The Power Of Absolution: Can Priests Forgive Sins?

The idea that priests have the power to forgive sins is a contentious issue. Some people argue that only God can forgive sins, and that it is against the Bible for a priest to do so. However, others argue that Jesus gave this power to the apostles, who then passed it down to their successors, i.e. priests. This is supported by several Bible verses, including John 20:22-23, Matthew 16:18-19, and Matthew 18:18.

The Bible says that only God can forgive sins

The Bible is clear that only God can forgive sins. In Mark 2:7, the scribes say to Jesus, "Who can forgive sins but God alone?" In Psalm 130:4, the Psalmist says to God, "But with you there is forgiveness."

Jesus himself, being God, had the power to forgive sins. In Mark 2:5, he says to a paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven." In John 20:23, he says to his disciples, "If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

However, some interpret this to mean that the apostles had the authority to publicly forgive sins against the church, not against God. In other words, they could declare someone forgiven by God, but they could not forgive sins against God.

This interpretation is supported by the fact that Jesus commanded his followers to forgive those who sin against them (Matthew 18:21-35). We can forgive each other, but only God can forgive sins against Him.

Jesus had the power to forgive sins as he was God

In Matthew 9, Luke 5, and John 20, Jesus gives his disciples the authority to forgive sins. He says to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained" (John 20:22-23). This passage shows that Jesus shared his divine authority to forgive sins with his followers, who were given the ministry of sharing the message of forgiveness.

However, it is important to note that the power to forgive sins is derived from God and is exercised by human beings through divine power. The Catholic Church teaches that Jesus passed on his authority to forgive sins to his apostles, who then passed it on through the generations in a practice known as apostolic succession.

Protestant critics argue that only God can forgive sins and that Jesus was proving his divinity by forgiving sins. They claim that passages like John 20:23 are not saying that priests have the authority to forgive sins but that disciples can pronounce what sins have already been forgiven.

In conclusion, Jesus had the power to forgive sins because he was God, and he shared this authority with his disciples, who could then proclaim the forgiveness of sins in his name.

Jesus gave his priesthood to men so they could continue his work

Jesus gave his priesthood to men so that they could continue his work of forgiving sins. This is evident in the Bible, specifically in John 20:19–23, where Jesus says to his disciples, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." This passage indicates that Jesus is giving his apostles the authority to forgive sins, which is further supported by the fact that the apostles were the first bishops, chosen and trained personally by Jesus himself.

The concept of apostolic succession is crucial in understanding the continuation of Jesus' work through the priesthood. The apostles laid hands on their successors, passing on the authority and power bestowed upon them by Jesus. This tradition of ordination ensures that the ability to forgive sins remains within the Church.

Additionally, the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke provide further evidence of Jesus' intention to bestow the power to forgive sins upon his followers. In these passages, Jesus heals a paralyzed man and declares his sins forgiven. When the scribes and Pharisees question his authority, Jesus responds by stating, "the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." This statement demonstrates that Jesus is giving his followers the ability to forgive sins as he did during his earthly ministry.

Moreover, the epistle of James also supports the idea of confessing sins to priests for forgiveness. The passage instructs the sick to call for the elders of the church, who will pray for them and anoint them with oil, and if they have committed sins, they will be forgiven. This understanding of the role of priests in forgiving sins is further reinforced by early Christian writers such as St. Ignatius of Antioch and St. Iranaeus of Lyons.

In conclusion, Jesus gave his priesthood to men so that they could continue his work of forgiving sins. This is evident through biblical passages, the concept of apostolic succession, and the interpretation of gospel events. By bestowing the power to forgive sins upon his followers, Jesus ensured that his earthly ministry would continue even after his ascension.

The Catholic Church says that Jesus gave his apostles the authority to forgive sins

The Catholic Church's assertion that priests have the power to forgive sins is based on the belief that Jesus bestowed this authority upon his apostles, who then passed it down through the generations. This claim is supported by several passages in the Bible, particularly John 20:21–23, where Jesus says to his disciples, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." This passage indicates that Jesus gave his followers the power to forgive sins, a power that he himself possessed during his earthly ministry.

Additionally, in Matthew 16 and 18, Jesus gives the apostles the authority to bind and loose, saying, "Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." This power is also mentioned in Matthew 9:6, where Jesus states, "The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins," and in Matthew 9:8, where it is noted that God "had given such authority to men."

The Catholic Church interprets these passages as evidence that Jesus intended for his apostles to continue his ministry of reconciliation after his resurrection. This interpretation is further supported by the fact that Jesus breathed on the apostles and sent them out, just as he had been sent by the Father. This suggests a passing of authority and a continuation of his earthly work.

Furthermore, the early Christian writings, such as those of Irenaeus, Origen, Cyprian, and Ambrose, also refer to the practice of confession and the role of priests in forgiving sins. These writings indicate that the sacrament of penance was understood to have originated in the early Church and was accepted as part of the original deposit of faith handed down from the apostles.

Therefore, the Catholic Church's belief that priests have the power to forgive sins is based on biblical passages and the interpretation that Jesus gave this authority to his apostles, who then passed it down through apostolic succession.

The apostles could then pass the right to forgive sins to others in the church

This passage has been interpreted in different ways. Some argue that Jesus was giving the apostles the authority to forgive sins, and that this authority has been passed down through the generations within the Catholic Church, a concept known as Apostolic Succession. This interpretation is supported by other biblical passages, such as Matthew 16 and 18, where Jesus gives Peter and the church collective the power to bind and loose on earth, which is understood as having the authority to forgive sins.

However, others argue that the apostles were only authorised to announce the terms of forgiveness based on God's previous appointment, rather than having the power to personally grant forgiveness. This interpretation is supported by the Greek tenses in John 20:23, which suggest that the apostles were declaring forgiveness consistent with what God had already determined. Additionally, on the day of Pentecost, the apostles did not personally forgive anyone's sins but proclaimed the conditions of pardon.

The question of whether the apostles could forgive sins and pass on this ability is a matter of ongoing debate, with different interpretations of the same biblical passages.

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