The Scottish Confession of Faith

by John Knox

In 1559, John Knox returned to his homeland, marking a new effort in the battle to reform Scotland. Throughout the nation, Protestants joined together in a solemn covenant, pledging their lives and fortunes for the cause of Christ.The Queen Regent, Mary of Guise, was a hardened Papist, and she opposed all endeavours to reform Scotland. The Queen Regent died in 1560, and the Scottish Parliament convened in Edinburgh in August, to address many issues confronting the restless nation.In the History of the Reformation in Scotland, Knox gives a record of the drama which unfolded. A supplication was laid before the Parliament by the Protestant nobility, decrying the corruptions of Roman Catholicism, and seeking the abolition of Popery. The petition of the Protestants exclaimed, "We offer ourselves to prove, that in all the [rabble of the clergy] there is not one lawful minister, if God's word, the practice of the apostles, and their own ancient laws shall judge of lawful election. We further offer ourselves to prove them all thieves and yea, rebels and traitors to the lawful authority of empires, kings, and princes; and therefore unworthy to be suffered in any reformed commonwealth."[1]In response, the Parliament directed the Protestant noblemen and ministers to draw up "in plain and several heads, the sum of that doctrine which they would maintain, and would desire that present Parliament to establish as wholesome, true, and only necessary to be believed and received within that realm."[2]Over the next four days, the Scottish Confession was drafted by six John Winram, John Spottiswoode, John Willock, John Douglas, John Row, and John Knox. On 17 August 1560, the document was read twice, article by article, before the Parliament; and the Protestant ministers stood ready to defend the cause of truth, in the event that any article of belief was assailed.When the vote was taken, the Confession was ratified, with only a few dissenting voices, who "yet for their dissenting could produce no better reason but, 'We will believe as our fathers believed.' The bishops (papistical, we mean), spake nothing."[3]The Scottish Confession of 1560 is a lively testimony to the truth. The Church of Scotland approved the Westminster Standards over 80 years later; but the ratification of the Westminster Standards was in no way a repudiation of the previous testimony of the Church. Rather, the combined documents present a united testimony respecting the doctrinal landmarks of the Protes tant Reformation. And since the latter standards are among the offspring of the former Confession, all persons of the Reformed faith should find it profitable to study the Scottish Confession of 1560.

Genres: Theology, Christian

27 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 25, 2010

About the author

John Knox (c. 1514 – 24 November 1572) 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 and was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood in 1536. Influenced by early church reformers such as George Wishart, he joined the movement to reform the Scottish church. He was caught up in the ecclesiastical and political events that involved the murder of Cardinal Beaton in 1546 and the intervention of the regent of Scotland, Mary of Guise. He was taken prisoner by French forces the following year and exiled to England on his release in 1549.

While in exile, Knox was licensed to work in the Church of England, where he quickly rose in the ranks to serve King Edward VI of England as a royal chaplain. In this position, he exerted a reforming influence on the text of the Book of Common Prayer. In England he met and married his first wife, Marjorie. When Mary Tudor ascended the throne and re-established Roman Catholicism, Knox was forced to resign his position and leave the country.

Knox first moved to Geneva and then to Frankfurt. In Geneva, he met John Calvin, from whom he gained experience and knowledge of Reformed theology and Presbyterian polity. He created a new order of service, which was eventually adopted by the reformed church in Scotland. He left Geneva to head the English refugee church in Frankfurt but he was forced to leave over differences concerning the liturgy, thus ending his association with the Church of England.

On his return to Scotland, he led the Protestant Reformation in Scotland, in partnership with the Scottish Protestant nobility. The movement may be seen as a revolution, since it led to the ousting of Mary of Guise, who governed the country in the name of her young daughter, Mary, Queen of Scots. Knox helped write the new confession of faith and the ecclesiastical order for the newly created reformed church, the Kirk. He continued to serve as the religious leader of the Protestants throughout Mary's reign. In several interviews with the queen, Knox admonished her for supporting Catholic practices. Eventually, when she was imprisoned for her alleged role in the murder of her husband, Lord Darnley, and James VI enthroned in her stead, he openly called for her execution. He continued to preach until his final days.

Reviews

[Zach McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

If the Heidelberg is pastoral and the Westminster systematic, then the Scots is prophetic.

[Sean McGowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great.

[Nicholas Anctil · Rating 5 out of 5]

“we utterly condemn the vanity of those who affirm the sacraments to be nothing else than naked and bare signs. No, we assuredly believe that by Baptism we are engrafted into Christ Jesus, to be made partakers of His righteousness, by which our sins are covered and remitted, and also that in the Supper rightly used, Christ Jesus is so joined with us that He becomes the very nourishment and food of our souls.” 🗣️🗣️🗣️

[Idin Kierkegaard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A genuinely beautiful confession which perfectly summarises Presbyterianism and overall Reformed Theology, it heavily enlightened me on my study of the Protestant Reformation on the actual theology of Calvinism instead of the more ignorant videos which describe it outside of the apologetic circles. Its better to simply go to the confessions written by the reformers to understand what they believed.

[Mark Reese · Rating 4 out of 5]

My edition didn’t have scripture references, which perhaps would have made it more beneficial for personal study. Good confession, but I like the Westminster Standards & 3 Forms of Unity more.

[Jacob Lovelace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Important read.

[Christopher Brehm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good summary of what the Bible teaches.

[Joni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I am planning on going to Scotland in May, I wanted to read about some of the history of the land. Given the history of John Knox, this book was a natural choice.