English 
Chinese 
Dutch 
Arabic 
Spanish 
Portuguese 
Russian 
French 
Italian 
German 
Japanese 
Continue reading with a subscription
Get unlimited access to all our premium content and exclusive features.
Enjoy unlimited access, cancel anytime.
Summary
- Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Coptic Orthodox Christians tell their sins to a priest and hear him absolve them, and they count that a sacrament.
- Catholics are bound to confess serious sins at least once a year, and the Coptic Church says confession to a priest is necessary for forgiveness.
- Lutherans and Anglicans have kept private confession with a pastor or priest, and today they offer it to anyone who asks without requiring it of anybody.
- Methodists, Presbyterians and Pentecostals confess to God directly and to the people they have hurt, with no priest in between.
- Latter-day Saints take serious sins to a bishop, and Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that no human can absolve another.
- Everyone goes back to the same verses, above all John 20:23 and James 5:16, and reads them differently.
- Catholics, Orthodox and Jehovah’s Witnesses all say that only God forgives sins, and what divides us is who else is in the room.
Bibliography (Click to show)
- The Bible, King James Version (public domain): John 20:19–23; James 5:14–16; 1 John 1:9; Psalm 19:12; Psalm 32:3–5; Acts 19:18; Hebrews 4:14–16; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 Peter 2:9; Luke 18:13; Mark 2:7.
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 1441 and 1447, 1452 and 1456–1458, and 1461 and 1467. Holy See.
- Fourth Lateran Council (1215), canon 21. Papal Encyclicals Online.
- Council of Trent, Session XIV (25 November 1551), chapter V and canons VI–VIII. Papal Encyclicals Online.
- The Didache, chapters 4 and 14. New Advent.
- “Penance,” The Orthodox Faith, vol. 2. Orthodox Church in America.
- “The Sacraments of Repentance and Confession”. CopticChurch.net.
- Augsburg Confession (1530), articles XI and XXV and Luther’s Small Catechism, “How Christians Should Be Taught to Confess”. Book of Concord, Triglot text.
- Confession and Absolution: A Bible Study and Discussion Guide (2019). Commission on Theology and Church Relations, The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.
- Private Absolution and the Confessional Seal. Evangelical Lutheran Synod, Doctrine Committee (quotes Luther’s Formula Missae).
- The Use of the Means of Grace (1997). Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
- Book of Common Prayer (1662): The Visitation of the Sick, Holy Communion and Articles of Religion, XXV. Church of England.
- The Book of Common Prayer (1979), “The Reconciliation of a Penitent,” pages 446–452. The Episcopal Church; text from the Society of Archbishop Justus.
- “Reconciliation of a Penitent,” An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church. The Episcopal Church.
- “Confession: A Rookie Anglican Guide to the Reconciliation of Penitents” (2023). Anglican Compass.
- “‘I Absolve You’: The Grammar of Sin and Forgiveness in the Anglican Tradition”. The Living Church, Covenant.
- “Reconciliation”. St. John’s Episcopal Church, Somerville, New Jersey.
- Book of Confessions (2016): Second Helvetic Confession, chapter XIV (5.093–5.100) and Westminster Confession, chapter XV (6.086). Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); and the CCEL text of the Second Helvetic Confession.
- “What is the United Church of Christ?”. United Church of Christ.
- “What is the Methodist belief about forgiveness of sin?” (2017). Ask The UMC, United Methodist Communications.
- Articles of Faith, VIII, Repentance. Church of the Nazarene.
- The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine (2010), appendix 4. The Salvation Army.
- “The Mercy Seat: A Place to Meet With God” (2024). The War Cry, The Salvation Army.
- The Baptist Faith and Message (2000), articles II.B and VII. Southern Baptist Convention.
- The Cape Town Commitment (2010), part II, section IIB.1. Lausanne Movement.
- “Confession of Sins,” Beliefs topics page (archived 2017). Assemblies of God (USA).
- “Church Government” position paper (2019). United Pentecostal Church International.
- “Confession of Sins,” Bible Words. Christian Courier.
- “The Church for Disciples of Christ: Seeking to Be Truly Church Today,” study document 9727 (1997). Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), General Assembly.
- Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective (1995), article 12. Mennonite Church USA.
- Faith and Practice (2022), Basic Beliefs. Evangelical Friends Church Mid-America Yearly Meeting.
- “What Is Christ’s Ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary?”. Seventh-day Adventist Church.
- “Confess, Confession,” Guide to the Scriptures. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- “Will God Forgive Me?”. Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Leave a Reply