The connexion between repentance and con- fession was so ingrained in the Jewish conscience that when, under the Baptist's preaching, many were led to repent, open confession accompanied their baptism (Mk 1°), and doubtless the Apostolic baptism was prefaced by a confession in tins sense as well as the other. Such a confession was under- stood to be made to God, but commonly it would be made in the hearing of men (cf. Ac 17*). It is plain also that Christ taught the necessity of acknowledging, and obtaining forgiveness for, oU'ences committed against other men (Mt 5-*, Lk 17*). As to the mode of confession or the person to receive it, no instruction is given. It is clear, however, from the language of St. John (1 Jn 1') and St. James that it was specific, definite, and mutual. In Ja 5" the reading of WH (rds atiapTtat for TK ri, irapairTuiiaTa) puts it beyond doubt that reference is made to sins against God ; but the interpretation (Chrysostom and others) which infers that the confession was to be made to the Presbyters, involves an inadmissible tautology. 'AXXtJXois can only refer to the relation of individual believers to one another, so that Cajetan from the Roman standpoint riglitly admits 'ncc hie est sermo de confessione sacramentali.'
C. A. Scott.
CONFIRMATION.— The verb 'confirm' is u.sed in a very general sense in the AV, serving as a rendering of no fewer than eleven words in the original languages — seven Heb. (I'Tij, "gj, piij, [o, x'Pt. """V. ^'P in their proper conjugations) and four Gr. (^e^aiitij, ^iriarripi^ui, Kvpduj, fjL(iTiTevtij). The OT group of words suggests the idea of establishing and strengthening ; though in some cases the more tech- nical notion of a legal or authoritative confirmation comes in, esp. when the word D'p is used {e.g. Ru 4', Est 9="- "'• =^). In the NT /9e/3oi6a> and ^irdTTTjpifu are used in the general sense of strengthening and estab- lishing, while Ki'/)6ui is used in the sense of giving power or validity (2 Co 2', Gal 3"), and /jifiriTeuw is employed in its natural meaning of acting as a mediator (He 6"). The substantive 'confirma- tion' (/3t;3a/uiri!) is used in the two senses of making firm, establishing (Ph 1"), and givinj; authoritative validity (He G'"). It is not used in the Bible to describe an ecclesiastical rite. In the Acts refer- ence is made to St. Paul ' confirming the souls of the disciples' (14'-''-), and ' confirming the Churches' (1,')*') ; and it is stated that ' Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them' (15'''') — forms of ^TiaTTipl^u being used in each case. There is no indication that any ceremony was performed on these occasions ; the narrative would ratlicT suggest the jjencral idea of strengthening and estaU lishing Bpintuully. But although the laj-ing on of hands (^Trifltirit tuv x'^P^") is not connected with the word confirmation, it appears in as.sociation with the gift of the Holy Spirit to discijiles by apostles subsequent to baptism (Ac 8""'' 19°- '), and as a rite following baptism, in He 6'. This
1R6
CONFISCATION
CONGREGATION
was after the example of the Jewish method of blessing {e.g. CJn 48''' '*), which was recognized by the mothers who brought their children to Jesus thiit He might 'lay his hands on them,' etc. (Mt 19"). According to the Talmud, a father laid his bunds on his child, after which the elders also blessed him (I'u.vtorf., i'yn. jKrf. 138). As late as TertuUian the laj'ing on of hands was closely ast^ociated with baptism as almost part of the same rite {de Bnp. c. 8 ; rfe Rcsurr. Cam. c. 8).
W. F. Adeney. CONFISCATION. — See Ceimes akd Punish-
CONFOUND. — This vb. is used in three senses.
1. l)i stray, shatter, Jer 1" 'be not dismayed at their faces, lest I c. thee before them.' The Geneva and Bishops' Bibles have ' destroy ' here, and it is possible that AV chose a milder word on jiurpose, as RV has a still milder ' lest I dismay thee before them'; but the Heb. (!iri~S!-[3, nnn in hi[)h.) has the meaning of 'shatter,' as in Is 9* ' the yoke of his burden . . . thou hast broken ' (RV) ; and the Eng. word has this mean- ing also, as Milton, Par. Lost, ii. 380 —
' ^\Tience, But from the author of all ill, could spring So deep a malice, to confound the race Of Mankind in one rooty
2. Put to shnme. This is the most frequent mean- ing. RV often changes ' c"* ' into ' ashamed,' but Amer. RV prefers 'put to shame.' Earlier ver- sions sometimes had 'c"'' wliere AV has ' ashamed,' as 2 S 10" Douay, ' The men were confounded very fowly, and David commanded them, Tary in Jeridio, til your beard be growen.' 3. Throw into confu.'don (stronger than mod. confiute. Dr. Murray suggests the colloq. dumfound), as Gn II'-" (see Tongues, Confusion of), 2 Mac 13=^ 14^ 'he was much c*^ in himself ; Ac 2* 9^' (criryx^u, cf. Ac igs* 21" ' was in confusion ' RV).
J. Hastings. CONFUSED. — Confuse and confusion were much stronger words in Elizabethan than in mod. Eng., Ac 19*2 ' the assembly was c"" (RV ' in confusion ') ; Is 9» ' with c. noise (ftV ' in the tumult '). See CON- FOUND 3. Confusion : 1. Tmnulluoiis disorder, as Ac 19^ ' the whole city was filled with c' {adyximi), I Co I4», Ja 3'" (drarao-Tofflo), 2 Es 16", Lv 18'='20'2 (S3F1), Is 24i» 34" 41=» (inn). The Oxf. Eng. Dirt. quotes Is 34" ' he shall stretch out upon it the line of c.' as an example of e. in the sense of destruction (see Confound 1) ; and that meaning was common in 1611, as Shaks. Afid. Aight's Dream, I. i. 149 —