Second Helvetic Confession
By Heinrich Bullinger, Zurich, Switzerland. Bullinger composed the Second Helvetic Confession in 1562, in latin, for his own use, as an abiding testimony of the faith in which he had lived and in which he wished to die. He showed it to Peter Martyr, who fully consented to it, shortly before his death (Nov. 12, 1562). Two years afterwards Lie elaborated it more fully during the raging of the pestilence, and added it to his will, which was to be delivered to the magistrate of Zurich after his death, which he then expected every day.
- Chapter 1: Of The Holy Scripture Being The True Word of God
CANONICAL SCRIPTURE We believe and confess the canonical Scriptures of the holy prophets and apostles of both Testaments to be the true Word of God, and to have sufficient... - Chapter 2: Of Interpreting The Holy Scripture; and of Fathers, Councils, and Traditions
THE TRUE INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURE The apostle Peter has said that the Holy Scriptures are not of private interpretation (2 Pet. 1:20), and thus we do not allow all possible... - Chapter 3: Of God, His Unity and Trinity
GOD IS ONE We believe and teach that God is one in essence or nature, subsisting in himself, all sufficient in himself, invisible, incorporeal, immense, eternal, Creator of... - Chapter 4: Of Idols or Images of God, Christ and The Saints
IMAGES OF GOD Since God as Spirit is in essence invisible and immense, he cannot really be expressed by any art or image. For this reason we have no fear pronouncing with... - Chapter 5: Of The Adoration, Worship and Invocation of God Through The Only Mediator Jesus Christ
GOD ALONE IS TO BE ADORED AND WORSHIPPED We teach that the true God alone is to be adored and worshipped. This honor we impart to none other, according to the commandment of... - Chapter 6: Of the Providence of God
ALL THINGS ARE GOVERNED BY THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD We believe that all things in heaven and on earth, and in all creatures, are preserved and governed by the providence of this... - Chapter 7: Of The Creation of All Things: Of Angels, the Devil, and Man
GOD CREATED ALL THINGS This good and almighty God created all things, both visible and invisible, by his co-eternal Word, and preserves them by his co-eternal Spirit, as David... - Chapter 8: Of Man's Fall, Sin and the Cause of Sin
THE FALL OF MAN In the beginning, man was made according to the image of God, in righteousness and true holiness, good and upright. But when at the instigation of the serpent... - Chapter 9: Of Free Will, and Thus of Human Powers
1.** In this matter, which has always produced many conflicts in the Church, we teach that a threefold condition or state of man is to be considered. - Chapter 10: Of the Predestination of God and the Election of the Saints
GOD HAS ELECTED US OUT OF GRACE From eternity God has freely, and of his mere grace, without any respect to men, predestinated or elected the saints whom he wills to save in... - Chapter 11: Of Jesus Christ, True God and Man, the Only Savior of the World
CHRIST IS TRUE GOD We further believe and teach that the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, was predestinated or foreordained from eternity by the Father to be the Savior of... - Chapter 12: Of the Law of God
THE WILL OF GOD IS EXPLAINED FOR US IN THE LAW OF GOD We teach that the will of God is explained for us in the law of God, what he wills or does not will us to do, what is... - Chapter 13: Of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, of the Promises, and of the Spirit and Letter
THE ANCIENTS HAD EVANGELICAL PROMISES The Gospel is, indeed, opposed to the law. For the law works wrath and announces a curse, whereas the Gospel preaches grace and blessing.... - Chapter 14: Of Repentance and the Conversion of Man
1.** The doctrine of repentance is joined with the Gospel. For so has the Lord said in the Gospel: "Repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in my name to all... - Chapter 15: Of the True Justification of the Faithful
WHAT IS JUSTIFICATION? According to the apostle in his treatment of justification, to justify means to remit sins, to absolve from guilt and punishment, to receive into favor,... - Chapter 16: Of Faith and Good Works, and of Their Reward, and of Man's Merit
WHAT IS FAITH? Christian faith is not an opinion or human conviction, but a most firm trust and a clear and steadfast assent of the mind, and then a most certain apprehension... - Chapter 17: Of The Catholic and Holy Church of God, and of The One Only Head of The Church
THE CHURCH HAS ALWAYS EXISTED AND IT WILL ALWAYS EXIST But because God from the beginning would have men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth (I Tim. 2:4),... - Chapter 18: Of The Ministers of The Church, Their Institution and Duties
GOD USES MINISTERS IN THE BUILDING OF THE CHURCH God has always used ministers for the gathering or establishing of a Church for himself, and for the governing and... - Chapter 19: Of the Sacraments of the Church of Christ
THE SACRAMENTS [ARE] ADDED TO THE WORD AND WHAT THEY ARE From the beginning, God added to the preaching of his Word in his Church sacraments or sacramental signs. For thus... - Chapter 20: Of Holy Baptism
THE INSTITUTION OF BAPTISM Baptism was instituted and consecrated by God. First John baptized, who dipped Christ in the water in Jordan. From him it came to the apostles, who... - Chapter 21: Of the Holy Supper of the Lord
THE SUPPER OF THE LORD The Supper of the Lord (which is called the Lord's Table, and the Eucharist, that is, a Thanksgiving), is, therefore, usually called a supper, because... - Chapter 22: Of Religious and Ecclesiastical Meetings
WHAT OUGHT TO BE DONE IN MEETINGS FOR WORSHIP Although it is permitted all men to read the Holy Scriptures privately at home, and by instruction to edify one another in the... - Chapter 23: Of the Prayers of the Church, of Singing, and of Canonical Hours
COMMON LANGUAGE It is true that a man is permitted to pray privately in any language that he understands, but public prayers in meetings for worship are to be made in the... - Chapter 24: Of Holy Days, Fasts and the Choice of Foods
THE TIME NECESSARY FOR WORSHIP Although religion is not bound to time, yet it cannot be cultivated and exercised without a proper distribution and arrangement of time. Every... - Chapter 25: Of Catechizing and of Comforting and Visiting the Sick
YOUTH TO BE INSTRUCTED IN GODLINESS The Lord enjoined his ancient people to exercise the greatest care that young people, even from infancy, be properly instructed. Moreover,... - Chapter 26: Of the Burial of the Faithful, and of the Care to Be Shown for the Dead; of Purgatory, and the Appearing of Spirits
THE BURIAL OF BODIES As the bodies of the faithful are the temples of the Holy Spirit which we truly believe will rise again at the Last Day, Scriptures command that they be... - Chapter 27: Of Rites, Ceremonies and Things Indifferent
CEREMONIES AND RITES Unto the ancient people were given at one time certain ceremonies, as a kind of instruction for those who were kept under the law, as under a schoolmaster... - Chapter 28: Of the possessions of the Church
THE POSSESSIONS OF THE CHURCH AND THEIR PROPER USE The Church of Christ possesses riches through the munificence of princes and the liberality of the faithful who have given... - Chapter 29: Of Celibacy, Marriage and the Management of Domestic Affairs
SINGLE PEOPLE Those who have the gift of celibacy from heaven, so that from the heart or with their whole soul are pure and continent and are not aflame with passion, let them... - Chapter 30: Of the Magistracy
THE MAGISTRACY IS FROM GOD Magistracy of every kind is instituted by God himself for the peace and tranquillity of the human race, and thus it should have the chief place in...