The Augsburg Confession

The confession of faith presented to the Emperor Charles V at the Diet of Augsburg on 25 June 1530 — the foundational confessional document of the Lutheran Reformation. Drafted by Melanchthon (with Luther’s approval, though Luther was confined at Coburg and could not attend), it sets out the evangelical faith in 28 articles. Translated by F. Bente and W. H. T. Dau for the Triglot Concordia (1921).

1. Preface to the Emperor Charles V
2. Article I: Of God
3. Article II: Of Original Sin
4. Article III: Of the Son of God
5. Article IV: Of Justification
6. Article V: Of the Ministry
7. Article VI: Of New Obedience
8. Article VII: Of the Church
9. Article VIII: What the Church Is
10. Article IX: Of Baptism
11. Article X: Of the Lord’s Supper
12. Article XI: Of Confession
13. Article XII: Of Repentance
14. Article XIII: Of the Use of the Sacraments
15. Article XIV: Of Ecclesiastical Order
16. Article XV: Of Ecclesiastical Usages
17. Article XVI: Of Civil Affairs
18. Article XVII: Of Christ’s Return to Judgment
19. Article XVIII: Of Free Will
20. Article XIX: Of the Cause of Sin
21. Article XX: Of Good Works
22. Article XXI: Of the Worship of the Saints
23. Article XXII: Of Both Kinds in the Sacrament
24. Article XXIII: Of the Marriage of Priests
25. Article XXIV: Of the Mass
26. Article XXV: Of Confession
27. Article XXVI: Of the Distinction of Meats
28. Article XXVII: Of Monastic Vows
29. Article XXVIII: Of Ecclesiastical Power
30. Conclusion