The term "remit" in biblical context primarily refers to the act of forgiving or pardoning sins. It is a concept deeply rooted in the theology of redemption and salvation, emphasizing the merciful nature of God and the transformative power of grace. The idea of remission is central to the Christian understanding of atonement and reconciliation with God.

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, the concept of remitting sins is closely associated with the ministry of Jesus Christ and the apostolic authority given to His disciples. The Berean Standard Bible provides several instances where this term is used to convey the forgiveness of sins.

One of the key passages is found in the Gospel of John, where Jesus, after His resurrection, imparts the Holy Spirit to His disciples and grants them the authority to forgive sins: "If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld" (John 20:23). This verse underscores the responsibility and authority given to the apostles to remit sins, a role that has been interpreted by many as foundational for the Church's sacramental life, particularly in the practice of confession and absolution.

Theological Significance

Theologically, the remission of sins is integral to the doctrine of salvation. It is through the remission of sins that believers are reconciled to God, justified, and made righteous in His sight. This is made possible through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who bore the sins of humanity and provided the means for their forgiveness.

The Apostle Paul, in his epistles, frequently discusses the remission of sins in the context of justification by faith. In Romans 3:25, Paul writes, "God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand" . Here, the remission of sins is linked to the atoning work of Christ, highlighting the grace of God in forgiving sins and the necessity of faith in receiving this grace.

Old Testament Foreshadowing

While the explicit term "remit" is more prevalent in the New Testament, the concept is foreshadowed in the Old Testament through the sacrificial system and the Day of Atonement. Leviticus 16 describes the annual ritual where the high priest would make atonement for the sins of Israel, symbolically transferring them onto a scapegoat. This act prefigures the ultimate remission of sins accomplished by Christ, the true High Priest and sacrificial Lamb.

Practical Implications

For believers, the remission of sins is not only a theological concept but also a practical reality that affects their daily lives. It calls for a response of repentance, faith, and a commitment to live in accordance with God's will. The assurance of forgiven sins brings peace, joy, and a renewed relationship with God, empowering Christians to extend forgiveness to others as they have been forgiven.

In summary, the term "remit" encapsulates the profound biblical truth of God's forgiveness, the redemptive work of Christ, and the transformative power of grace in the life of a believer.1. (v. t.) To send back; to give up; to surrender; to resign.

2. (v. t.) To restore.

3. (v. t.) To transmit or send, esp. to a distance, as money in payment of a demand, account, draft, etc.; as, he remitted the amount by mail.

4. (v. t.) To send off or away; hence: (a) To refer or direct (one) for information, guidance, help, etc. Remitting them . . . to the works of Galen. Sir T. Elyot. (b) To submit, refer, or leave (something) for judgment or decision.

5. (v. t.) To relax in intensity; to make less violent; to abate.

6. (v. t.) To forgive; to pardon; to remove.

7. (v. t.) To refrain from exacting or enforcing; as, to remit the performance of an obligation.

8. (v. i.) To abate in force or in violence; to grow less intense; to become moderated; to abate; to relax; as, a fever remits; the severity of the weather remits.

9. (v. i.) To send money, as in payment.

863. aphiemi -- to send away, leave alone, permit
... alone, permit. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: aphiemi Phonetic Spelling:
(af-ee'-ay-mee) Short Definition: I send away, release, remit, forgive, permit ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/863.htm - 10k8058. shamat -- to let drop
... A primitive root; to fling down; incipiently to jostle; figuratively, to let alone,
desist, remit -- discontinue, overthrow, release, let rest, shake, stumble ...
/hebrew/8058.htm - 6k

5203. natash -- to leave, forsake, permit
... as if beating out, and thus expanding) to disperse; also, to thrust off, down, out
or upon (inclusively, reject, let alone, permit, remit, etc.) -- cast off ...
/hebrew/5203.htm - 6k

5382. nashah -- to forget
... forget, deprive, exact. A primitive root; to forget; figuratively, to neglect;
causatively, to remit, remove -- forget, deprive, exact. 5381, 5382. ...
/hebrew/5382.htm - 6k

Whether a Priest Can Remit Sin as to the Punishment?
... OF THE EFFECT OF THE KEYS (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether a priest can remit sin as to the
punishment? ... Therefore the priest does not remit the punishment in any way. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether a priest can remit.htm

