WHY CONFESSION?
In Orthodox confession, a penitent names sins before God in the presence of a priest, receives counsel and absolution, and seeks reconciliation and healing in the Church. The priest serves Christ's ministry of forgiveness; repentance remains a continuing way of life.
Historical context
The New Testament calls for repentance, mutual confession, and the Church's ministry of reconciliation. Early communal forms and later private confession are historically distinct; the present Orthodox rite should not be projected unchanged into the apostolic period.
Avoid overclaiming
The New Testament commission, early public penitential discipline, and later repeatable private confession are related but historically distinguishable. Do not read the entire present ritual into John 20.
Strongest alternative reading
Catholics also recognize sacramental reconciliation. Many Protestants understand the keys through gospel proclamation and church discipline; some Lutheran and Anglican practices retain private confession and absolution. The disagreement is not simply priests versus no repentance.
Key points
- Christ forgives sins
- Apostolic ministry
- Repentance in the Church
- Priestly witness
- Sacramental healing
Common questions
- Who is the source of forgiveness, and what is the minister commissioned to do?
- Which form of confession does the historical source actually describe?
Scripture
- John 20:19-23
- James 5:13-18
- 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
- Psalm 51:1-17
Primary sources
The Orthodox Church in America explains:
The OCA's catechetical text says that God forgives through Christ in the Church, preventing the priest from being presented as an independent source of forgiveness.
only God can forgive sins, that he does so through Christ in the Church
Passage context and translation
The same paragraph ties forgiveness to repentance and confession; the priest is not an independent source of forgiveness.
Before the excerpt
the teaching of the Bible that
After the excerpt
that his conditions are genuine repentance and the promise of change which are witnessed by confession