On this day 482 years ago–June 25, 1530–the Reformation princes and free cities confessed their faith before Emperor Charles V at the Diet (the governing assembly of the Imperial states) held in Augsburg, Germany. The 28 articles drawn up by Philipp Melanchthon (not Luther!) became known as the Augsburg Confession. It was the first confession of faith of the Reformation and, to this day, it is perhaps the most succinct and definitive summaries of Lutheran theology.
Part of its genius is that it spells out what did NOT change in the Reformation churches–the continuity with historical Christianity that later protestants would throw out–as well as precisely what elements in the medieval church did need to be reformed. The Augsburg Confession is still startlingly relevant to today’s controversies of theology and practice.
Honor the day by reading it: Augsburg Confession – Book of Concord.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In