If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
Parallel translations
- WEB If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.”
- KJV Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
- BSB If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.”
- NASB If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”
- NLT If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus gives the disciples authority concerning the forgiveness of sins. The church proclaims forgiveness in his name.
Overview
This authority is understood by most Protestants not as the disciples deciding sins on their own, but as faithfully announcing God's forgiveness to those who repent and believe, and warning those who refuse. The Greek tense suggests the church declares what God has already determined. Thus the gospel is entrusted to Christ's people, who proclaim pardon through faith in him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Matt 18:18Most certainly I tell you, whatever things you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever things you release on earth will have been released in heaven.
- Matt 16:19I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.”
- Mark 2:5–10Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
- Acts 13:38–39Be it known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man is proclaimed to you remission of sins,
- Acts 10:43All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins.”
- Acts 2:38Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- 2 Cor 2:6–10This punishment which was inflicted by the many is sufficient for such a one;
- 1 Tim 1:20of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I delivered to Satan, that they might be taught not to blaspheme.
- 1 Cor 5:4In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, you being gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
- Eph 2:20being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 20:23 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.