SPECIAL TOPIC: CONFESSION

A. There are two forms of the same Greek root used for confession or profession, homolegeō and exomologe. The compound term is from homo, the same; legō, to speak; and ex, out of. The basic meaning is to say the same thing, to agree with. The ex added to the idea of a public declaration.

B. The English translations of this word group are

1. praise

2. agree

3. declare (cf. Matt. 7:23)

4. profess

5. confess (cf. Heb. 4:14; 10:23)

C. This word group had two seemingly opposite usages

1. to praise (God)

2. to admit sin

These may have developed from mankind's sense of the holiness of God and its own sinfulness. To acknowledge one truth is to acknowledge both.

D. The NT usages of the word group are

1. to promise (cf. Matt. 14:7; Acts 7:17)

2. to agree or consent to something (cf. John 1:20; Luke 22:6; Acts 24:14; Heb. 11:13)

3. to praise (cf. Matt. 11:25; Luke 10:21; Rom. 14:11; 15:9; Heb. 13:15)

4. to assent to

a. a person (cf. Matt. 10:32; Luke 12:8; John 9:22; 12:42; Rom. 10:9; Phil. 2:11; 1 John 2:23; Rev. 3:5)

b. a truth (cf. Acts 23:8; 1 John 4:2)

5. to make a public declaration of (legal sense developed into religious affirmation, cf. Acts 24:14; 1 Tim. 6:13)

a. without admission of guilt (cf. 1 Tim. 6:12; Heb. 10:23)

b. with an admission of guilt (cf. Matt. 3:6; Acts 19:18; Heb. 4:14; James 5:16; 1 John 1:9)