Confession

[Evanslaw]

Many non-catholics are put off by confession as a sacrament. There is only one place in the bible that Christ gives the apostles the power to foregive sin. The idea of confession as being a private ceremony between penitent and priest didn’t arise until the 7th century I recently read.
What proofs are there from the Patristic Fathers that penance was a sacrament of the early church? Any help out there?

God Bless,

evanslaw

 

[Joe_5859]

Welcome to CAF!

Actually, there are (at least) two places in Scripture: Matthew 16:19 and John 20:22.

Catholic Answers has a tract that gathers together many of the quotes of the Early Church Fathers on Confession:

catholic.com/library/Confession.asp

Hopefully that answers your question!

 

[MarcoPolo]

I’m not aware that it was called “sacrament” in the first couple centuries. Catholics believe in the development of doctrine and do not impose time restraints on how fast a truth must develop. For instance, the doctrines of the Trinity and Incarnation took a couple/few centuries to be formulated themselves. The seeds of this sacrament are however, very Scriptural, and in an early form in the early Church.

You can see at least as early as Cyprian of the priest’s role when he said, ca 251 AD:
"Let each confess his sin while he is still in this world, while his confession can be received, while satisfaction and the forgiveness granted by the priests is acceptable to God."Catholic Encyclopedia article.

Catholic Answers early Church quotations.

 

[DavidFilmer]

Many non-catholics are put off by confession as a sacrament.

That’s because they don’t understand it.

There is only one place in the bible that Christ gives the apostles the power to foregive sin.

So? The visit of the Magi is also mentioned only once, as are MOST of the teachings of the Bible. Are these Biblical teachings somehow less credible? (but, FWIW, there are other passages, though none as explicit as John 20:23).

The idea of confession as being a private ceremony between penitent and priest didn’t arise until the 7th century I recently read.

True. Before that, Confessions were done in public! Imagine how many non-Catholics would be put off by that!

What proofs are there from the Patristic Fathers that penance was a sacrament of the early church?

CA has an entire tract dedicated to this question:
catholic.com/library/confession.asp

 

[Marauder]

Another article by our hosts that addresses this topic and others concerning confession is located here:
catholic.com/thisrock/1998/9810fea2.asp