Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. James 5:16
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
In the church you shall acknowledge your transgressions, and you shall not come near for your prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of life. Didache (A.D. 80-140) ch.4
But every Lord’s day gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure. But let no one who is at odds with his fellow come together with you, until they be reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be profaned. Didache (A.D. 80-140) ch.14
The Lord . . . desires nothing of anyone, except that confession be made to Him. Clement of Rome (c. 96, W), 1.19
For it is good for a man to make confession of his trespasses rather than to harden his heart, as the heart of those was hardened who made sedition against Moses the servant of God; whose condemnation was clearly manifest, for they went down to hades alive, and death shall be their shepherd. Clement of Rome (A.D. 96) ch. 50
I took courage, bent my knees, and once again confessed my sins to God, just as I had done before. Hermas (c. 150, W), 2.12
“Hermas, make an end of constantly entreating for your sins; entreat also for righteousness, that you may take some part forthwith to your family.” Hermas (A.D. 150) ch. 12
His wife, a woman of remarkable beauty, became a victim both in mind and body to this magician. For a long time, she travelled about with him. At last, when, with no small difficulty, the brethren had converted her, she spent her whole time in the exercise of public confession, weeping over and lamenting the defilement which she had received from this magician. Irenaeus (c. 180, E/W), 1.335
“Born again, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh,”… consists in repenting by not giving way to the same fault. For frequent repentance and readiness to change easily from want of training, is the practice of sin again. The frequent asking of forgiveness, then, for those things in which we often transgress, is the semblance of repentance, not repentance itself. Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 195) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.2 pg.361
By the confession of all past sins, they may express the meaning even of the baptism of John. For the Scripture says: “They were baptized, confessing their own sins.” To us, it is a matter for thankfulness if we now do publicly confess our iniquities or our depravities. For, by mortification of our flesh and spirit, we make satisfaction for our former sins. At the same time, we lay in advance the foundation of defenses against the temptations that will closely follow. Tertullian (c. 198, W), 3.678, 679
In smaller sins, sinners may do penance for a set time and come to public confession according to the rules of discipline. Cyprian (c. 250, W), 5.290
I entreat you, beloved brethren, that each one should confess his own sins while he is still in this world—while his confession can still be received and while the satisfaction and remission made by the priests are still pleasing to the Lord. Cyprian (c. 250, W), 5.445.