Bible Question:
hai friends...... am a catholic....one of my friend who is protestent is always arguing with me regarding confession....... he is telling that why do we confess to the priests? instead of that we can confess to the god......and he is telling no where in the bible it has been told that we should confess to the priests......plz gve a detailed anwser |
Bible Answer: I am Protestant also, so remember my answer will lean towards such view. I agree with your friend, that there is no need to confess to a priest. This came about from the Council of Trent 1551 based on the interpretation of John 20:22-23. Because of the Council's interpretation of these two scriptures, the Roman Catholic Church has the Sacrament of Confession. Protestants will quote Romans 10:9-10 and 1 John 1:9. James 5:16 is an additional scripture that Catholics will use in to defend the Sacrament of Confession. What little research (which is very little) leads me towards the interpretation of James 5:16 focusing more on the lifting one another up in prayer and asking those that you have wronged for forgiveness (but remember I have only briefly studied James so someone with more knowledge may be able to expand on this verse in greater detail). I'm not sure this was the answer you are looking for, but hopefully it helps. |