Confirm; Confirmation
Biblical Meaning and Usage
The terms 'confirm' and 'confirmation' in Scripture carry rich meanings centered on establishing, strengthening, and making certain. In the Old Testament, the concept often appears in contexts of external strengthening or support. For instance, Isaiah 35:3 encourages believers to 'strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way,' using language of confirmation to describe physical and moral support. Similarly, kings sought to 'confirm' their kingdoms through alliances or military might (2 Kings 15:19), while God is described as confirming His people's inheritance (Psalm 68:9).
In the New Testament, the Greek word bebaioō emphasizes making something firm, reliable, or legally binding. This appears in Mark 16:20, where the Lord 'confirmed' the disciples' message with accompanying signs, and in Romans 15:8, where Christ is described as confirming God's promises to the patriarchs. Another important term, episterizō, refers to strengthening someone's inner resolve or faith, as seen when Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch 'strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith' (Acts 14:22).
God as the Source of Confirmation
Throughout Scripture, God is portrayed as the ultimate source of confirmation. He confirms His covenants with humanity, most notably with Abraham (Genesis 17:7), David (2 Samuel 7:12-16), and ultimately through the new covenant in Christ (Hebrews 8:6-13). God's confirmation often comes through signs, oaths, or miraculous interventions that validate His promises. The writer of Hebrews notes that 'when God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself' (Hebrews 6:13), establishing an unbreakable confirmation of His word.
Mutual Confirmation Among Believers
The New Testament epistles reveal that confirmation isn't solely God's work but also a responsibility of the Christian community. Believers are called to 'confirm one another' in faith, purpose, and conviction. Paul writes to the Philippians about his confidence that 'he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus' (Philippians 1:6), while also expressing how they share in God's grace with him 'both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel' (Philippians 1:7). This mutual confirmation builds up the body of Christ and helps believers persevere.
Confirmation of Covenants and Promises
A significant aspect of confirmation in Scripture involves the ratification of covenants. Paul uses legal terminology in Galatians 3:15, noting that 'even with a man-made covenant, no one sets it aside or adds to it once it has been ratified.' This illustrates how God's covenants, once confirmed, are irrevocable. The concept appears in the confirmation of the Mosaic covenant (Exodus 24:3-8), the Davidic covenant (Psalm 89:3-4), and the new covenant inaugurated by Christ's blood (Luke 22:20).
From Biblical Concept to Church Rite
The later Christian practice of confirmation as a rite of passage finds its roots in biblical precedents, though not as a formal sacrament as developed in some traditions. The New Testament describes the laying on of hands in association with receiving the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-17, 19:1-6) and commissioning for ministry (1 Timothy 4:14). By the early centuries of the church, this developed into a separate ceremony from baptism, particularly in the West, where it became associated with personal affirmation of faith and full communion in the church. While the formal rite lacks explicit biblical mandate, it draws from the biblical themes of spiritual strengthening and public commitment to Christ.
Contemporary Relevance
For modern readers, the biblical concepts of confirmation remain vital. They remind believers that God establishes and strengthens His people, that Christian community involves mutual encouragement, and that God's promises are irrevocably confirmed in Christ. The language of confirmation challenges contemporary Christians to actively strengthen one another's faith while resting in the certainty of what God has established through His word and Spirit.
Biblical Context
The concepts of confirmation appear throughout both Testaments. In the Old Testament, confirmation language describes God strengthening His people (Isaiah 35:3), establishing kingdoms (2 Kings 15:19), and securing inheritances (Psalm 68:9). The New Testament uses specific Greek terms: bebaioō for establishing something as valid or reliable (Mark 16:20; Romans 15:8) and episterizō for strengthening faith or resolve (Acts 14:22; 15:32, 41). Paul uses legal terminology (kuroō) for ratifying covenants in Galatians 3:15. The noun appears in Hebrews 6:16 regarding the confirmation of oaths and Philippians 1:7 concerning the confirmation of the gospel.
Theological Significance
Theologically, confirmation reveals God's faithfulness in establishing His promises and strengthening His people. It demonstrates that salvation rests on God's firm commitment rather than human faithfulness. The mutual confirmation among believers reflects the Trinity's relational nature and the church's call to build one another up. The concept underscores the certainty of God's covenants, particularly the new covenant in Christ, which is irrevocably confirmed through His resurrection. This provides believers with assurance and challenges them to participate in God's work of strengthening others in faith.
Historical Background
In the ancient Near Eastern context, confirmation rituals often involved sacrifices, oaths, or symbolic actions to establish treaties and covenants. Archaeological evidence shows similar practices among Hittite, Assyrian, and Babylonian cultures. The laying on of hands, which later influenced Christian confirmation rites, had Jewish roots in blessings (Genesis 48:14), ordinations (Numbers 27:18-23), and sacrificial identification. By the second century AD, Christian writers like Justin Martyr and Tertullian mention post-baptismal rites involving prayer and laying on of hands for receiving the Holy Spirit. The Council of Elvira (c. 306 AD) and later councils formalized confirmation as separate from baptism, particularly in Western Christianity.