Reconciliation - Apostolic Tradition or ecclesial tradition?

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Flopfoot

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I posted this in apologetics but thought I might have more luck getting an answer here…

Was discussing reconciliation (among other things) with a friend of mine who used to be Catholic, and is now Protestant. I read CCC 81 and 83-84 to her explaining about Tradition (about how we are not Scripture only). She said that, this must mean that the sacrament of reconciliation is part of little t tradition (ecclesial) rather than Big T Tradition (Apostolic) - just an expression of the times and not a ‘truth’ - because it doesn’t mention it anywhere in the bible and the early Chrisitans didn’t practice it the same way we do now. I’m pretty sure it’s really an Apostolic Tradition (it’s a sacrament, surely it must be) - can you clarify this and tell me how I would explain it to her?
 
Well, first tell her to check her bible again. She might want to start with the Gospel of John, the 20th chapter, verses 22-23. There we read that for only the second time in Scripture God breaths on man (the apostles) and then he gives them the power to forgive sins.

Clearly this power was given for a reason. The practice of the early Church was that this “little baptism” as it was called could only be used once during a lifetime. Confession as it is practiced today is, indeed, a later development. No form was given for the way in which sins were to be forgiven; Jesus left this up to the Church to decide.

Deacon Ed
 
Here are some other good biblical references, but besides that, you might ask - if she only believes what is written in the Bible and nothing else, why does she believe the Bible is the inspired word of God?

When a man is guilty in any of these, he shall confess the sin he has committed (Le 5:5).

Say to the people of Israel, When a man or woman commits any of the sins that men commit by breaking faith with the Lord, and that person is guilty, 7 he shall confess his sin which he has committed; and he shall make full restitution for his wrong (Nu 5:6).

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 Jn 1:9). New York: National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA.

Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. (Jas 5:16).
 
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