# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1860_S34
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— Page 34 —
Debates on the Doctrine of Absolution.

The most important subject of this year's proceedings, whose
discussion was also given the most time, was without question a
*Referat* [paper read to the convention] on the intimate connection
between the doctrine of Absolution and that of Justification. We
first present this paper here unabridged, and then attach the
Synod's deliberations on it immediately afterward.

Paper.

On the Intimate Connection between the Doctrine of Absolution
and That of Justification.

Although the doctrine of Absolution has been repeatedly treated in
our periodicals, at conferences, and at conventions, so that hardly
any obscurity remains regarding it in itself, the relationship of
this doctrine to that of Justification would still seem to need and
deserve a thorough discussion of both together. The writer of this
paper has believed he ought to solve the task assigned him not by
means of a voluminous treatise on this subject, which would leave
little room for discussion, but by setting out a series of theses, in
order to supply material and order for free discussion of it. He
takes the liberty, 1., of restating in brief, well-ordered outline
the teaching of Luther and of the Lutheran Church on Absolution, and,
2., of drawing attention to the intimate connection between this
doctrine and that of Justification.

I.

1. Absolution, or the pronouncing of forgiveness of sins, is,
according to Luther's teaching, the Gospel, whether it is
proclaimed to many, or to individuals.

Luther's writing to the Council of Prague: "But binding or
loosing is altogether nothing other than preaching the Gospel and
putting it to use, so that the keys are nothing other than the
office by which one turns the Word to use and practice."

Second Opinion to the Council of Nuremberg: "Thus the Gospel
itself is a general absolution."

Note: Luther does indeed also recognize the general absolution
that is customarily spoken among us after the sermon, and he neither
censures nor rejects it; but ordinarily by absolution he means
private absolution, which to him is nothing other than the Gospel
spoken to a single person, who thereby receives comfort concerning
his known sin.

2. Private absolution is accordingly not a power to forgive sins
that exists outside of or alongside the Gospel, but rather it
is nothing other than the preaching of the Gospel to the
individual sinner.

Church Postil, Easter Tuesday: "There is no other difference
here, except that such a word, which is otherwise spoken in the