Confession

Dear Emmanuel,

The Scripture in James 5:16 tells us to confess our faults "one to another". That seems to me to mean one to one. This scripture is many times misread as "to one another." The word here for "faults" is the Greek "paraptomata" which literally means to "fall down". Faults is a good translation. This Scripture is not speaking of "forgiveness" of sin. Nowhere in the context is forgiveness referred to.

In 1 John 1:5-10 , 2:1-2 (KJV)

5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Chapter 2 (continuation from Chapter 1)

1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

The Greek word for sin(s) in this section of scripture is "hamartia." It is a different word than "paraptomata" used in James. These words have different meanings. "Hamartia" is the most common word for "sin" in the Bible. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary:

Sin - is "any want of conformity unto or transgression of the law of God" (1 John 3:4; Rom. 4:15), in the inward state and habit of the soul, as well as in the outward conduct of the life, whether by omission or commission (Rom. 6:12-17; 7:5-24). It is "not a mere violation of the law of our constitution, nor of the system of things, but an offence against a personal lawgiver and moral governor who vindicates his law with penalties. The soul that sins is always conscious that his sin is (1) intrinsically vile and polluting, and (2) that it justly deserves punishment, and calls down the righteous wrath of God. Hence sin carries with it two inalienable characters, (1) ill-desert, guilt (reatus); and (2) pollution (macula).",

Now this is quite different from a "fault"

So I conclude that we:

1: Confess our faults one to another ….. that we may be healed.

2. Confess our sin to God through Christ…… that we may be forgiven

I would not consider confessing my deepest dark secrets to another human being who may run his mouth and thus do considerable damage. However, I will to God an Christ. God already knows what is in our hearts.

But I will say that a trustworthy person to discuss our faults with "one to another" is very important. Catholic Priest are notorious for their silence and discretion. That I commend. But as you said it is God who forgives sin.

But we cannot conclude from these Scriptures that confession of "sin" (hamartia) to a priest is a requirement.

A priest is never mentioned in regards to confession of sin or faults. However, I personally see no harm in this practice as long as it is understood that: 1. It is God who forgives sin and that 2. The priest is simply a trustworthy person with no power to forgive sin.

In Gods Love

Bill Roth

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