Some Christians make the following argument that according to the Bible, since Jesus was able to forgive sins, this shows that he was God, as only God can forgive sins. The two main passages for this argument are based on the story of Jesus forgiving the sins of the paralyzed man (Matthew 9:2-6, Mark 2:5-12, and Luke 5:20-24), and the other is regarding the woman who anointed him with oil before his death (Luke 7:47-50). Let’s look at these passages and see how the extrapolation of claiming that Jesus is God based on these passages is fallacious.
Forgiving the Paralyzed Man
In Matthew 9:2-6 (also found in Mark 2:5-12 and Luke 5:20-24), Jesus is approached by a group carrying a paralyzed man. Before healing him, Jesus tells the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven” (Matthew 9:2). This declaration shocks the religious leaders, who question his authority to forgive sins. In response, Jesus says, “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” and then heals the paralytic, demonstrating his divine authority (Matthew 9:6).
9 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” 4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” 7 Then the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man. (Matthew 9:2-6)
When Jesus says, “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” This shows that Jesus’ authority to forgive sins was not by his own authority but by God’s authority, the One who sent him. If Jesus was God, he wouldn’t need to explain that his ability to forgive sins was not from himself.
Additionally, many passages in the Gospels confirm that all of Jesus’ authority came from God.
“Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” (John 5:19)
“By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.” (John 5:30)
“So Jesus said, ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.’” (John 8:28-29)
“For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.” (John 12:49-50)
Forgiving the Woman Who Anointed Him
44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” 48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:47-50)
In Luke 7:47-50, a woman known for her sinful life anoints Jesus’ feet with her tears. Jesus acknowledges her act of love and says, “Your sins are forgiven” (Luke 7:48). The onlookers question, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” (Luke 7:49). Jesus affirms her faith by saying, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace” (Luke 7:50).
This passage indicates that the woman’s actions and faith caused her forgiveness. Jesus indicated this when he is said to have stated, “Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown.” This indicates that it was not Jesus who forgave her sins, but only that Jesus is communicating to her that based on her good deeds and faith, her sins were forgiven. This is further confirmed in his concluding statement to her when he is said to have said, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Disciples Able to Forgive Sins
In John 20:22-23, after His supposed resurrection, Jesus grants his disciples the authority to forgive sins. He breathes on them and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven” (John 20:22-23). This extends the authority to forgive sins to His followers, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
So, following the logic of the Trinitarians, since they equate Jesus as God because he forgives sins, they would technically have to consider the disciples as God since they, too, can forgive sins. This also extends to their clergy, who they believe can also forgive sins depending on the denomination. However, in this regard, they argue that this is not correct because their authority was given from Jesus to the disciples to the clergy, yet they fail to make that same connection that Jesus’s authority was given to him by God.
Law of Agency
This is known as the principal-agent relationship, where the principal commissions the agent to act on their behalf. Yet it would be a fundamental mistake in logic to presume the agent is the principal who sent them. The following video by the Biblical Unitarian Podcast provides a great talk on this subject.
