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JOHN 20:23 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
John 20:22John 20:24
“Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.”
'If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained' — this authority (aphiēmi, to forgive/release; katechō, to retain/hold) is communal, not individual priestly prerogative. The connection to Spirit-reception suggests that forgiveness flows from the Spirit's work of judging the world (16:8–11). The duality (forgive/retain) emphasizes both the power and responsibility of the Spirit-empowered community to extend or withhold reconciliation.

Church Fathers on John 20:23

The disciples, when they heard what Mary told them, were obliged either to disbelieve, or, if they believed, to grieve that He did not count them worthy to have the sight of Him. He did not let them however pass a whole day in such reflections, but in the midst of their longing trembling desires to see Him, presented Himself to them: Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews.

Chrysostom · 4th century

Wherein is strewn the infirmity of the Apostles. They assembled with doors shut, through that same fear of the Jews, which had before scattered them: Came Jesus, and stood in the midst. He came in the evening, because they would be the most afraid at that time.

Bede · 8th century

and with shut doors, that he might show how that in the very same way he had risen again, i.e. with the stone lying on the sepulcher.

Theophylact · 11th century · Or because He waited till all were assembled
Read all 26 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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John 20:23 — Community Reflections | HolyStudy