When in 1559 students enrolled in the public school in Geneva (in modern Switzerland), they had to subscribe to a “Confession of Faith,” a doctrinal statement of sorts. The reason for this is given in the first paragraphs of the confession–to preclude subterfuge by various sects disturbing the peace and harmony of the church. Students thus had to testify that they believed in tenets like the eternal generation of the Word, original sin and its effects, the death of Christ to pacify the wrath of God, the imputation of Christ’s righteousness by faith, divine providence, and the holy duty of obeying secular authorities. The confession provides a glimse into an educational environment far different from contemporary American public education with which I am familiar.
Two summers ago I translated this student confession from Latin to English for Volume 2 of Reformed Confessions of the 16th and 17th Centuries in English Translation edited by James T. Dennison, Jr. According to a recent catalog from the publisher, this hardcover book of 928 pages, which contains my translation of the confession (only nine pages), will be available in April 2010. I trust that those interested in the history of education, early modern Europe, or the Reformation will find it enlightening. For more information, refer to Reformed Confessions of the 16th and 17th Centuries in English Translation.
