The Confessions of the Waldenses, or their Own Creeds

Since the Waldenses were very ancient, and were spread over very many parts of the world, it came about that from time to time they were compelled, by the demand of those with and among whom they lived, to give an account of their faith; and so different creeds of the Waldenses were made, and are still in existence. However, it is not our intention to relate them all, but simply to present to you one or two which have been celebrated from ancient times, and are judged to be among the best.

Jean Paul Perrin Lionnoys, in his History of the Waldenses, translated from the French into Dutch by J. M. V., first part, first book, page 43, makes mention of a certain confession of the Waldenses, in which they speak of various matters of faith, particularly of the holy Scriptures. It reads as follows:

Article 1. We believe and hold fast all that is contained in the twelve articles of the Apostolic Creed; and we regard as error all that differs from it, and does not agree with those twelve articles.

Article 2. We believe that there is one God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

Article 3. We confess and hold as holy canonical Scriptures the books of the Holy Bible, namely these: The five books of Moses, called Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. The books of Joshua, Judges, Ruth. The historical books, First Samuel, Second Samuel, First Kings, Second Kings, First Chronicles, Second Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther. The didactic books, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, The Song of Songs. The greater prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel. The lesser prophets, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.

Then follow the books of the Apocrypha, which were not received by the Hebrews; and so we read them, as Jerome says in the preface to the Proverbs, for the edification of the people, but not for the purpose of confirming church doctrines. They are: First Esdras, Second Esdras, Tobit, Judith, Wisdom; Ecclesiasticus, or Jesus Sirach; Baruch, with the letter of Jeremiah; the additions to the book of Esther, from the tenth chapter to the end; the Song of the Three Men in the Fiery Furnace; the History of Susanna; of the Dragon at Babel; the three books of the Maccabees.

Then follow the books of the New Testament. The Gospels, by Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. The Acts of the Apostles. The epistles of Paul, Romans, First Corinthians, Second Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, First Thessalonians, Second Thessalonians, First Timothy, Second Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, First Peter, Second Peter, First John, Second John. (How it comes that Third John is not mentioned, we do not know.) The epistle of Jude, the Revelation of John.

Article 4. The books named above teach this: That there is one God, who is almighty, all-wise, and alone good, who created all things according to His goodness; for He created Adam after His image and likeness; but that, through the envy of the devil and the disobedience of Adam, sin came into the world, and that we are sinners in and through Adam.

Article 5. That Christ was promised to the fathers, who received the law, so that by it they might know their sin, unrighteousness and unfitness, and long for the coming of Christ; and to that end He atoned for sin and Himself fulfilled the law.

Article 6. That Christ was born at the time appointed by His Father; namely, when every kind of wickedness abounded; and this not for the sake of good works, for they were all sinners, but to show us grace and mercy, since He is the true and faithful one.

Article 7. That Christ is our Way, Truth, Peace, Righteousness, Shepherd, Advocate, Sacrifice, and High Priest; who died for the salvation of those who believe, and was raised for our justification.

Article 8. And, consequently, we maintain that there is no other mediator and advocate with God the Father than Jesus Christ. But as regards the virgin Mary, we hold that she was holy, humble, and full of grace; and we believe the same of all the other saints, that they wait for the resurrection of their bodies in the day of judgment. [n388-1]

Article 9. We believe that after this life there are only two places, the one for the blessed, the other for the damned; and we utterly deny purgatory, which is a dream and an invention of antichrist against the truth.

Article 10. We have likewise always believed that all human inventions are an unspeakable abomination before God, such as feast days, vigils of the saints, the so-called holy water, abstaining from flesh on certain days, and things like these, especially masses.

Article 11. We abhor all human inventions, as proceeding from antichrist, and as carrying destruction with them, and preventing the freedom of the spirit.

Article 12. We believe that the sacraments are signs of holy things, or visible representations of invisible grace; and we think it well that believers should from time to time use these visible signs or representations, when it is possible for them to do so; nevertheless, we also believe and hold that these believers can be saved even though they do not receive these signs, that is, when they have no place or opportunity to receive or use them.

Article 13. We have never confessed that there is any other sacrament than baptism and the Supper.

Article 14. We must honor the secular authorities with subjection, obedience, willingness, and taxes.

The fourteen articles above are taken from the book which the Waldenses call "The Spiritual Almanac," and from the "Memoirs of George Morel." Also, "History of the Waldenses," [n388-2] first part, first book, chapter 12, pages 43 to 48.

As regards these articles, they are wholesome and good, if observed in simplicity; and so we will leave them and proceed to another confession of these same Waldenses and Albigenses, drawn up by those of Merindol and Cabriere, and sent to the king of France. The same was publicly read, as A. Mellinus informs us, in the King's Parliament at Paris, and its contents are, word for word, as follows.