Confirm

Confirm - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

CONFIRM, v.t. [L., to make firm. See Firm.]

1. To make firm, or more firm; to add strength to; to strengthen; as, health is confirmed by exercise.

2. To fix more firmly; to settle or establish.

Confirming the souls of the disciples. Acts 14.

I confirm thee in the priesthood. Maccabees.

Confirm the crown to me and to mine heirs.

3. To make firm or certain; to give new assurance of truth or certainty; to put past doubt.

The testimony of Christ was confirmed in you. 1 Cor 1.

4. To fix; to radicate; as, the patient has a confirmed dropsy.

5. To strengthen; to ratify; as, to confirm an agreement, promise, covenant or title.

6. To make more firm; to strengthen; as, to confirm an opinion, a purpose or resolution.

7. To admit to the full privileges of a Christian, by the imposition of hands.

Confirmation - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

CONFIRMATION, n.

1. The act of confirming or establishing; a fixing, settling, establishing or making more certain or firm; establishment.

In the defense and confirmation of the gospel, ye are all partakers of my grace. Phil 1.

2. The act of ratifying; as the confirmation of a promise, covenant, or stipulation.

3. The act of giving new strength; as the confirmation of health.

4. The act of giving new evidence; as the confirmation of opinion or report.

5. That which confirms; that which gives new strength or assurance; additional evidence; proof; convincing testimony; as, this fact or this argument is a confirmation of what was before alleged.

6. In law, an assurance of title, by the conveyance of an estate or right in esse, from one man to another, by which a voidable estate is made sure or unavoidable, or a particular estate is increased, or a possession made perfect.

7. In church affairs, the act of ratifying the election of an archbishop or bishop, by the king, or by persons of his appointment.

8. The act or ceremony of laying on of hands, in the admission of baptized person to the enjoyment of Christian privileges. The person to be confirmed brings his godfather and godmother, and takes upon himself the baptismal vows. This is practiced in the Greek, Roman, and Episcopal churches.

kon-furm, konfer-ma'-shun: In the Old Testament represented by several Hebrew words, generally with reference to an increase of external strength, as "c. the feeble knees" (Isa 35:3); "c. the kingdom" (2Ki 15:19); "c. inheritance" (Ps 68:9). In the New Testament, this external, objective sense is expressed by bebaioo, as in Mr 16:20; Ro 15:8. The strengthening of mind, purpose, conviction, i.e. the inner or subjective sense (Ac 14:22; 15:32,41) corresponds to episterizo. Used also of ratifying or making valid (kuroo) a covenant (Ga 3:15). The noun is used in the second sense (Heb 6:16; Php 1:7). Confirmation, the rite, in some denominations, of admission to the full communion of the church, which the Roman church has elevated to the place of a sacrament, has only ecclesiastical, but no Scriptural, authority. It is grounded, however, in the Scriptural precedent of the laying on of hands after baptism.

See HANDS, IMPOSITION, LAYING ON OF.

H. E. Jacobs

Definition

The term “confirm” refers to verifying that something is true or legally certifying that a transaction has occurred.

• When a king is “confirmed” it means that the decision to make him king has been agreed upon and supported by the people.
• To confirm what someone wrote means to verify that what was written is true.
• The “confirmation” of the gospel means teaching people about the good news of Jesus in such a way that it shows that it is true.
• To give an oath “as confirmation” means to solemnly state or swear that something is true or trustworthy.
• Ways to translate “confirm” could include, “state as true” or “prove to be trustworthy” or “agree with” or “assure” or “promise,” depending on the context.

(See also: covenant, oath, trust)

Bible References

• 1 Chronicles 16:15-18
• 2 Corinthians 1:21
• 2 Kings 23:3
• Hebrews 6:16-18

Word Data

• Strong’s: H0559, H1396, H3045, H3559, H4390, H4672, H5414, H5975, H6213, H6965, G09500, G09510, G33150, G49720