Movatterモバイル変換

◄ John 20:23►

New International Version
If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

New Living Translation
If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

English Standard Version
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Berean Standard Bible
If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.”

Berean Literal Bible
If you might forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you might retain any, they are retained."

King James Bible
Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them;and whose soeversins ye retain, they are retained.

New King James Version
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain thesins of any, they are retained.”

New American Standard Bible
If you forgive the sins of any,their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain thesins of any, they have been retained.”

NASB 1995
“If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”

NASB 1977
“If you forgive the sins of any,their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain thesins of any, they have been retained.”

Legacy Standard Bible
If you forgive the sins of any,their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain thesins of any, they have been retained.”

Amplified Bible
If you forgive the sins of anyone they are forgiven [because of their faith]; if you retainthe sins of anyone, they are retained [and remain unforgiven because of their unbelief].”

Christian Standard Bible
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

American Standard Version
whose soever sins ye forgive, they are forgiven unto them; whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Contemporary English Version
If you forgive anyone's sins, they will be forgiven. But if you don't forgive their sins, they will not be forgiven."

English Revised Version
whose soever sins ye forgive, they are forgiven unto them; whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Whenever you forgive sins, they are forgiven. Whenever you don't forgive them, they are not forgiven."

Good News Translation
If you forgive people's sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

International Standard Version
If you forgive people's sins, they are forgiven. If you retain people's sins, they are retained."

NET Bible
If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone's sins, they are retained."

New Heart English Bible
Whoever's sins you forgive, they are forgiven them. Whoever's sins you retain, they have been retained."

Webster's Bible Translation
Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted to them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Weymouth New Testament
If you remit the sins of any persons, they remain remitted to them. If you bind fast the sins of any, they remain bound."

Majority Text Translations

Majority Standard Bible
If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.”

World English Bible
If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
if you may forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you may retain of any, they have been retained.”

Berean Literal Bible
If you might forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you might retain any, they are retained."

Young's Literal Translation
if of any ye may loose the sins, they are loosed to them; if of any ye may retain, they have been retained.'

Smith's Literal Translation
Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted to them: whose soever ye retain, they have been retained.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Those whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them, and those whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.”

New American Bible
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

New Revised Standard Version
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
If you forgive a man his sins, they shall be forgiven to him; and if you hold a man’s sins, they are held.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“If you will forgive a man's sins, they will be forgiven him, and if you hold a man's, they will be held.”

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
Whosever sins you forgive, they are forgiven them: whosever sins you retain, they are retained.

Godbey New Testament
Whose sins you may remit, are remitted unto them; whose sins you may retain, have been retained.

Haweis New Testament
whose soever sins ye forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins soever ye retain, they are retained.

Mace New Testament
whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye leave unpardoned, they are lest unpardoned."

Weymouth New Testament
If you remit the sins of any persons, they remain remitted to them. If you bind fast the sins of any, they remain bound."

Worrell New Testament
Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted to them; whosesoeversins ye retain, they are retained."

Worsley New Testament
and whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them;but whose soeversins ye retain, they are retained.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Jesus Appears to the Disciples
…22When He had said this, He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.23If you forgive anyone his sins,they are forgiven;if you withhold forgiveness from anyone,it is withheld.”24Now Thomas called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.…

Berean Standard Bible ·Download

Cross References

Matthew 16:19
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Matthew 18:18
Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Luke 24:47
and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.

Acts 2:38
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 10:43
All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”

Acts 13:38-39
Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. / Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

2 Corinthians 2:10
If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And if I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven it in the presence of Christ for your sake,

2 Corinthians 5:18-20
All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: / that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. / Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.

James 5:15
And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 2:12
I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven through His name.

Isaiah 22:22
I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.

Isaiah 43:25
I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.

Isaiah 44:22
I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.

Jeremiah 31:34
No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.”

Treasury of Scripture

Whose soever sins you remit, they are remitted to them; and whose soever sins you retain, they are retained.

