God’s Word Translation
John 20:23
23Whenever you forgive sins, they are forgiven. Whenever you don’t forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
John 20:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
- New International Version (NIV)If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld."
- New King James Version (NKJV)If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
Context of John 20:23
21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” 22After he had said this, he breathed on the disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whenever you forgive sins, they are forgiven. Whenever you don’t forgive them, they are not forgiven.” 24Thomas, one of the twelve apostles, who was called Didymus, wasn’t with them when Jesus came. 25The other disciples told him, “We’ve seen the Lord.” Thomas told them, “I refuse to believe this unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my fingers into them, and put my hand into his side.”
Read all of John 20John 20:23 word by word
ἄν τινων ἀφῆτε τὰς ἁμαρτίας, ἀφέωνται αὐτοῖς· ἄν τινων κρατῆτε, κεκράτηνται.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for John 20:23
- Matthew 16:19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you imprison, God will imprison. And whatever you set free, God will set free.”
- Matthew 18:18I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you imprison, God will imprison. And whatever you set free, God will set free.
- Mark 2:5When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
- Acts 2:38Peter answered them, “All of you must turn to God and change the way you think and act, and each of you must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will receive the Holy Spirit as a gift.
- Acts 10:43In addition, all the prophets testify that people who believe in the one named Jesus receive forgiveness for their sins through him.”
- Acts 13:38“So, brothers, I’m telling you that through Jesus your sins can be forgiven. Sins kept you from receiving God’s approval through Moses’ Teachings.
- 1 Corinthians 5:4When you have gathered together, I am with you in spirit. Then, in the name of our Lord Jesus, and with his power,
- 2 Corinthians 2:6The majority of you have imposed a severe enough punishment on that person.
- Ephesians 2:20You are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Christ Jesus himself is the cornerstone.
- 1 Timothy 1:20Among these people are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan in order to teach them not to dishonor God.
Commentaries on John 20:23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23Whose soever sins ye remit - See the notes on Matthew 16:19; Matthew 18:18. It is certain God alone can forgive sins; and it would not only be blasphemous, but grossly absurd, to say that any creature could remit the guilt of a transgression which had been committed against the Creator. The apostles received from the Lord the doctrine of reconciliation, and the doctrine of condemnation. They who believed on the Son of God, in consequence of their…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23Whose soever sins - See the notes at Matthew 16:19; Matthew 18:18. It is worthy of remark here that Jesus confers the same power on all the apostles. He gives to no one of them any special authority. If Peter, as the Papists pretend, had been appointed to any special authority, it is wonderful that the Saviour did not here hint at any such pre-eminence. This passage conclusively proves that they were invested with equal power in organizing and governing…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-25Verses 19-25 This was the first day of the week, and this day is afterwards often mentioned by the sacred writers; for it was evidently set apart as the Christian sabbath, in remembrance of Christ's resurrection. The disciples had shut the doors for fear of the Jews; and when they had no such expectation, Jesus himself came and stood in the midst of them, having miraculously, though silently, opened the doors. It is a comfort to Christ's disciples, when…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23If you forgive anyone his sins: The work of Christ’s followers continues the work of Christ. They do not give or take away God’s forgiveness on their own. Instead, they act according to the guidance of Jesus through the Holy Spirit (15:5; 14:31).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 19-2319-23. the same day at evening, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus--plainly not by the ordinary way of entrance. and saith unto them Peace be unto you--not the mere wish that even His own exalted peace might be theirs (Joh 14:27), but conveying it into their hearts, even as He "opened their understandings to understand the scriptures" (Lu 24:45).Read the comment
Topics related to John 20:23
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on John 20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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