Where did the idea of confessing sins to a Priest come from?

R

Randall Flagg

New member
I was wondering why Catholics confess sins to a priest, and where that idea came from? I know that The Eucharist came from Jesus Himself saying "Do this in memory of me."; but when and why was it decided that priests should be a conduit between a person and God when it comes to confessing and asking for forgiveness for ones' sins?
I'm only curious. Please do not take offense for my asking?
Thank you in advance.
 
When I was a protestant, I believed in the priesthood of all believers. But Misty's verse out of Timothy was one of the scriptures that helped convince me that I was in error. Jesus had ample opportunity to abolish the priesthood. In fact, He re-emphasized it.

We are all called to minister to each other and to pray for each other. But Christ gave to His disciples and to those they laid hands on and ordained the power to forgive. And to Peter and his successors, He gave the keys.
 
It comes from John 20:23 and from the practices of the Jews and the early Christian Church.

John 20:21-23: Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."

Jesus gave his Apostles the authority to forgive and retain the sins of others. This authority has been passed on, by the laying on of hands, to Catholic priests for 2000 years.

1 Timothy 4:14 says; Do not neglect the gift you have, which was conferred on you through the prophetic word with the imposition of hands of the presbyterate.

http://www.semperaltius.com/why_do_catholics_confess_to_a_pr.htm
 
Among other readings, John 20, those are when it was decided. The forgiveness comes from Jesus, the priests are but spiritual guides to you, given authority by Our Lord.
 
So.. one of the answers here states that the Bible(?) actually says that Jesus ..'breathed'.. unto them and made them his ..basically messengers.. who decide whether the PERSON/S could be given a chance for forgiveness..?

This is just.....Unbelievable. I'm sorry but.. so are they 'prophets'?? ..And we are talking about the priests who were on the news about raping boys.. ? Oh yes, I see how they were 'God's messengers'.

I don't believe in priests. I don't believe they have anything to do with the Higher power. They are human and even IF in the past there were actual genuine God sent people, they are almost non-existent now.
 
John 20:21-23: Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."

now here is the kicker.... the priest is there to help hold us accountable.... many people have commented other times that it would be too hard to tell a person.... WHY is it easier to tell God then some mere mortal human being?! the priest is there as a sounding board as well and offers prayers and advice. We all know that God is the one that forgives the truly penitent sinner.
 
Here is a little bit of scripture that everybody overlooks or cannot find.
2 Corinthians 5; 18-20
18
12 And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation,
19
namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
 
How can anyone take offense at such a sly practice.
The Bible does encourage confession, but from the individual directly to God.
The catholic church put a twist on things so they could keep a tighter control on
their parishoners.
If you know someone's secrets, you have control over them.
Also, on occasion, it tittilated the celibate priest.
 
Well, in the book of James it DOES say to confess sins to one another.
But Catholicism predates all these touchy-feely do-it-yourself denominations, and having a priest present is probably just for the purpose of having a witness to the confession. Many people think the PRIEST absolves the sin, when it's not, it's God.
 
That is a good question. I have not found any Scripture to command that we confess our sins to a person or that a person has the authority to offer absolution or penance for sins. In my view, God alone has that authority.
 
John 20:22
And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

What is significant is the "he breathed on them".

Also the disciples had to know the nature of the sins to decide whether to forgive or retain them.

The disciples act in the person of Christ, it is like a priest performing a marriage or a baptism.

Why do non catholic/orthodox christians ignore this verse ? there are several other verses that confirm this.
 
Well, in the book of James it DOES say to confess sins to one another.
But Catholicism predates all these touchy-feely do-it-yourself denominations, and having a priest present is probably just for the purpose of having a witness to the confession. Many people think the PRIEST absolves the sin, when it's not, it's God.
 
back in the 50's and 60's they had a money plate out side the confessing booth....and you were expected to put money in it before going in the booth....
 
Back
Top