The Confession of Faith (P.J. Twisck, 1617)

The oldest fully developed confession of faith of the Mennonites is probably the Belydenisse near Godts heylig woort. It appeared first in the Hoorn Martyr Book (Historie der warachtighe getuygen) of 1617, then separately at Hoorn in 1620 and 1626, was, according to Hans Alenson's Tegenbericht, the product of two Old Frisian preachers, Sijwaert Pietersz and Peter J. Twisck.

The confession was printed in the Martyrs' Mirror in 1660 (1950 English ed., 373-410), and in 1837 was first published in English at Winchester, Virginia, as The Confession of Faith. It contains 33 articles, and presents the content of the Christian faith in great detail with thorough, exhaustive biblical argumentation. When and where it originally appeared, and by whom it was drawn up is not stated, but it was probably first printed about 1600.

Peter Jansz Twisck was a preacher and elder in the Old Frisian Mennonite Church at Hoorn beginning in 1592. He was conservative in theology against more liberal leaders like Hans de Ries. Twisck defended Menno Simons' doctrine of the Incarnation (Article 14), maintained the practice of banning, opposed marriage outside the church, and generally opposed unity efforts by other Mennonite groups. Sijwaert Pietersz was a co-worker in the Old Frisian Church; Twisck credited him for the composition of the confession, though Twisck's influence is clear.

This Confession is primarily composed of sentences borrowed from the works of Menno Simons. It has been influential because of its inclusion in the Martyrs' Mirror. The Church of God in Christ, Mennonites most often reprinted the English translation in the 20th century.

Text of the Confession

Confession of Faith, According to the Holy Word of God

Of the only God of heaven and earth Of the eternal birth and Godhead of the only and eternal Son of God Of the Holy Ghost How Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are to be distinguished in certain attributes That these three true witnesses are but one only true, God. Of the creation of all things visible and invisible, and of the creation of man Of the fall and punishment of man Of the restoration or justification of man. Of the free will or power of man before and after the fall; and of the saving grace of God. Of the providence of God, the election of believers, and the rejection of unbelievers. Of the written word of God, the law of Moses, and the Gospel of Christ. Of saving faith. Of regeneration and the new creature. Of the incarnation of the eternal and only begotten Son of God. Of the knowledge of Jesus Christ, God and man in one person, and the necessity of believing it. Of the life, suffering, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ, and of his again receiving his glory with his Father. Of the office of Christ, and the specific reason of His coming into the world. Of the church of God and the communion of believers. Of the signs of the church of God, by which it may be distinguished from all other peoples. Of the ordinance of the church of God, and the sending and electing of ministers. Of Christian baptism. Of the Lord's Supper or the breaking of bread. Of the feet-washing of believers. Of good works. Of marriage. Of the swearing of oaths Of the office of magistracy, and secular power Of the discipline of the Christian Church and separation of offending members. Of the withdrawing from and avoiding of apostate and separated members. Of the last day and the second coming of Christ front heaven. Of the Death of the body and the Resurrection of the dead. Of the last judgment; of hell, and the damnation of unbelievers. Of the kingdom of heaven and eternal life.

Bibliography

• Zijpp, N. van der. "Twisck, Peter Jansz." Mennonite Encyclopedia, 4. Scottdale, Pa. : Mennonite Pub. House, 1959: 757-759.

• Zijpp, N. van der. "Pietersz, Syvaert." Mennonite Encyclopedia, 4. Scottdale, Pa. : Mennonite Pub. House, 1959: 176.

• Martyrs Mirror. Scottdale, Pa. : Herald Press, 1950: 373-410.

• The Thirty-three Articles of Faith as Published in the Martyrs' Mirror. Hillsboro, Kan. : Publication Board of the Church of God in Christ (Mennonites), n.d.