Originally published at: https://concordia.confident.faith/apology-of-the-augsburg-confession/
Outline
The outline for the Apology, or “defense,” of the Augsburg Confession has two sets of numbers. Neither set is fully in order because of the way Melanchthon responded to the issues presented by the Pontifical Confutation (see introduction above).
The numbers on the left generally correspond with the articles of the Augsburg Confession. However, note that there is no Article VI, XXV, or XXVI in the Apology, since similar articles were treated together. (The article on “New Obedience” was treated with the article on “Justification”; the article on “Confession” was treated with the article on “Repentance”; and the article on “The Distinction of Meats” was treated with the article on the “The Mass.”)
The numbers on the right, in parentheses, show which articles were disputed by the Pontifical Confutation. The section on “Confession and Satisfaction” is marked in some editions as Article VI.
Greeting
I. God
II. Original Sin (I)
III. Christ
IV. Justification (II)
What Is Justifying Faith
Faith in Christ Justifies
We Obtain Forgiveness of Sins by Faith Alone in Christ
Scripture Affirms This Teaching
The Church Fathers Affirm This Teaching
The Adversaries Reject This Teaching
V. Love and Fulfilling the Law (III)
No One Can Keep the Law Perfectly
Church Fathers and St. Paul Affirm Justification through Faith
Reply to the Adversaries’ Arguments
Passages the Adversaries Misuse
The Adversaries’ Teaching Based on Reason and the Law
Results of the Adversaries’ Teaching
Salvation Is by God’s Mercy
The Adversaries’ Other Arguments
Conclusion
VII./VIII. The Church (IV)
IX. Baptism
X. The Holy Supper
XI. Confession
XIIa. Repentance (V)
Two Parts of Repentance
Scriptural Proofs
Forgiveness of Sins Received by Faith
Faith and Repentance
XIIb. Confession and Satisfaction (VI)
Misuses of Scripture
Additional False Teachings
True Repentance Produces Good Works
XIII. The Number and Use of the Sacraments (VII)
XIV. Ecclesiastical Order
XV. Human Traditions in the Church (VIII)
XVI. Political Order
XVII. Christ’s Return for Judgment
XVIII. Free Will
XIX. The Cause of Sin
XX. Good Works
XXI. The Invocation of Saints
XXII. Both Kinds in the Lord’s Supper (X)
XXIII. The Marriage of Priests (XI)
Arguments for the Marriage of Priests
Conclusion
XXIV. The Mass (XII)
What Is a Sacrifice, The Kinds of Sacrifice
What the Fathers Thought about Sacrifice
The Use of the Sacrament, The Sacrifice
The Term Mass
The Mass for the Dead
XXVII. Monastic Vows (XIII)
XXVIII. Church Authority (XIV)