The Confessional, oil painting by Giuseppe Maria Crespi; in the Galleria Sabauda, Turin, Italy.
Confession to Christ, Not to Priests: An Argument Rooted in Scripture
The Roman Catholic Church’s practice of confession to a priest stems from centuries of tradition, but it stands in stark contrast to several key biblical teachings that point directly to Christ as the sole mediator between God and humanity. Confessing sins to Christ alone is emphasized throughout the New Testament, which undermines the idea that human priests hold the power to absolve sin. Let’s explore how Mark 2:7, Hebrews 4:15-16, and Acts 10:43 debunk this practice and highlight that confession to a priest has origins not in Christianity but in pagan Babylonian rituals.
Mark 2:7 – Only God Can Forgive Sins
"Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?"
This verse underscores a fundamental truth: only God has the authority to forgive sins. The religious leaders accused Jesus of blasphemy because they knew that the forgiveness of sins was a divine prerogative. The fact that Jesus forgave sins directly, not through a priestly intermediary, points to His unique role as the Son of God, emphasizing that forgiveness comes from God alone.
In contrast, the Catholic doctrine asserts that priests have been granted the authority to absolve sins through the sacrament of confession. However, there is no biblical foundation for the idea that human intermediaries are necessary for this process. Mark 2:7 makes it abundantly clear that the power to forgive sins is God’s alone, casting doubt on the legitimacy of priestly absolution.
Hebrews 4:15-16 – Direct Access to God’s Throne
"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
This passage offers another compelling argument against confessing to a priest. It affirms that Jesus, our perfect High Priest, empathizes with our weaknesses and that we can approach God’s throne of grace directly. Believers are encouraged to come boldly to God for mercy and grace, without the need for a human mediator.
The Catholic tradition of requiring priests to hear confessions places an unnecessary barrier between believers and God, suggesting that access to God’s forgiveness is not direct. However, Hebrews 4:15-16 declares that because of Christ’s sacrifice and priesthood, we do not need an earthly mediator; we can confidently approach God ourselves.
Acts 10:43 – Forgiveness Through Faith in Christ
"To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins."
This verse affirms that remission of sins comes through belief in Christ alone. Nowhere in this text—or anywhere else in Scripture—does it suggest that a priest is necessary to obtain forgiveness. The central message of the New Testament is that faith in Christ is what grants believers access to God’s forgiveness, making the sacrament of confession to a priest unnecessary and theologically incorrect.
The Pagan Roots of Confession to Priests
The practice of confessing sins to a priest is not only unbiblical, but it also has its origins in pagan rituals, particularly those of Babylonian religion. In ancient Babylon, individuals would confess their sins to priests or spiritual leaders who claimed to have special access to the gods (fallen angels/Lucifer and his Legion). This practice of mediation between gods and humans was a common feature of pagan religions and was carried over into certain aspects of Roman Catholic tradition.
By adopting this practice, the Catholic Church perpetuates a Babylonian concept of priestly mediation that contradicts the New Testament’s teaching of Christ’s direct and sole mediatorship. This form of confession has more in common with ancient paganism than with the message of the Gospel, which proclaims that believers have direct access to God through Christ.
The Illusion of Priesthood Mediation
The doctrine of confessing sins to a priest contradicts biblical teachings on several fronts. Mark 2:7 clarifies that only God can forgive sins; Hebrews 4:15-16 shows that believers have direct access to God through Jesus Christ, without the need for a human intermediary; and Acts 10:43 proclaims that forgiveness is through faith in Christ alone. When viewed in light of the New Testament, the Catholic Church’s practice of confession is revealed to be not only unnecessary but also rooted in ancient pagan traditions that distort the true message of the Gospel.
The Catholic confessional system, far from bringing believers closer to God, often keeps them trapped in a cycle of guilt and dependency on priests—something that is foreign to New Testament Christianity. Rather than encouraging direct communion with Christ, it reinforces a hierarchical system that places human intermediaries where only Christ belongs. True biblical Christianity offers freedom through a personal relationship with Christ, who is the one and only mediator between God and humanity.
Thus, the pagan origins of priestly confession combined with Scripture’s clear teaching provide a profound argument against the Catholic Church’s confessional system. True forgiveness comes only through faith in Christ, and not through the rituals of men.
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