Confession...

[RodneyJ]

What is the need for confession with a Priest?

Is there scripture backing such a need?

 

[NotWorthy]

What is the need for confession with a Priest?

Is there scripture backing such a need?

John 20:21-23 would seem to indicate that confession is a gift of God.

21 (Jesus) said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."*** 22 *** And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit.*** 23 *** Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."

Although it doesn’t mention “confession” you’ve got to ask yourself. Did Jesus gift the Apostles with ESP? If not, then how could they tell whether to forgive sins or not?

 

[GJx86]

James 5:16 says, in the imperative, that we should confess our sins to one another and pray for healing.

The priesthood’s authority to forgive sins was given in John 20, as mentioned.

 

[RodneyJ]

John 20:21-23 would seem that confession is a gift of God.

Although it doesn’t mention “confession” you’ve got to ask yourself. Did Jesus gift the Apostles with ESP? If not, then how could they tell whether to forgive sins or not?

Verse 23 seems a bit broad. Anyone can forgive the sins according to verse 23 unless of course there are verses before hand then I may be taking these 3 verses out of context.

 

[RodneyJ]

Nevermind. I see he was speaking with his Disciples.

 

[NotWorthy]

Nevermind. I see he was speaking with his Disciples.

That is correct. Jesus does tell all of us to forgive our brothers and sisters, but he tells us to do this in order to attain forgiveness from our Heavenly Father.

In John, you’ll notice there is no punishment for not forgiving others as Jesus mentions when teaching to the multitudes (see Matthew 18:23-35). Also notice, according to John 21, verse 21, Jesus is giving a powerful authority to the Apostles “As the Father has sent me (to forgive sins), so I send you”.

When reading the Gospels, always look to the audience. When Jesus is teaching just the Apostles, He is typically teaching them about the Church and their functions in the Church. When He speaks to the multitudes, He is usually teaching about Salvation.

 

[NotWorthy]

BTW, Welcome to the Forums, Rodney!!!

 

[RodneyJ]

Okay, I get where you’re coming from. This is actually hard for me to wrap my head around. Is this verse saying that a Priest can forgive my sins?

Thanks for the welcome!

 

[Cajetan]

Nevermind. I see he was speaking with his Disciples.

He was speaking to His Apostles, whom He ordained. His Apostles ordained successors, and these successors ordained successors of their own, and so on, all the way up to the present day. The successors of the Apostles we call bishops, and these bishops ordain priests who hear our sins and grant absolution and penance in the name of Christ – an act which was commanded by Christ.

 

[NotWorthy]

Okay, I get where you’re coming from. This is actually hard for me to wrap my head around. Is this verse saying that a Priest can forgive my sins?

Thanks for the welcome!

Well, yes and no. Ultimately, it’s God who forgives your sins, for only God can Forgives Sins. We (you and I) can forgive the sins of others, although not Sacramentally. In other words, our forgiveness of others is strictly to help us remove the anger from our souls that destroys us.

But, Jesus gave the priests the authority (“As the Father has sent me, so I send you”) to examine our sins. And He promises that if the priest forgives our sins, they will be forgiven (Sacramentally) by God our Father.

Note: By “Sacramentally”, I mean our sins are literally removed (washed away) from our souls, as they are in Baptism.

 

[ABostonCatholic]

He was speaking to His Apostles, whom He ordained. His Apostles ordained successors, and these successors ordained successors of their own, and so on, all the way up to the present day. The successors of the Apostles we call bishops, and these bishops ordain priests who hear our sins and grant absolution and penance in the name of Christ – an act which was commanded by Christ.

I’ve always wondered: What about Thomas? He wasn’t present at the bestowing of this authority…

 

[NotWorthy]

I’ve always wondered: What about Thomas? He wasn’t present at the bestowing of this authority…

Well, if the Apostles were able to ordain others that weren’t present, don’t you think they were able to ordain our good Didymus?

 

[ABostonCatholic]

Well, if the Apostles were able to ordain others that weren’t present, don’t you think they were able to ordain our good Didymus?

Actually, the ordination of the Apostles occurred at the Last Supper (see below), though I suppose there’s no reason to believe that Jesus didn’t give Thomas the power to forgive sins before his -]resurrection/-] Ascension.

Catechism of St. Pius X:

Q: When did Jesus Christ institute the Sacerdotal Order?

A: Jesus Christ instituted the Sacerdotal Order at the Last Supper when he conferred on the Apostles and their successors the power of consecrating the Blessed Eucharist. Then on the day of His resurrection He conferred on them the power of remitting and retaining sin, thus constituting them the first Priests of the New Law in all the fullness of their power

 

[NotWorthy]

Actually, the ordination of the Apostles occurred at the Last Supper (see below), though I suppose there’s no reason to believe that Jesus didn’t give Thomas the power to forgive sins before his -]resurrection/-] Ascension.

Catechism of St. Pius X:

It would seem that Pentecost is when they were finally fully installed. As Jesus says in Acts:

But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

 

[ABostonCatholic]

It would seem that Pentecost is when they were finally fully installed. As Jesus says in Acts:

Sounds right. A trinity of steps leading to ordination of the apostles, each also associated with its own Sacrament: Last Supper/Holy Communion, after Resurrection/Confession, Pentecost/Confirmation.