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John 20:22-23 (KJV)

I know that the sacrament of confession of the Catholic Church is based on this verse. Do we have any other verses similar to this?

In Catholic teaching, does the priest have the power to remit sins? If not, what do they believe is happening during confession? If so, is this verse the sole basis of the teaching or is there a larger Biblical corpus that they cite for this?

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The questions about whether something is true or Biblical are not things this site can address. What we can address is the doctrines of specific traditions and what THEY believe to be true. I have edited your question to reflect this and focus on the part of your question that can be addressed here. See here for more tips along these lines. –  Caleb Jan 25 '13 at 9:49
Thanks. I agree with you and the question is better now. –  Jomet Jan 25 '13 at 10:17
The words used by the priest in absolving sins make the source of his authority quite clear: "May our Lord Jesus Christ absolve you, and I by His authority absolve you from every bond of excommunication and interdict to the extent of my power and your need. Finally, I absolve you from your sins, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost." –  Andreas Blass Mar 8 at 16:59

4 Answers 4

up vote 7 down vote accepted

The Catholic Church teaches that man's sins may be absolved by the Church. Absolution from sin means "To free from sin", which is pretty much the same as forgiveness of sins.

In lay-person's terms, as I understand it, the Priest is acting under the authority and power of the Church, which, in turn, is acting under the authority and power of Christ.

This is probably a really poor analogy, but it helps me to keep principles simple, so here goes...

In my household, my oldest child has no authority over the younger ones. She can't tell them what to do under normal circumstances, because she simply has no authority to do so.

However, if I leave her to babysit the younger ones, I give her the authority, and the younger ones understand the principle that she is acting under my authority, and that "to be naughty for her is the same as being naughty for me when I am in charge." But if my oldest tells a younger one to hit another one, or to steal, or do anything I would not authorize, then she would not be acting under the authority I've given her because she is asking them to do something contrary to my will.

Applying the anology...

The way I understand it, the teaching is that the Priest is just a man, not a supernatural being with the power to forgive sins on his own, but when acing under the authority of the Church, which, in turn has been given authority from Christ, and when the Priest is acting in harmony with Christ's instructions, then he has the power to absolve since through the means described and established by the Church in Christ's authority.

The Catholic Encyclopedia says this (small excerpt):


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A good answer. I just add that the priest is the least important link here, the priest is just a "extended arm" of Church, who have the authority to remit sins. That's why any priest who haven't been suspended (i.e. who is allowed to act as a priest) can act as a confessor, regardless of his personal sins. In David's analogy, the oldest child still has the authority to order other children to do good things, even if she told her brother to do something bad ten minutes earlier. –  Pavel Jan 25 '13 at 16:23
+1 Good analogy. Though, I think the teaching does go a little deeper into a more mystical territory, wherein the Church is a sort of "continuation of The Incarnation" through space and time. If I can find a reference, I'll link it in the comments here. Otherwise, I think this sort of explanation by authority is sufficient for a basic understanding of the sacrament. –  svidgen Jan 25 '13 at 18:09
Whether they can or not, why should sins be confessed to a priest and not directly to God (1 John 1:9)? –  Matt Davis Feb 16 '13 at 17:19

As I have posted in another question (Is confessing to a priest the only way to be forgiven?):

There are several Bible verses that back confession.

Jesus Christ granted the Apostles His Authority to forgive sins:





Matt. 9:6

Mark 2:10

Luke 5:24

Matt. 18:18

John 20:22-23

Matt. 18:18

2 Cor. 2:10

2 Cor. 5:18

James 5:15-16

1 Tim. 2:5


The Necessity and Practice of Orally Confessing Sins

James 5:16

Acts 19:18

Matt. 3:6

Mark 1:5

1 Tim. 6:12

1 John 1:9

Num. 5:7

2 Sam. 12:14

Neh. 9:2-3

Sir. 4:26

Baruch 1:14

1 John 5:16-17

Luke 12:47-48

Matt. 5:19

There is also tradition in the Early Church Fathers.



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Lev ch 19 v23 states that a priest can offer a sacrifice for the atonement of ones sins. So if it can be done in the Old Testament it can be done in the new.

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The bible states there is but one mediator between man and God, that is Jesus. If a Lutheran minister and a Catholic priest claim they can forgive sins because that power was given to the Apostles In Mathew, then why can't Lutheran ministers and Catholic priests heal the sick, raise the dead etc. That power was given to the Apostles in Mat 10:8, and they exercised that power. But no where in the bible will you find an apostle claiming by the authority given to me, I forgive you your sins. The apostles directed the lost to Christ, and Him alone as the One Who paid for sin. Again if they have the power of the Apostles, then take all of them to the hospitals and cure the sick and raise the dead. Only, and only Christ can forgive your sins to the God the Father. In the bible the word "remit your sins", the word for remit in Greek is aphiemi, which means to send away. You all need to read the bible. Its the Word that forgives sins, and that word is Jesus. Read Mat;9:6, John 1:29, Eph 1:7 and many more verses that show that only Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and he alone can for give sins and gave that authority no one, and in no case in the bible does anyone else lay claim to be able to forgive someones sins.

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Welcome to C.SE. When you get the chance, please check out our tour and specifically How we are different than other sites. This really doesn't have a very academic tone, which is what we strive for here. –  Yuletide Geek Mar 8 at 19:15

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