The Bible and Reconciliation – Confession, Repentance, and Restoration

A deeper understanding of God's gifts and call in the sacraments is offered through a renewed encounter with God's Word in this addition to the Catholic Biblical Theology of the Sacraments series. James Prothro's biblical theology of reconciliation explores the patterns of God's people in the Old and New Testaments approaching the merciful God, confessing, and being forgiven and called to reengage their relationship with God through faith and love.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 13 February 2024
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group

This addition to the Catholic Biblical Theology of the Sacraments series provides readers with a deeper appreciation of God's gifts and call in the sacraments through a renewed encounter with God's Word. James Prothro offers a biblical theology of the sacrament of reconciliation, the restoration of the sinner through forgiveness and repentance. Prothro fleshes out the patterns in which God's people in the Old and New Testaments approach the merciful God, confess, and are forgiven and called to reengage their relationship with God by growing in faith and love through God's ministry of grace.

Series editors are Timothy C. Gray and John Sehorn. Gray and Sehorn teach at the Augustine Institute Graduate School of Theology, which prepares students for Christian mission through on-campus and distance-education programs. Gray is also president of the Augustine Institute.

The sacrament of reconciliation is a powerful and transformative rite in the Catholic Church that offers sinners the opportunity to be reconciled to God and to receive the grace of forgiveness. It is rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who taught that God is love and that we are called to love one another as he has loved us (John 13:34). The sacrament of reconciliation is also based on the ancient practice of confession, which involves confessing our sins to a priest and receiving absolution and guidance from him.

In the sacrament of reconciliation, the sinner confesses their sins to a priest, who listens to their confession and offers them guidance and support. The priest may also administer the sacrament of penance, which involves performing certain acts of contrition and reparation for the sins committed. The sacrament of reconciliation is a celebration of God's love and mercy, and it is a means of healing and restoration for the sinner.

The sacrament of reconciliation is an important part of the Catholic faith, and it is celebrated in many different ways throughout the world. In the United States, the sacrament is typically celebrated in a private setting, with the sinner and the priest alone. In some parishes, the sacrament is celebrated in a communal setting, with the sinner confessing their sins before a group of people.

The sacrament of reconciliation is also an important tool for catechesis and evangelization, as it helps to teach the importance of confession and repentance and to encourage people to turn to God in times of need. In many parishes, the sacrament is celebrated during Lent, a time of reflection and repentance, as a way of preparing for Easter, which is a celebration of Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead.

In conclusion, the sacrament of reconciliation is a powerful and transformative rite in the Catholic Church that offers sinners the opportunity to be reconciled to God and to receive the grace of forgiveness. It is rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and is based on the ancient practice of confession. The sacrament is a celebration of God's love and mercy and is a means of healing and restoration for the sinner. It is an important part of the Catholic faith and is celebrated in many different ways throughout the world.

Weight: 356g
Dimension: 151 x 228 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781540964786