Scots Confession
Encyclopedia
The Scots Confession is a Confession of Faith
written in 1560 by six leaders of the Protestant Reformation
in Scotland
. The Confession was the first Subordinate Standard for the Protestant
church in Scotland
.
In August 1560 the Parliament of Scotland
agreed to reform the religion
of the country. To enable them to decide what the Reformed Faith was to be, they set John Knox
, and another 5 Johns, John Winram
, John Spottiswoode
, John Willock
, John Douglas
, and John Row
, to prepare a Confession of Faith. This they did in 4 days. The 25 Chapters of the Confession spell out a contemporary statement of the Christian Faith as understood by the followers of John Calvin
during his lifetime. Although the Confession and its accompanying documents were the product of the joint effort of the Six Johns, its authorship is customarily attributed to John Knox.
While the Parliament approved the Confession, Mary, Queen of Scots, refused to agree, and the Confession was not enacted as law until 1567. It remained the Confession of the Church of Scotland
until it was superseded by the Westminster Confession of Faith
in 1648. However, the confession itself begins by stating that the Parliament "ratifeit and apprevit [the confession] as wholesome and sound doctrine grounded upon the infallible truth of God's word"; thus, though changes within societies may have diminished its relevance therein, the sound nature of its statements is rooted not in parliamentary approval but in, as it says, "the infallible truth of God's word." Thus, where the Confession refers to "our souerane and supreame governor Christ Jesus", that such is so is not a matter of Parliamentary approval or of any temporal instrument but of God's word.
Confession of Faith
A Confession of Faith is a statement of doctrine very similar to a creed, but usually longer and polemical, as well as didactic.Confessions of Faith are in the main, though not exclusively, associated with Protestantism...
written in 1560 by six leaders of the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The Confession was the first Subordinate Standard for the Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
church in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
In August 1560 the Parliament of Scotland
Parliament of Scotland
The Parliament of Scotland, officially the Estates of Parliament, was the legislature of the Kingdom of Scotland. The unicameral parliament of Scotland is first found on record during the early 13th century, with the first meeting for which a primary source survives at...
agreed to reform the religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
of the country. To enable them to decide what the Reformed Faith was to be, they set John Knox
John Knox
John Knox was a Scottish clergyman and a leader of the Protestant Reformation who brought reformation to the church in Scotland. He was educated at the University of St Andrews or possibly the University of Glasgow and was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in 1536...
, and another 5 Johns, John Winram
John Winram
John Winram was a 16th century Scottish priest and ecclesiastical reformer. He was born in 1492, the son of one James Winram of Ratho and his wife Margaret Wilkie...
, John Spottiswoode
John Spottiswoode
John Spottiswoode was an Archbishop of St Andrews, Primate of All Scotland and historian of Scotland.-Life:...
, John Willock
John Willock
John Willock , Scottish reformer, was a native of Ayrshire and was educated at the University of Glasgow....
, John Douglas
John Douglas (archbishop)
John Douglas was Archbishop of St. Andrews from 1572 to 1574. As was tradition from the fifteenth to the seventeenth centuries, the Archbishop would take on the role of Chancellor of the University of St Andrews, as the University had strong links with the Pre-Reformation church.Douglas was one of...
, and John Row
John Row
John Row was a Scottish ecclesiastical historian and one of the Scottish Reformers. As minister of Carnockin Fife, he was a leading opponent of Episcopacy....
, to prepare a Confession of Faith. This they did in 4 days. The 25 Chapters of the Confession spell out a contemporary statement of the Christian Faith as understood by the followers of John Calvin
John Calvin
John Calvin was an influential French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. Originally trained as a humanist lawyer, he broke from the Roman Catholic Church around 1530...
during his lifetime. Although the Confession and its accompanying documents were the product of the joint effort of the Six Johns, its authorship is customarily attributed to John Knox.
While the Parliament approved the Confession, Mary, Queen of Scots, refused to agree, and the Confession was not enacted as law until 1567. It remained the Confession of the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
until it was superseded by the Westminster Confession of Faith
Westminster Confession of Faith
The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith, in the Calvinist theological tradition. Although drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly, largely of the Church of England, it became and remains the 'subordinate standard' of doctrine in the Church of Scotland, and has been...
in 1648. However, the confession itself begins by stating that the Parliament "ratifeit and apprevit [the confession] as wholesome and sound doctrine grounded upon the infallible truth of God's word"; thus, though changes within societies may have diminished its relevance therein, the sound nature of its statements is rooted not in parliamentary approval but in, as it says, "the infallible truth of God's word." Thus, where the Confession refers to "our souerane and supreame governor Christ Jesus", that such is so is not a matter of Parliamentary approval or of any temporal instrument but of God's word.