confession

Philadelphia Confession of Faith

PCF · 1742 · 34 chapters, 162 paragraphs

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By: Elders and brethren of the Particular Baptist churches in London and the country, Philadelphia Baptist Association
Dates: first published 1743; adopted by the Philadelphia Baptist Association, 1742
Tradition: baptist, reformed
Also called: Philadelphia Confession; Philadelphia Baptist Confession; The Baptist Confession of Faith (Philadelphia; 1742)
Related: Adapts Second London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689)
Follows: A Confession of Faith, Put forth by the Elders and Brethren Of many Congregations of Christians (Baptized upon Profession of their Faith) In London and the Country. Adopted by the Baptist Association met at Philadelphia, Sept. 25. 1742, the sixth edition, printed by B. Franklin, 1743 (Philadelphia); Evans 5124 · the scan (PDF) , from archive.org
Transcribed: From lbcf1689Checked against a copy at archive.org: all, word by word, and every proof against the page’s notes; the two added chapters and the prose transcribed from it, by Claude, for cco3, 2026-10-28
License: Public domain
Notes: The 1689 confession as the Philadelphia Baptist Association adopted it on 25 September 1742, printed by Benjamin Franklin in 1743 as “The Sixth Edition”, with two articles added: “Of Singing of Psalms, &c.” (chapter 23) and “Of Laying on of Hands” (chapter 31), so that the 1689’s chapters 23 to 32 are its 24 to 30 and 32 to 34. No transcription of it was to be had (Evans-TCP has none), so its files began as a copy of lbcf1689 (the London fifth edition of 1720), which it follows closely, and every paragraph was then read against the scan and made to read as it prints; each relates to lbcf1689’s, and the diffs give their differences in words. Its front matter is in prose/: the General Assembly’s recommendation of 1689 with its thirty-seven names, and the preface “To the Judicious and Impartial Reader”. A Short Treatise of Church Discipline, bound with it, is not included. Every departure from the printing is in confessions/phila1742/EMENDATIONS.md.
Side by side: The 1689 and the Philadelphia Confession
Download: phila1742.json · 262 kB

Prefaces and appendices

1
Of the Holy Scriptures
1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10
2
Of God and of the Holy Trinity
2.1 2.2 2.3
3
Of God’s Decree
3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7
4
Of Creation
4.1 4.2 4.3
5
Of Divine Providence
5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7
6
Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof
6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5
7
Of God’s Covenant
7.1 7.2 7.3
8
Of Christ the Mediator
8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 8.9 8.10
9
Of Free Will
9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5
10
Of Effectual Calling
10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4
11
Of Justification
11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6
12
Of Adoption
12.1
13
Of Sanctification
13.1 13.2 13.3
14
Of Saving Faith
14.1 14.2 14.3
15
Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation
15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5
16
Of Good Works
16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6 16.7
17
Of Perseverance of the Saints
17.1 17.2 17.3
18
Of the Assurance of Grace & Salvation
18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4
19
Of the Law of God
19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 19.5 19.6 19.7
20
Of the Gospel, and of the Extent of the Grace thereof
20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4
21
Of Christian Liberty, and Liberty of Conscience
21.1 21.2 21.3
22
Of Religious Worship, & the Sabbath Day
22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 22.5 22.6 22.7 22.8
23
Of Singing of Psalms, &c.
23.1
24
Of Lawful Oaths and Vows
24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 24.5
25
Of the Civil Magistrate
25.1 25.2 25.3
26
Of Marriage
26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4
27
Of the Church
27.1 27.2 27.3 27.4 27.5 27.6 27.7 27.8 27.9 27.10 27.11 27.12 27.13 27.14 27.15
28
Of the Communion of Saints
28.1 28.2
29
Of Baptism and the Lords Supper
29.1 29.2
30
Of Baptism
30.1 30.2 30.3 30.4
31
Of Laying on of Hands
31.1
32
Of the Lord’s Supper
32.1 32.2 32.3 32.4 32.5 32.6 32.7 32.8
33
Of the State of Man after Death, and of the Resurrection of the Dead
33.1 33.2 33.3
34
Of the Last Judgment
34.1 34.2 34.3

Philadelphia Confession of Faith

Prefaces and appendices

Contents