Matthew 16:19
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Matthew 18:18
Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Mark 2:5-10
When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee…

Jump to Previous

Bind Bound Fast Forgive Forgiven Forgiveness Free Loose Persons Remit Remitted Retain Retained Sins Soever Whoever's

Jump to Next

Bind Bound Fast Forgive Forgiven Forgiveness Free Loose Persons Remit Remitted Retain Retained Sins Soever Whoever's

John 20

1.Mary comes to the tomb;
3.so do Peter and John, ignorant of the resurrection.
11.Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene,
19.and to his disciples.
24.The incredulity and confession of Thomas.
30.The Scripture is sufficient to salvation.

Study Bible

Book ◦ Chapter

If you forgive anyone his sins,
This phrase is part of Jesus' post-resurrection appearance to His disciples. The context is crucial as it follows His resurrection, emphasizing the authority He imparts to His followers. The act of forgiving sins is deeply rooted in Jewish tradition, where only God could forgive sins (Isaiah 43:25). Here, Jesus extends this authority to His disciples, indicating a new covenantal relationship. This authority is not independent but is exercised under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, as seen in the preceding verse where Jesus breathes on them and says, "Receive the Holy Spirit."

they are forgiven;
The passive construction "they are forgiven" suggests divine action. The disciples are not forgiving on their own authority but are instruments of God's forgiveness. This aligns with the teaching inMatthew 16:19, where Jesus gives Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven, symbolizing authority to bind and loose. The forgiveness of sins is a central theme in the New Testament, highlighting the redemptive work of Christ (Ephesians 1:7).

if you withhold forgiveness from anyone,
The withholding of forgiveness implies discernment and responsibility. This echoes the Jewish practice of binding and loosing, where rabbis would permit or prohibit certain actions. The early church exercised this authority in matters of church discipline, as seen in1 Corinthians 5:1-5, where Paul instructs the church to expel a member living in sin. This authority is not arbitrary but is exercised in accordance with God's will and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

it is withheld.
The finality of this statement underscores the seriousness of the authority given to the disciples. It reflects the binding nature of decisions made in the context of church discipline and community life. This authority is meant to maintain the purity and holiness of the church, as seen in the early church's handling of sin and repentance (Acts 5:1-11). The withholding of forgiveness serves as a call to repentance and restoration, aligning with the broader biblical narrative of God's justice and mercy.

Persons / Places / Events

1.Jesus Christ
The risen Lord who appears to His disciples, granting them authority and commissioning them for their mission.

2.The Disciples
The group of Jesus' followers who are present when He appears to them after His resurrection.

3.Jerusalem
The city where this event takes place, following Jesus' resurrection.

4.The Upper Room
The likely location where the disciples are gathered when Jesus appears to them.

5.The Resurrection
The pivotal event of Jesus rising from the dead, which precedes this appearance and commission.

Teaching Points

Authority from Christ
Jesus grants His disciples authority to forgive sins, indicating the significant role of the Church in the ministry of reconciliation.

The Role of the Holy Spirit
This authority is given in the context of Jesus breathing the Holy Spirit on the disciples (John 20:22), highlighting the Spirit's empowerment in this ministry.

Forgiveness and Community
The passage underscores the importance of forgiveness within the Christian community, reflecting God's forgiveness towards us.

Responsibility and Discernment
With authority comes responsibility; the disciples must exercise discernment in forgiving or withholding forgiveness.

The Gospel Message
The authority to forgive sins is tied to the proclamation of the Gospel, emphasizing the need for repentance and faith in Christ.

Bible Study Questions and Answers

1.What is the meaning of John 20:23?

2.How does John 20:23 relate to the authority given to the apostles?

3.What does "forgive the sins" imply about the church's role in reconciliation?

4.How can believers today apply the principle of forgiveness from John 20:23?

5.What Old Testament passages connect with the authority to forgive sins?

6.How does John 20:23 influence our understanding of confession and absolution?

7.How does John 20:23 support the authority of church leaders to forgive sins?

8.Does John 20:23 imply that humans can withhold God's forgiveness?

9.How is the power to forgive sins in John 20:23 understood theologically?

10.What are the top 10 Lessons from John 20?

11.Is confessing sins to a priest biblically supported?

12.What are plenary indulgences?

