Bible Dictionary
Confession
Confession is the acknowledgment or declaration of truth, faith, or sin. Scripture calls people to confess faith in Christ, confess sins to God, and acknowledge wrongs to those they have offended.
Biblical Usage
Scripture speaks of confessing faith in Christ and acknowledging His sovereignty. It also calls for confession of sins to God, to a neighbor who has been wronged, to a spiritual adviser, or, when a public offense has caused scandal, to the church. The supplied material finds no authority in Scripture for medieval or Roman auricular confession as a condition of absolution.
Scripture References