Confirmation readings across the Christian traditions

01 How Confirmation readings are chosen

Catholic Confirmation draws from the Order of Confirmation, which provides Old Testament, New Testament, and Gospel options drawn from a defined set; the priest or bishop selects, usually in conversation with the catechist who prepared the class. Orthodox Chrismation is normally administered immediately after baptism and uses the baptismal readings (Romans 6 and Matthew 28); a separate rite for older candidates does not normally have its own appointed lectionary.

Anglican / Episcopal Confirmation follows the Book of Common Prayer lectionary; the bishop or rector selects from the appointed readings, with the Pentecost passages frequently chosen. Lutheran Confirmation (ELCA, LCMS, WELS) typically pairs a Pentecost reading with a Gospel; the pastor selects from the Evangelical Lutheran Worship or Lutheran Service Book options. Methodist, Presbyterian, and other Mainline Confirmation practice (where retained) uses similar Pentecost-centered readings. Evangelical traditions that observe a profession-of-faith ceremony in lieu of Confirmation normally read the candidate's chosen testimony passage.

02 The principal readings

Nine scripture passages cover most of what is read at US Christian Confirmations. The pill on each row notes the convention or category; the link opens the full chapter on Bible1.org.

03 Tradition-specific selections

The selections diverge by how each tradition reads the rite of Confirmation theologically.

Catholic lectionary

The Order of Confirmation provides defined options. Old Testament: Isaiah 11:1-4a, Isaiah 42:1-3, Isaiah 61:1-3a, 6a, 8b-9, Ezekiel 36:24-28, Joel 3:1-2. Epistle: Acts 1:3-8, Acts 2:1-6, 14, 22b-23, 32-33, Acts 8:1, 4, 14-17, Acts 10:1, 33-34a, 37-44, Acts 19:1b-6a, Romans 5:1-2, 5-8, Romans 8:14-17, 26-27, 1 Corinthians 12:4-13, Galatians 5:16-17, 22-23, 24-25, Ephesians 1:3a, 4a, 13-19a, Ephesians 4:1-6. Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12a, Matthew 16:24-27, Matthew 25:14-30, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 4:16-22a, Luke 8:4-10, 11b, 15, Luke 10:21-24, John 7:37b-39, John 14:15-17, 23b-26, John 14:23-26, John 15:18-21, 26-27, John 16:5-7, 12-13a. The priest or bishop selects with the catechist.

Anglican / Episcopal selections

The 1979 Book of Common Prayer's Confirmation rite uses the Eucharistic readings of the day where the rite is celebrated within a Sunday service, or appointed readings (Acts 2, Romans 8, John 14) where celebrated as a stand-alone bishop's visit. The 2019 ACNA BCP carries a similar pattern.

Lutheran selections

Lutheran Confirmation (typically at the end of a two-year confirmation class in 8th or 9th grade) pairs a Pentecost reading (Acts 2:1-11 most commonly) with a Gospel (John 14:15-17 or John 15:1-11). The Evangelical Lutheran Worship rite of Affirmation of Baptism includes a defined set of options. Where the Confirmation takes place at the Pentecost Sunday service, the appointed Sunday readings carry the rite.

Mainline Protestant selections

Methodist, Presbyterian, and Reformed Confirmation practice (where retained as a distinct rite, varying by congregation) uses readings selected by the pastor from the Pentecost and apostolic-mission texts: Acts 2, Romans 8, 1 Corinthians 12, Galatians 5:22-23. The denominational service books carry recommended readings.

Evangelical profession of faith

Evangelical and non-denominational congregations that observe a profession-of-faith ceremony at an older candidate's public commitment (sometimes called "confirmation" in some traditions but not theologically sacramental) often invite the candidate to choose a personal testimony passage. The pastor frames the ceremony with Matthew 28:18-20 or Romans 10:9-10 typically.

04 What Confirmation does, across the traditions

The same Pentecost readings are heard across the Christian traditions; the theological reading of what Confirmation does differs.

Catholic teaching holds Confirmation as a distinct sacrament (one of the seven), completing baptism by sealing the candidate with the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Acts 8:14-17 passage on the apostolic laying-on of hands is the scriptural ground for the practice. Orthodox teaching reads Chrismation similarly as a distinct sacramental sealing, administered immediately after baptism for both infants and adult converts. Anglican teaching retains Confirmation as a sacramental rite (within the catechism's broader category of "sacramental rites of the church") that affirms baptism and admits the candidate to full communicant status. Lutheran teaching reads Confirmation as the candidate's public affirmation of baptismal grace and entry into adult Christian discipleship; it is not theologically a sacrament in Lutheran teaching. Reformed teaching (Presbyterian, Reformed) reads Confirmation similarly as profession of faith and admission to the Lord's Supper. Evangelical teaching (where Confirmation-like rites are observed) reads them as public profession of faith following the candidate's personal conversion.

The site's editorial discipline on contested questions (Decision 10) is to name the traditions accurately and not take a position. The differences in what the rite does are theologically across the Christian traditions and not resolved by reading the same passages differently.

05 Common questions

06 Pastoral note