Absolution - The Reformed Tradition

The Reformed Tradition

The earliest Reformers attacked the penitential practice of the Catholic Church, particularly the confession of sins to an ordained priest. Their opinions expressed in their later theological works do not differ as markedly from the old position as one might suppose.

The Lutheran tenet of justification by faith alone would make all absolution merely declarative, and reduce the pardon granted by the Church to the merest announcement of the Gospel, especially of remission of sins through Christ. Thus, no actual absolution of actual sin could possibly be granted, as the declaration itself sufficed, according to the Lutheran view.

Zwingli held that God alone pardoned sin, and he saw nothing but idolatry in the practice of hoping for pardon from a mere creature. If confession had aught of good it was merely as direction. Catholic Christians disagree, saying the priest does not forgive sins in and of himself, but is rather the unworthy instrument through whom Christ forgives sin.

John Calvin denied all idea of sacramentality when there was question of Penance; but he held that the pardon expressed by the minister of the Church gave to the penitent a greater guarantee of forgiveness. The Confession styled "Helvetian" contents itself with denying the necessity of confession to a priest, but holds that the power granted by Christ to absolve is simply the power to preach to the people the Gospel of Jesus, and as a consequence the remission of sins: "Rite itaque et efficaciter ministri absolvunt dum evangelium Christi et in hoc remissionem peccatorum prædicant."