²³ If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”^(A)

¹⁸ Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.^(A)

¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”^(A)

²⁰ among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have turned over to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.^(A)

⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” ⁶ Now some of the scribes were sitting there questioning in their hearts, ⁷ “Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”^{(A) 8} At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves, and he said to them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? ⁹ Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk’? ¹⁰ But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic—

³⁸ Let it be known to you therefore, brothers and sisters,^[a] that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you;^{(A) 39} by this Jesus^[b] everyone who believes is set free from all those sins^[c] from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.^(B)

⁴³ All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”^(A)

⁶ This punishment by the majority is enough for such a person;^{(A) 7} so now instead you should forgive and console him, so that he may not be overwhelmed by even worse grief. ⁸ So I urge you to reaffirm your love for him. ⁹ I wrote for this reason: to test you and to know whether you are obedient in everything.^{(B) 10} Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. In fact, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ.

³⁸ Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.^(A)

²⁰ built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone;^[a](A)