2Tim 2:15 (KJS) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2Tim 2:15 (KJS) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Would you like to listen to music while browsing?
Bible Study Forgiveness
Forgiveness of sin one of the constituent parts of justification. In pardoning sin, God absolves the sinner from the condemnation of the law, and that on account of the work of Christ, i.e., he removes the guilt of sin, or the sinner's actual liability to eternal wrath on account of it. All sins are forgiven freely
Acts 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand [to be] a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
Acts 13:38 Be it known unto you therefore, men [and] brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
1Joh 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The sinner is by this act of grace for ever freed from the guilt and penalty of his sins. This is the peculiar prerogative of God
Psal 130:4 But [there is] forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
It is offered to all in the gospel.
See JUSTIFICATION
FORGIVE, FORGAVE, FORGIVENESS
A. Verbs.
1. APHI_MI (afihmi) [Strong...863], primarily, to send forth, send away (apo, from hi_mi, to send), denotes, besides its other meanings, to remit or forgive
these being completely cancelled;
Matt 9:2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
Matt 9:5 For whether is easier, to say, [Thy] sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
Matt 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy [against] the [Holy] Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the [world] to come.
Acts 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
Roma 4:7 [Saying], Blessed [are] they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
Jame 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
1Joh 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1Joh 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
In this latter respect the verb, like its corresponding noun (below), firstly signifies the remission of the punishment due to sinful conduct, the deliverance of the sinner from the penalty Divinely, and therefore righteously, imposed; secondly, it involves the complete removal of the cause of offence; such remission is based upon the vicarious and propitiatory sacrifice of Christ. In the O.T. atoning sacrifice and forgiveness are often associated, e.g.
Levi 4:20 And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.
Levi 4:26 And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.
The verb is used in the N.T. with reference to trespasses (parapt_ma), e.g.,
Matt 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
sins (hamartia), e.g.,
Luke 5:20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
debts (see above) (opheilema), (opheil_),
Matt 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
(daneion),
Matt 18:32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
Matt 18:27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
the thought (dianoia) of the heart,
Acts 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
Cp. kalupt_, to cover,
1Pet 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Jame 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
and epikalupt_, to cover over,
Roma 4:7 [Saying], Blessed [are] they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
representing the Hebrew words for atonement.
Human forgiveness is to be strictly analogous to Divine forgivneness, e.g.,
Matt 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
If certain conditions are fulfilled, there is no limitation to Christ's law of forgiveness,
Matt 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
The conditions are repentance and confession,
Matt 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16 But if he will not hear [thee, then] take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell [it] unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Luke 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
As to limits to the possibility of Divine forgiveness, see
Matt 12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the [world] to come.
2. CHARIZOMAI (carizomai) [Strong...5483], to bestow a favour unconditionally, is used of the act of forgiveness, whether Divine,
Ephe 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Colo 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Colo 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also [do] ye.
or human, (debt);
Luke 7:42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that [he], to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
(1st mention).
2Cor 2:7 So that contrariwise ye [ought] rather to forgive [him], and comfort [him], lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
2Cor 2:10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I [forgive] also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave [it], for your sakes [forgave I it] in the person of Christ;
2Cor 12:13 For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except [it be] that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.
Ephe 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Paul uses this word frequently, but No.1 only, in
Roma 4:7 [Saying], Blessed [are] they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
Note: Apulu_, to let loose from (apo, from lu_, to loose, to release, is translated "forgive," "ye shall be forgiven,"
(R.V., "release," "ye shall be released"),
Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
the reference being to setting a person free as a quasi-judicial act. The verb does not mean to forgive. See DISMISS, RELEASE.
B. Noun.
APHESIS (afesiV) [Strong...859] denotes a dismissal, release (akin to A, No.1); it is used of the remission of sins, and translated "forgiveness" in
Mark 3:29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
Ephe 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Colo 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins:
and in A.V. of
Acts 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand [to be] a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
Acts 13:38 Be it known unto you therefore, men [and] brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, [and] to turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
in each of which the R.V. has "remission." Eleven times it is followed by "of sins," and once by "of trespasses." It is never used of the remission of sins in the Sept., but is especially connected with the year of Jubilee ( Levi 25:10 etc). Cp. the R.V. of Luke 4:18 "release" (A.V., "liberty").
Levi 25:10 And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout [all] the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.
Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,