Absolution

Absolution (Latin absolutio, a releasing) is the pronouncement of forgiveness of sins — either by God directly (as in Scripture's declarations of forgiveness) or, in Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and some Anglican traditions, by a priest or minister as an authorized agent of divine forgiveness. The theological question is whether the minister declares God's forgiveness (declaratory absolution) or instrumentally conveys it (judicial or sacramental absolution). The NT grounds for absolution include John 20:23: "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld" — the key text cited for priestly absolution. Protestant exegesis reads this as the church's authority to declare the gospel's terms of forgiveness and to apply them in church discipline, not a sacerdotal power to pronounce individual forgiveness ex opere operato. Roman Catholic practice requires confession to a priest, contrition, and the performance of a penance as the form of the sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance), after which the priest pronounces absolution with the formula "I absolve you." Lutheran practice retains private confession and absolution as a means of grace. Reformed and Baptist traditions emphasize direct access to God through Christ as the one mediator (1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 4:16) and the priesthood of all believers (1 Pet. 2:9).