On Confession and Absolution

"Only those things have been recounted whereof we thought that it was necessary to speak, in order that it might be understood that in doctrine and ceremonies nothing has been received on our part against Scripture or the Church Catholic."
-Conclusion of the Augsburg Confession

"For this life, is in truth wholly devoted to repen­tance, penthos and wailing. This is why it is necessary to re­pent, not merely for one or two days, but throughout one's whole life."
-St. John Chrysostom's De Compunctione I

"Therefore, if you live in repentance, you walk in Baptism, which not only signifies such a new life, but also produces, begins, and exercises it."
-Luther's Large Catechism

I firmly believe that Lutherans should be directed to read the church fathers more often. Not because they add to the scriptures or bear some authority outside of them but because if we read them more we would be more confident that we have maintained the apostolic doctrine and that our Evangelical Lutheran Church is or is within that same church which was born on pentecost and has flowed not from the 16th century but throughout the ages.

On Confession and Absolution, Father Luther teaches, not a different doctrine, but the same one as Chrysostom in his admonition to confession:

"In the first place, I have said that besides the Confession here being considered (Confession and absolution to a Pastor) there are two other kinds, which may even more properly be called the Christians' common confession.They are (a) the confession and plea for forgiveness made to God alone and (b) the confession that is made to the neighbor alone. These two kinds of confession are included in the Lord's Prayer, in which we pray, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us" (Matthew 6:12), and so on."
-Luther's Admonition to Confession


"'Whose sins you shall forgive,' He says, 'they are forgiven them: whose sins you shall retain, they are retained' [John 20:23].

What greater power is there than this? ...The Father has given all the judgment to the Son. And now I see the Son placing all this power in the hands of men."
-St. John Chrysostom's Homily on John (86:4)

"Tell your sin to God alone: 'Before You alone have I sinned, and I have done what is evil in Your sight' [Psalm 50(51):4]; and your sin will be forgiven."
-Chrysostom's Homilies on Penance 3:4

I'm concerned that this is a subject which modern Lutherans have forgotten. Sure, we have our common confession in the mass, but what has become of the church which confesses:

"Confession in the churches is not abolished among us; for it is not usual to give the body of the Lord, except to them that have been previously examined and absolved. And the people are most carefully taught concerning faith in the absolution, about which formerly there was profound silence. Our people are taught that they should highly prize the absolution, as being the voice of God, and pronounced by God's command."

The act of examination before absolution points to individual confession and absolution. Have we entered another era of what Melanchthon called "profound silence"; therefore, I leave you with this:

"Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.' And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.'” -John 20:21-23

"And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed." -James 5:15-16

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." -Ephesians 4:32


"Rather, we give this counsel: If you are poor and miserable, then go to Confession and make use of its healing medicine. He who feels his misery and need will no doubt develop such a longing for it that he will run toward it with joy. But those who pay no attention to it and do not come of their own accord, we let them go their way. Let them be sure of this, however, that we do not regard them as Christians."
-Luther's Exhortation to Confession