Key Arguments

• God already sees the entirety of human consciousness, so nothing can be hidden from Him
• Attempting to hide sins only hides God from the sinner, not the sinner from God
• Confession is the act of being displeased with oneself when evil, or attributing good to God when righteous
• True confession is a cry of the soul and mind, not just physical speech

Source Quotes

51: 8), for he who ‘does the truth comes to the light’ (John 3: 21). This I desire to do, in my heart before you in confession, but before many witnesses with my pen. ii (2) Indeed, Lord, to your eyes, the abyss of human consciousness is naked (Heb. 4: 13).

4: 13). What could be hidden within me, even if I were unwilling to confess it to you? I would be hiding you from myself, not myself from you.

What could be hidden within me, even if I were unwilling to confess it to you? I would be hiding you from myself, not myself from you. Now, however, my groaning is witness that I am displeased with myself.

I am not doing this merely by physical words and sounds, but by words from my soul and a cry from my mind, which is known to your ear. When I am evil, making confession to you is simply to be displeased with myself. When I am good, making confession to you is simply to make no claim on my own behalf, for you, Lord, ‘confer blessing on the righteous’ (Ps.

Before you, then, Lord, whatever I am is manifest, and I have already spoken of the benefit I derive from making confession to you. I am not doing this merely by physical words and sounds, but by words from my soul and a cry from my mind, which is known to your ear. When I am evil, making confession to you is simply to be displeased with myself.

Key Concepts

• to your eyes, the abyss of human consciousness is naked
• What could be hidden within me, even if I were unwilling to confess it to you?
• I would be hiding you from myself, not myself from you.
• making confession to you is simply to be displeased with myself
• words from my soul and a cry from my mind

Context

Augustine addressing God directly in Book X, explaining the theological mechanics of confessing to an all-knowing being.