How do Protestants interpret this Scripture passage

[RccWarrior]

Then Jesus breathed on the 12 with the Holy Spirit and said "What sins you forgive are forgiven them, what sins you retain are retained"

Just curious as to what you think this passage means, it is quite clear to us Catholics. Peace.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Then Jesus breathed on the 12 with the Holy Spirit and said "What sins you forgive are forgiven them, what sins you retain are retained"

Just curious as to what you think this passage means, it is quite clear to us Catholics. Peace.

Hi. Well, since they were mainly Apostles to the Jews [as was Peter btw] and they will also be "judging" them, I would think we should ask the Jews that.
I am not under the Law of Moses so I would think I would be judged on my works outside of the Mosaic Law. Interesting question though.


Matt 19:28 So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the Throne of His Glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Reve 3:21 The one conquering I shall be giving to him to be seated with Me, in the throne of Me, as also I conquer and am seated with the Father of Me in the Throne of Him.

Reve 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them.

 

[LightDancer]

Hi. Well, since they were mainly Apostles to the Jews [as was Peter btw] and they will also be "judging" them, I would think we should ask the Jews that.
I am not under the Law of Moses so I would think I would be judged on my works outside of the Mosaic Law. Interesting question though.


Matt 19:28 So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the Throne of His Glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Reve 3:21 The one conquering I shall be giving to him to be seated with Me, in the throne of Me, as also I conquer and am seated with the Father of Me in the Throne of Him.

Reve 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them.

I was thinking the same thing, namely that the Apostles will judge the 12 tribes of Israel.

But also reading John 20 what a wonderful time they had, and Jesus multiplied the fish.

So, I think it is also a joyous message of forgiveness because Jesus is forgiveness, but perhaps also that this type of forgiveness where we bless our enemies can only come from the Holy Spirit.

What good could come out of my and / or anyone retaining someone else's sin?

However, if it's against the law and it's someone like a serial rapist or killer, that's a different story.

I'm talking about our everyday forgivenessness past our pride and prejudices, not something that hurts society. If something hurts society that should be stopped, but that doesn't mean the person should not be forgiven.

Lord, when did we see you thirsty and give your drink?

Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food?

Lord, when did we see you in prison and clothe you?

And Jesus said, "When you have done this to the least of these my people, you have done this unto me."

Oh and I consider myself a Christian in that I follow Christ. I don't really consider myself a protestant. I am a Christian.

 

[Knowledge3]

By certain insight(s) and eisgesis without Tradition.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

I'm talking about our everyday forgivenessness past our pride and prejudices, not something that hurts society. If something hurts society that should be stopped, but that doesn't mean the person should not be forgiven

Oh and I consider myself a Christian in that I follow Christ. I don't really consider myself a protestant. I am a Christian.

Hi. Excellent post. Btw, has anyone wondered what Jesus wrote in the dirt in John 8 when the jewish rulers brought a prostitue to Him to "test Him"?

 

[Forest]

Then Jesus breathed on the 12 with the Holy Spirit and said "What sins you forgive are forgiven them, what sins you retain are retained"

Just curious as to what you think this passage means, it is quite clear to us Catholics. Peace.

Many protestants would say that it is through the acceptance of the gospel message that the Apostles spread, that sins are forgiven.

 

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

That the Christian holds the power to hear confession and proclaim the absolution of sin...

 

[IamAdopted]

Yes Little lamb I have wondered and I was thinking that He was writing the names of those whom had the same sin...

 

[RccWarrior]

To us Catholics, it is the Sacrament of Pennance SO clearly stated in this passage.

 

[RccWarrior]

To us Catholics, it is the Sacrament of Pennance SO clearly stated in this passage. That you must confess your sins to a priest and get absolution from God when you sin.

 

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

To us Catholics, it is the Sacrament of Pennance SO clearly stated in this passage. That you must confess your sins to a priest and get absolution from God when you sin.

While I affirm that confession and absolution should be before a priest, why do you think the priestly aspect is required (or even spoken of) in this passage?

 

[picnic]

It means the apostles had authority to forgive sins. That's it. It applies to the apostles only.

 

[RccWarrior]

While I affirm that confession and absolution should be before a priest, why do you think the priestly aspect is required (or even spoken of) in this passage?

Because the Apostles are the bishops and priests handed down in unbroken succession. St. Peter being the first Pope, Apostles bishops and priests.

 

[RccWarrior]

It means the apostles had authority to forgive sins. That's it. It applies to the apostles only.

but the Apostles aren't here anymore, and the Bible is forever.

 

[picnic]

but the Apostles aren't here anymore, and the Bible is forever.

We agree on something.

 

[RMDY]

Christ is the leader of the church, remember. He is our high priest. The early apostles worked together to build His church. Some, such as Paul, focused on the Gentiles, while others, like Peter, focused on the Jews. But they all worked together as equals helping to build the early church. So I will say that there was no specific pope between the 12.

Authority was given by the 12 to forgive sins. Yes, but only the twelve were given this. They all died a long time ago.

Do you also remember that Jesus has the authority to forgive sins and that if we pray to the Father and ask for forgiveness, we can have our sins forgiven. Note the Lord's prayer "Forgive our sins as we also have forgiven others."

We are praying to the father for forgiveness as long as we can forgive the sins of others.

Jesus also said he would be with us to the end of time, whereas the apostles, they are dead, and Jesus is alive! Hallejujah!

Although it is good to confess our sins for others, Christianity is about a personal spiritual relationship with God. Since Jesus died for us, we can go to God directly through Him for forgiveness of sins, through prayer requests, and for worship.


There is no problem with priests praying for people.

See, the curtain split in half and it symbolized that we could go directly to God through Jesus rather than through a priestly service, which was the system of things in Judaism.

 

[sunlover1]

See, the curtain split in half and it symbolized that we could go directly to God through Jesus rather than through a priestly service, which was the system of things in Judaism.

Praise God!


Excellent and wise post JohnChapter14.

 

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

Authority was given by the 12 to forgive sins. Yes, but only the twelve were given this. They all died a long time ago.

As much as I appreciate the long-standing Protestant desire to react against all things "too-Catholic," this argument opens up for unabashed Quakerism.

I mean, what guarentees do we have that Christ didn't command the practice of baptism or Holy Communion to only the apostles? Or that justification through faith alone wasn't just an instruction regarding Paul's Gentile mission?

You're opening up a slipperly slope leading toward Quakerism and dispensationalism.

 

[JoeV]

Christ is the leader of the church, remember. He is our high priest. The early apostles worked together to build His church. Some, such as Paul, focused on the Gentiles, while others, like Peter, focused on the Jews. But they all worked together as equals helping to build the early church. So I will say that there was no specific pope between the 12.

I am not a Catholic, but even I admit that Matthew 16:18 is very clear. Peter, it seems, has a certain significance that the others don't.

 

[sunlover1]

I am not a Catholic, but even I admit that Matthew 16:18 is very clear. Peter, it seems, has a certain significance that the others don't.

Yes, I agree.
Peter did have a special 'Office" if you will.