Protestants Choice not to accept a literal translation of John 20:23

Both most Protestants and all Catholics believe in Sola Scriptura of the New Testament. Yet certain passages such as John 20:23 cause much consternation among Protestors, resulting in many articles, perhaps tomes, trying to avoid a literal translation. >If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven (NIV) The question is why not just use the simplest, - the literal translation?