:20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not
the Christ. (Root in KJV ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). John ...
/c/confess.htm - 26k

Denied (34 Occurrences)
... WBS NAS RSV NIV). John 1:20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed,
I am not the Christ. (KJV ASV DBY WBS). John 13:38 Jesus ...
/d/denied.htm - 16k

Affirm (7 Occurrences)
... 1: "Thou shalt die, and not bye" John 1:20 is made peculiarly emphatic because of
the negative placed between two affirmatives: "And he confessed, and denied ...
/a/affirm.htm - 10k

Affirmatives
... 1: "Thou shalt die, and not bye" John 1:20 is made peculiarly emphatic because of
the negative placed between two affirmatives: "And he confessed, and denied ...
/a/affirmatives.htm - 7k

Prayed (97 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 8:33 In Thy people Israel being smitten before an enemy, because they sin
against Thee, and they have turned back unto Thee, and have confessed Thy name ...
/p/prayed.htm - 35k

Nero
... and where they are encouraged. Accordingly, first three were seized, who
confessed they were Christians. Next, on their information ...
/n/nero.htm - 41k

Restrained (51 Occurrences)
... Kings 8:35 In the heavens being restrained, and there is no rain, because they sin
against Thee, and they have prayed towards this place, and confessed Thy name ...
/r/restrained.htm - 22k

Confesses (8 Occurrences)

/c/confesses.htm - 8k

Resources
What does the Bible say about forgiveness? What does it mean to forgive? | GotQuestions.org

Why did David ask God to “create in me a clean heart” in Psalm 51:10? | GotQuestions.org

Why should I believe in Christ's resurrection? | GotQuestions.org

Confessed: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Confessed (19 Occurrences)

Matthew 3:6
and they were baptized in the Jordan by him, confessing their sins.
(See NAS)

John 1:20
And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.
(KJV ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

John 9:22
His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if any one confessed him to be the Christ, he should be excommunicated from the synagogue.
(DBY WBS NAS)

Acts 19:18
And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
(KJV WBS NIV)

1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.
(WEB DBY)

Hebrews 11:13
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Leviticus 5:5
And it hath been when he is guilty of one of these, that he hath confessed concerning that which he hath sinned,
(YLT)

Leviticus 16:21
and Aaron hath laid his two hands on the head of the living goat, and hath confessed over it all the iniquities of the sons of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, and hath put them on the head of the goat, and hath sent 'it' away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness;
(YLT)

Leviticus 26:40
And -- they have confessed their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, in their trespass which they have trespassed against Me, and also, that they have walked with Me, in opposition,
(YLT)

Numbers 5:7
and they have confessed their sin which they have done, then he hath restored his guilt in its principal, and its fifth is adding to it, and hath given 'it' to him in reference to whom he hath been guilty.
(YLT)

1 Samuel 7:6
They gathered together to Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it out before Yahweh, and fasted on that day, and said there, "We have sinned against Yahweh." Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpah.
(See NIV)

1 Kings 8:33
In Thy people Israel being smitten before an enemy, because they sin against Thee, and they have turned back unto Thee, and have confessed Thy name, and prayed, and made supplication unto Thee in this house,
(YLT)

1 Kings 8:35
In the heavens being restrained, and there is no rain, because they sin against Thee, and they have prayed towards this place, and confessed Thy name, and from their sin turn back, for Thou dost afflict them,
(YLT)

2 Chronicles 6:24
And if Thy people Israel is smitten before an enemy, because they sin against Thee, and they have turned back and confessed Thy name, and prayed and made supplication before Thee in this house --
(YLT)

2 Chronicles 6:26
In the heavens being restrained, and there is no rain, because they sin against Thee, and they have prayed towards this place, and confessed Thy name -- from their sin they turn back because Thou dost afflict them --
(YLT)

Ezra 10:1
Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore.
(KJV WBS)

Nehemiah 9:2
The seed of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Nehemiah 9:3
They stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of Yahweh their God a fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshiped Yahweh their God.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS)

Daniel 9:4
And I pray to Jehovah my God, and confess, and say: 'I beseech Thee, O Lord God, the great and the fearful, keeping the covenant and the kindness to those loving Him, and to those keeping His commands;
(See NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Confessed

Related Terms

Confess (65 Occurrences)

Confessed (19 Occurrences)

Renounces (2 Occurrences)

Denies (6 Occurrences)

Confesseth (4 Occurrences)

Conceals (8 Occurrences)

Confession (22 Occurrences)

Acknowledges (10 Occurrences)

Angels (99 Occurrences)

According (7613 Occurrences)

Remains (118 Occurrences)

Predestination

Either (152 Occurrences)

Finds (71 Occurrences)

Gospel (108 Occurrences)

Flame (61 Occurrences)

Prosper (91 Occurrences)

Son (25967 Occurrences)

Lot (145 Occurrences)

Galatians (2 Occurrences)

Hebrews (24 Occurrences)

Heaven (653 Occurrences)

Epistle (13 Occurrences)

Confess Christ Boldly
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