''Confessio catholica'' is one of the main works of German

Orthodox Lutheran Lutheran orthodoxy was an era in the history of Lutheranism, which began in 1580 from the writing of the ''Book of Concord'' and ended at the Age of Enlightenment. Lutheran orthodoxy was paralleled by similar eras in Reformed orthodoxy, Calvinism ...

theologian

Johann Gerhard Johannes Gerhard (17 October 1582 – 17 August 1637) was a Lutheran church leader and Lutheran Scholastic theologian during the period of Orthodoxy. Biography He was born in the German city of Quedlinburg. During a dangerous illness, at the ...

(1582–1637). It seeks to prove the evangelical and catholic character of the doctrine of the

Augsburg Confession The Augsburg Confession (), also known as the Augustan Confession or the Augustana from its Latin name, ''Confessio Augustana'', is the primary confession of faith of the Lutheranism, Lutheran Church and one of the most important documents of th ...

from the writings of approved

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

authors. ''Confessio catholica, in qua doctrina catholica et evangelica, quam ecclesiae Augustanae confessioni addictae profilentur, ex Romano-catholicorum scriptorum suffragiis confirmatur'' (4 parts, Frankfort and Leipsic, 1634–37), is based upon the ''Catalogus testium veritatis'' of Flacius. It is more comprehensive than its title denotes, being at the same time an extensive

apology Apology, The Apology, apologize/apologise, apologist, apologetics, or apologetic may refer to: Common uses * Apology (act), an expression of remorse or regret * Apologia, a formal defense of an opinion, position, or action Arts, entertainment ...

and polemic of the

Evangelical Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide, interdenominational movement within Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that emphasizes evangelism, or the preaching and spreading of th ...

Creed. The first part is general and treats the ''principia et media nostrae et pontificiae religionis''. The other three volumes treat the disputed articles of faith. Its contents may be compared with Gerhard's ''Theological Commonplaces: On the Church,'' an earlier handling with many themes in common with the ''Confessio Catholica.''

References

*Bengt Hägglund: Polemics and Dialogue in John Gerhard's Confessio catholica
LUTHERAN QUARTERLY
Summer 2000 Issue.

External links

''Confessio Catholica'' (Frankfurt, 1679)
Single volume edition.
''Confessio Catholica'' (Jena, 1634), volume 1
Introductory volume
''Confessio Catholica'' (Jena, 1634), volume 2/1
On the Word of God, Christ, the Roman Pontiff, councils, and the Church
''Confessio Catholica'' (Jena, 1636), volume 2/2
On clergy, monks, laity, purgatory, saints, sacraments, Baptism, confirmation, Eucharist, and the Mass
''Confessio Catholica'' (Jena, 1637), volume 2/3
On penance, extreme unction, sacrament of order, matrimony, the grace of the first man, sin, grace and free choice, justification, and good works 1634 books 1636 books 1637 books Lutheran texts 17th-century Christian texts {{Christian-book-stub