According to Arminian Protestants, who can forgive sin or withhold forgiveness?
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> "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld."
(John 20:23) The [Power of the Keys](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_of_the_Keys) is a Catholic (and, IIUC, Lutheran) doctrine that only certain individuals — particularly and approximately, those serving as "Priests" (i.e. pastors in Protestant terminology) — have certain abilities. In John 20:23, Jesus makes it plain that *someone* has the ability to forgive and to withhold forgiveness. Some interpret this (along with other scripture, e.g. Matthew 16:19, Matthew 18:18 and 1 Corinthians 5:1-5) to mean that this ability is "special" somehow to priests/pastors. It is from this same doctrine (IIUC) that we get the idea of excommunication, which is similarly granted to specific "offices" within the Church. Protestants, of course, reject many Catholic teachings. What I would like to know is, **who, according to Arminian Protestants, has the power specified in John 20:23**? Who (if anyone; see also [this question](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/30258)) can forgive sins or withhold forgiveness? Is it *any* Christian, or only pastors? Or some other distinction? (For bonus points, is excommunication a thing?) I am asking about *Arminian* (or at least, non-Anglican, non-Lutheran, and non-Calvinist) Protestants specifically, as the answer is obviously different for the excluded groups. (Well, maybe not for Calvinists, but their ideas on predestination muddy things IMHO.) ---- While the (first) linked question is related, it doesn't have much in the way of answers, and, more importantly, doesn't appear answer the more specific "*who* has 'the Keys'" question that I am asking. There are some [other](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/89608) [questions](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/83406) which also appear similar, but aren't clear what group they apply to, aside from [this answer](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/a/89675/53502) which is specifically Lutheran.
(John 20:23) The [Power of the Keys](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_of_the_Keys) is a Catholic (and, IIUC, Lutheran) doctrine that only certain individuals — particularly and approximately, those serving as "Priests" (i.e. pastors in Protestant terminology) — have certain abilities. In John 20:23, Jesus makes it plain that *someone* has the ability to forgive and to withhold forgiveness. Some interpret this (along with other scripture, e.g. Matthew 16:19, Matthew 18:18 and 1 Corinthians 5:1-5) to mean that this ability is "special" somehow to priests/pastors. It is from this same doctrine (IIUC) that we get the idea of excommunication, which is similarly granted to specific "offices" within the Church. Protestants, of course, reject many Catholic teachings. What I would like to know is, **who, according to Arminian Protestants, has the power specified in John 20:23**? Who (if anyone; see also [this question](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/30258)) can forgive sins or withhold forgiveness? Is it *any* Christian, or only pastors? Or some other distinction? (For bonus points, is excommunication a thing?) I am asking about *Arminian* (or at least, non-Anglican, non-Lutheran, and non-Calvinist) Protestants specifically, as the answer is obviously different for the excluded groups. (Well, maybe not for Calvinists, but their ideas on predestination muddy things IMHO.) ---- While the (first) linked question is related, it doesn't have much in the way of answers, and, more importantly, doesn't appear answer the more specific "*who* has 'the Keys'" question that I am asking. There are some [other](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/89608) [questions](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/83406) which also appear similar, but aren't clear what group they apply to, aside from [this answer](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/a/89675/53502) which is specifically Lutheran.
Asked by Matthew
(12382 rep)
May 31, 2022, 05:45 PM
Last activity: Jun 21, 2022, 08:37 PM
Last activity: Jun 21, 2022, 08:37 PM