Sacrament of Confession in the Old Testament?

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apologist2b

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My first post ever! This is so awesome!
I have a good friend (non-denominational/protestant) who has recently challenged me (and another catholic college friend) through email to find Old Testament proof (of course without using the Deuterocanonical Books), or overtures as he calls them, for the questions he has about the Catholic Faith. His reason in his own words: “the reason I say Old Testament is because God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Thus there would be overtures of these thoughts in the old testament.” Although I think this is an unfair question, I still am attempting to find him answers. We’ve stumbled on the question of sacrament of confession in the Old Testament, especially confession to a priest. We are not sure where to find his “overtures.” We would really appreciate specific help for finding confession in the Old Testament, as well as if is unreasonable to ask for specific Old Testament proof. Thank you very much everyone!
 
Leviticus 5, verses 5-6:
…then whoever is guilty in any of these cases shall confess the sin he has incurred, and as his sin offering for the sin he has committed he shall bring to the LORD a female animal from the flock, a ewe lamb or a she-goat. The priest shall then make atonement for his sin.
 
Also, Leviticus 19:21-22

“And for his trespass he shall offer a ram to the Lord, at the door of the tabernacle of the testimony: And the priest shall pray for him and for his sin before the Lord, and he shall have mercy on him, and the sin shall be forgiven.”

The sinner could not just pray directly to God for forgiveness, well I suppose he could if he couldn’t get to a priest anytime soon. He had to go to a duly appointed priest who had the authority to pray for his forgiveness.

In the NT, God - Jesus - gave that authority to the Apostles, giving them also the authority to hold back that forgiveness.

When He first appeared to them after the Resurrection, it was the first thing He said to them. So it had to have importance.

John 20:21-23
*He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained. *

Isn’t it sad how some Protestants refuse to believe what Scripture teaches?
 
You bet there was! May I make a recommendation? Lord Have Mercy, by Scott Hahn. Wonderful book.
 
apologist2b said:
My first post ever! This is so awesome!
I have a good friend (non-denominational/protestant) who has recently challenged me (and another catholic college friend) through email to find Old Testament proof (of course without using the Deuterocanonical Books), or overtures as he calls them, for the questions he has about the Catholic Faith. His reason in his own words: “the reason I say Old Testament is because God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Thus there would be overtures of these thoughts in the old testament.” Although I think this is an unfair question, I still am attempting to find him answers. We’ve stumbled on the question of sacrament of confession in the Old Testament, especially confession to a priest. We are not sure where to find his “overtures.” We would really appreciate specific help for finding confession in the Old Testament, as well as if is unreasonable to ask for specific Old Testament proof. Thank you very much everyone!
Click to expand...
You could literally flip through books like Levitcus and see examples of this. When a Jew sinned major sins they had to inform a priest, he would tell them what to do to be forgiven and purified and then tell them if they did it correctly.
 
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