Whether the Judge Can Lawfully Remit the Punishment?
... OF THE INJUSTICE OF A JUDGE, IN JUDGING (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether the judge
can lawfully remit the punishment? Objection 1: It would ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the judge can lawfully.htm

Whether an Indulgence Can Remit any Part of the Punishment Due for ...
... OF INDULGENCES (THREE ARTICLES) Whether an indulgence can remit any part of
the punishment due for the satisfaction of sins? Objection ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether an indulgence can remit.htm

That when we have Received a Wrong, we must Remit and Forgive It.
... Third Book. 22. That when we have received a wrong, we must remit and forgive
it. In the Gospel, in the daily prayer: "Forgive us ...
/.../cyprian/three books of testimonies against the jews/22 that when we have.htm

Whether Indulgences are as Effective as they Claim to Be?
... Now by the power of the keys, he who has that power can only remit some fixed part
of the punishment due for sin, after taking into account the measure of the ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether indulgences are as effective.htm

The Sick Person Ought Now to Send for Some Godly and Religious ...
... and whatsoever ye loose in earth, shall be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 18:18.) And
again, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost; whose soever sins ye remit, they are ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/the sick person ought now.htm

Doctor Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences
... 5. The pope does not intend to remit, and cannot remit any penalties other than
those which he has imposed either by his own authority or by that of the Canons ...
/.../luther/martin luthers 95 theses/disputation of doctor martin luther.htm

Chapter viii.
... I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise die." [304] Here,
therefore, it is not a money claim that one is pressed to remit, but whatever ...
/.../augustine/our lords sermon on the mount/chapter viii 2.htm

Whether the Priest Can Bind and Loose According to his Own ...
... of the adulterous woman (Jn.8). Therefore it seems that the priest also, who is
the vicar of Christ, can, according to his own judgment, remit the punishment ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the priest can bind 2.htm

The Lord Seen by the Apostles.
... Pentecost, after the Lord ascended. 23. Whose soever sins ye remit, they
are remitted unto them, etc. There is hardly a passage ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the lord seen by the.htm

Remit (3 Occurrences)
... 6. (vt) To forgive; to pardon; to remove. 7. (vt) To refrain from exacting or enforcing;
as, to remit the performance of an obligation. ...Remit (3 Occurrences). ...
/r/remit.htm - 8k

Remitted (4 Occurrences)
... (imp. & pp) of Remit. ... Luke 6:37 And judge not, and ye shall not be judged; condemn
not, and ye shall not be condemned. Remit, and it shall be remitted to you. ...
/r/remitted.htm - 7k

Relax (5 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) To make less severe or rigorous; to abate the stringency of; to remit in
respect to strenuousness, earnestness, or effort; as, to relax discipline; to ...
/r/relax.htm - 9k

Remission (18 Occurrences)

/r/remission.htm - 13k

Loose (219 Occurrences)
... 14. (v.) To release from anything obligatory or burdensome; to disengage; hence,
to absolve; to remit. 15. (v.) To relax; to loosen; to make less strict. 16. ...
/l/loose.htm - 38k

Forgive (81 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To give up resentment or claim to requital on account of (an offense or
wrong); to remit the penalty of; to pardon; -- said in reference to the act ...
/f/forgive.htm - 33k

Excuse (13 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To free from an impending obligation or duty; hence, to disengage; to dispense
with; to release by favor; also, to remit by favor; not to exact; as, to ...
/e/excuse.htm - 11k

Persons (156 Occurrences)
... (WEY WBS). John 20:23 If you remit the sins of any persons, they remain remitted
to them. If you bind fast the sins of any, they remain bound." (WEY). ...
/p/persons.htm - 38k

Pardon (31 Occurrences)
... 6. (vt) To remit the penalty of; to suffer to pass without punishment; to forgive; --
applied to offenses. 7. (vt) To refrain from exacting as a penalty. ...
/p/pardon.htm - 18k

Cover (254 Occurrences)
... defend; as, the cavalry covered the retreat. 7. (vt) To remove from remembrance;
to put away; to remit. 8. (vt) To extend over; to be ...
/c/cover.htm - 40k

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