13.Why do we find no historical record to support Jesus’s promise of the apostles sitting on thrones to judge Israel (Matthew 19:28)?

14.What defines Novatianism in early Christian history?

What Does John 20:23 Mean

If you forgive anyone his sins

• Jesus speaks to the disciples after breathing on them and saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22).

• Their new Spirit-empowered mission mirrors His own: proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins (Luke 24:47;Acts 2:38).

• The phrase assumes active engagement—going, preaching, counseling, and personally extending God’s offer of pardon to repentant sinners (2 Corinthians 5:20).

they are forgiven

• God alone forgives (Isaiah 43:25;Mark 2:7), yet He ordains human messengers to declare that forgiveness with heaven’s full backing (Matthew 16:19).

• When the gospel is received in faith, the announced pardon is not merely symbolic; it is truly effected, “cleansed…by the blood of Jesus” (1 John 1:7-9).

• The authority rests on Scripture and the cross, not on personal merit. The disciples confirm what God has already accomplished through Christ (Colossians 1:13-14).

if you withhold forgiveness from anyone

• The same gospel that frees also confronts. Persistent unbelief leaves sin uncovered (John 8:24).

• Refusal to pronounce forgiveness is not spite; it is fidelity to truth when repentance is absent (Acts 8:20-23).

• Church discipline follows this pattern: if a brother “refuses to listen,” the assembly treats him as an unbeliever (Matthew 18:15-17), signaling withheld forgiveness while urging repentance.

it is withheld

• Heaven ratifies the church’s earthly verdict when it aligns with God’s Word (Matthew 18:18).

• This sober reality underscores the eternal stakes: outside Christ, sin’s guilt remains (Hebrews 10:26-27).

• The warning motivates urgent evangelism and compassionate confrontation, aiming always at restoration (Galatians 6:1).

summary

John 20:23 entrusts Spirit-filled believers with the privilege and responsibility of declaring God’s verdict on sin. When we proclaim the gospel and someone repents, we can confidently say, “You are forgiven,” knowing heaven affirms that statement. When an individual rejects Christ, we must equally affirm that unforgiveness remains. The passage is neither a human license to arbitrate salvation nor an optional ministry; it is Christ’s own commission to announce, with accuracy and compassion, exactly what God says about sin and grace.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(23)Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them . . .--Comp. for the "power of the keys," the Notes onMatthew 16:19;Matthew 18:18. Assuming what has there been said, it will be sufficient to add that this power is here immediately connected with the representative character of the disciples as apostles sent by Christ, as He was Himself sent by the Father (John 20:21), and that its validity is dependent upon their reception of the Holy Ghost (John 20:22), by whom Christ Himself is present in them (John 14:18;John 16:7-11). Sent as He was sent, they are not sent to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved; but in their work, as in His, men are condemned because the light is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light. . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

If
ἄν(an)
Particle
Strong's 302:A primary particle, denoting a supposition, wish, possibility or uncertainty.

you forgive
ἀφῆτε(aphēte)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 863:From apo and hiemi; to send forth, in various applications.

anyone his
τινων(tinōn)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 5100:Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

sins,
ἁμαρτίας(hamartias)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 266:From hamartano; a sin.

they are forgiven;
ἀφέωνται(apheōntai)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 863:From apo and hiemi; to send forth, in various applications.

if
ἄν(an)
Particle
Strong's 302:A primary particle, denoting a supposition, wish, possibility or uncertainty.

you withhold [forgiveness]
κρατῆτε(kratēte)
Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2902:From kratos; to use strength, i.e. Seize or retain.

from anyone,
τινων(tinōn)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 5100:Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

it is withheld.”
κεκράτηνται(kekratēntai)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2902:From kratos; to use strength, i.e. Seize or retain.

Links

John 20:23 NIV
John 20:23 NLT
John 20:23 ESV
John 20:23 NASB
John 20:23 KJV

John 20:23 BibleApps.com
John 20:23 Biblia Paralela
John 20:23 Chinese Bible
John 20:23 French Bible
John 20:23 Catholic Bible

NT Gospels: John 20:23 Whoever's sins you forgive they are forgiven (Jhn Jo Jn)