Bible Study Summary: The Sacrament of Reconciliation – A Biblical Defense of Confession to a Priest

This Bible study will address common questions and challenges regarding the Catholic practice of confessing sins to a priest. While all Christians agree that forgiveness ultimately comes from God, many outside the Catholic Church question the necessity or biblical basis for confessing to a human mediator. This study will demonstrate, using Scripture and consistent Christian tradition, that the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a divinely instituted means through which Christ continues to offer His mercy and forgiveness to believers.

Key Apologetic Arguments and Scriptural Foundations:

1. Christ’s Divine Authority to Forgive Sins:
   • We begin by affirming that only God can truly forgive sins. We examine instances where Jesus directly forgave sins, demonstrating His divinity and authority (e.g., Mark 2:10-11 – healing the paralytic, “that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”).
2. The Delegation of Christ’s Authority to the Apostles:
   • The cornerstone of the Sacrament lies in John 20:22-23: After His resurrection, Jesus “breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’”
     • Apologetic Point: This is not a general call to forgive others, but a specific, judicial power given to the Apostles to “forgive” or “retain” sins. This implies a discernment and a decision, which necessitates an acknowledgment of the sin. If sins could only be forgiven directly by God without human mediation, then Christ’s words here would be superfluous or misleading.
   • This authority is consistent with the “keys of the kingdom” given to Peter (Matthew 16:19) and the power to “bind and loose” given to all the Apostles (Matthew 18:18), which signify authority to govern the Church in spiritual matters, including absolution from sin.
3. “Confess Your Sins to One Another” (James 5:16):
   • This verse is often cited by Protestants to argue against priestly confession. We will address it by showing it supports the idea of vocalizing sins for healing and accountability, and does not contradict the specific, delegated authority given in John 20.
   • Apologetic Point: While we are called to pray for one another and seek forgiveness from those we’ve wronged, James 5:16 does not establish a universal norm for the Sacramental forgiveness of grave sins against God. When read in harmony with John 20, it reinforces the communal nature of sin and forgiveness within the Church, which includes the special ministry of those appointed by Christ.
4. Why a Human Mediator? God’s Chosen Way:
   • The Incarnation as a Model: God chose to become man to save us. It is consistent with His nature to work through human instruments (prophets, priests, apostles) to communicate His grace and forgiveness.
   • Tangible Assurance: Confessing to a priest offers the tangible assurance of God’s forgiveness through the words of absolution – “I absolve you from your sins.” This provides a certainty and peace of conscience that silent confession alone may not offer.
   • Spiritual Direction and Accountability: The Sacrament provides an opportunity for spiritual counsel, accountability, and specific guidance on overcoming sin, aiding in genuine conversion.
5. The Priest Acts In Persona Christi:
   • Apologetic Point: The priest does not forgive sins by his own power. Rather, he acts in the person of Christ, by the authority Christ Himself delegated to His Church. It is God who forgives through the instrumentality of the Sacrament and the priest.

This Bible study aims to provide a robust defense of the Catholic practice of Confession, illuminating its deep biblical roots and demonstrating how it is a merciful and effective means established by Christ Himself for our spiritual healing, reconciliation, and ongoing journey towards holiness.