Abstract
Tim Carter’s The Forgiveness of Sins offers a rigorous analysis of the meaning of the forgiveness of sins in a range of Jewish and Christian texts.
Carter begins with a lexical study of Greek and Hebrew words and phrases related to forgiveness. He then analyses the concept of atonement in the Hebrew Bible and Hellenistic Judaism. He finds that God primarily functions as the subject of both forgiveness and atonement, but there is a noticeable shift in Hellenistic Judaism to referring to God as the direct object of atonement. The next two chapters focus on the relationship between prayer, both penitential and intercessional, and sacrifice and the role repentance plays in the forgiveness of sins. Chapter six discusses exile and the paradoxical nature of God as one who both forgives and punishes sin to the third and fourth generation.
When exploring forgiving sinners in Luke, Carter utilises labelling theory to explain how the temple authorities labelled tax collectors and prostitutes ‘sinners’ in league with Roman rule and how Jesus’ ministry exposed the temple authorities’ own complicity with Rome, thus threatening their role as the administers of forgiveness and leading to his death. Carter then explores the New Testament’s multivalent understanding of the role of blood in the forgiveness of sins, particularly related to the drinking of Jesus’ ‘blood’ at the Last Supper. The following two chapters discuss the varied soteriologies within the textual traditions of Luke and lead into the discussion in chapter eleven on the culpability of Israel in crucifying Jesus. The final three chapters examine the connection between baptism and the forgiveness of sins in the early church, the debates on the importance of baptism in securing the forgiveness of sins, and the criterion of legitimacy for proclaiming the forgiveness of sins in Jesus’ name.
In this book, Carter brings cutting edge insights to the discussion on the forgiveness of sins by consulting a broad range of texts, employing diverse methodologies, and meticulously examining the original languages. He also shows a deep ecclesial concern by keeping the life and theology of the church at the forefront while maintaining intellectual excellence. The result is a book that is bound to bring insight to both scholars and ministers.