Some Christians make the following argument that according to the Bible, since Jesus was able to forgive sins, this shows that he was God, as only God can forgive sins. The two main passages for this argument are based on the story of Jesus forgiving the sins of the paralyzed man (Matthew 9:2-6, Mark 2:5-12, and Luke 5:20-24), and the other is regarding the woman who anointed him with oil before his death (Luke 7:47-50). Let’s look at these passages and see how the extrapolation of claiming that Jesus is God based on these passages is fallacious.
Forgiving the Paralyzed Man
In Matthew 9:2-6 (also found in Mark 2:5-12 and Luke 5:20-24), Jesus is approached by a group carrying a paralyzed man. Before healing him, Jesus tells the man, “ Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven” (Matthew 9:2). This declaration shocks the religious leaders, who question his authority to forgive sins. In response, Jesus says, “ But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” and then heals the paralytic, demonstrating his divine authority (Matthew 9:6).
9 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “ Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” 4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” 7 Then the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man. (Matthew 9:2-6)
When Jesus says, “ But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” This shows that Jesus’ authority to forgive sins was not by his own authority but by God’s authority, the One who sent him. If Jesus was God, he wouldn’t need to explain that his ability to forgive sins was not from himself.
Additionally, many passages in the Gospels confirm that all of Jesus’ authority came from God.
“ Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” (John 5:19)
“ By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.” (John 5:30)
“So Jesus said, ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.’” (John 8:28-29)
“For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. I know that his command leads to eternal life. S o whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.” (John 12:49-50)
Forgiving the Woman Who Anointed Him
44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” 48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:47-50)
In Luke 7:47-50, a woman known for her sinful life anoints Jesus’ feet with her tears. Jesus acknowledges her act of love and says, “ Your sins are forgiven” (Luke 7:48). The onlookers question, “ Who is this who even forgives sins?” (Luke 7:49). Jesus affirms her faith by saying, “ Your faith has saved you; go in peace” (Luke 7:50).
This passage indicates that the woman’s actions and faith caused her forgiveness. Jesus indicated this when he is said to have stated, “ Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown.” This indicates that it was not Jesus who forgave her sins, but only that Jesus is communicating to her that based on her good deeds and faith, her sins were forgiven. This is further confirmed in his concluding statement to her when he is said to have said, “ Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Disciples Able to Forgive Sins
In John 20:22-23, after His supposed resurrection, Jesus grants his disciples the authority to forgive sins. He breathes on them and says, “ Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven” (John 20:22-23). This extends the authority to forgive sins to His followers, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
So, following the logic of the Trinitarians, since they equate Jesus as God because he forgives sins, they would technically have to consider the disciples as God since they, too, can forgive sins. This also extends to their clergy, who they believe can also forgive sins depending on the denomination. However, in this regard, they argue that this is not correct because their authority was given from Jesus to the disciples to the clergy, yet they fail to make that same connection that Jesus’s authority was given to him by God.
Priests Forgive Sins
In the Old Testament, priests were given authority to pronounce forgiveness of sins through the sacrificial system. Passages like Leviticus 5:10 describe priests making atonement for people’s sins via offerings, after which forgiveness is granted. Although priests themselves did not forgive sins directly, they acted as mediators in the process God established for atonement, where sacrifices were necessary for forgiveness.
Also, in Catholicism, priests are believed to receive authority to forgive sins through the sacrament of reconciliation. This authority is rooted in Jesus’ words to His apostles in the New Testament, especially in John 20:23: “If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven.” Catholic teaching holds that this authority, granted by Christ to His apostles, is passed down through apostolic succession to ordained priests, enabling them to act as intermediaries through whom God grants forgiveness.
John the Baptism and Forgiveness of Sins
According to the Gospels, baptism is a purification ritual, symbolizing repentance and the washing away of sins. In the New Testament, John the Baptist is prominently known for baptizing people in the Jordan River as a sign of their repentance. His baptism was an outward expression of an inner change, calling people to turn away from sin and renew their commitment to God. Mark 1:4 describes John’s role: “John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Similarly, in Matthew 3:6, people “were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.”
Baptism was a symbolic cleansing, a ritual acknowledgment of one’s sins and need for God’s mercy. Luke 3:3 reinforces this idea, stating that John “went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”
In Matthew 21, Jesus highlights that while John performed the baptism that washed away the sins, God was the authority behind it—and the ultimate source of forgiveness. When the chief priests and elders question Jesus’ authority, asking, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus turns the question back on them by challenging them to consider the origin of John’s baptism. He asks, “The baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven or from men?” (Matthew 21:25). This question is more than a rhetorical move; it underscores that John’s ministry, including his baptism, was not just a human endeavor but a mission with divine backing.
So, despite John being the one who performed the Baptism, and the individual’s sins were forgiven through his actions, the ultimate source of forgiveness was always God.
23 And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 24 Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you a question; and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven or from men?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, From heaven,’ he will say to us,Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, `From men,’ we are afraid of the multitude; for all hold that John was a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
An Angel Forgives Isaiah’s Sins
In Isaiah 6:6-7, a seraphim, which is an angel of the Lord forgives the prophet Isaiah’s sins.
“Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it, he touched my mouth and said, ‘See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.’” (Isaiah 6:6-7)
In this passage, the angelic being forgives Isaiah’s sins as a messenger or agent of God, who provides forgiveness through this purification ritual. By touching Isaiah’s lips with the coal, the seraph symbolically removes his sin, cleansing him and making him fit for his prophetic mission.
This passage reflects the belief that angels, while not sources of forgiveness themselves, can act as intermediaries in carrying out God’s will, conveying forgiveness and purity on His behalf. In the same way that Jesus acted as an agent of God in his ability to forgive the sins of the paralyzed man, the seraph here enacts a ritual of cleansing, showing Isaiah’s purification through God’s authority and grace.
Law of Agency
This is known as the principal-agent relationship, where the principal commissions the agent to act on their behalf. Yet it would be a fundamental mistake in logic to presume the agent is the principal who sent them. The following video by the Biblical Unitarian Podcast provides a great talk on this subject.