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forgetfulness” (cf. 2 Tim. 1:5, lit., “having taken reminder”), a periphrastic expression for
a single verb.¶
2.
(
#
)
, 1953), “forgetfulness” (akin to A, No. 2), is used in Jas.
1:25, “a forgetful hearer,”
RV
, “a hearer that forgetteth,” lit., “a hearer of forgetfulness,”
i.e., a hearer characterized by “forgetfulness.”¶
FORGIVE, FORGAVE, FORGIVENESS
A. Verbs.
1.
(
&
, 863), primarily, “to send forth, send away” ( , “from,”
,
“to send”), denotes, besides its other meanings, “to remit or forgive” (a) debts, Matt.
6:12; 18:27, 32, these being completely cancelled; (b) sins, e.g., Matt. 9:2, 5, 6; 12:31,
32; Acts 8:22 (“the thought of thine heart”); Rom. 4:7; Jas. 5:15; 1 John 1:9; 2:12. In this
latter respect the verb, like its corresponding noun (below), firstly signifies the remission
of the punishment due to sinful conduct, the deliverance of the sinner from the penalty
divinely, and therefore righteously, imposed; secondly, it involves the complete removal
of the cause of offense; such remission is based upon the vicarious and propitiatory
sacrifice of Christ. In the OT atoning sacrifice and “forgiveness” are often associated,
e.g., Lev. 4:20, 26. The verb is used in the NT with reference to trespasses (
),
e.g., Matt. 6:14, 15; sins (
), e.g., Luke 5:20; debts (see above) (
),
Matt. 6:12; (
), 18:32; (
), 18:27; the thought (
) of the heart, Acts
8:22. Cf.
$
, “to cover,” 1 Pet. 4:8; Jas. 5:20; and
$
, “to cover over,” Rom.
4:7, representing the Hebrew words for “atonement.”
Human “forgiveness” is to be strictly analogous to divine “forgiveness,” e.g., Matt.
6:12. If certain conditions are fulfilled, there is no limitation to Christ’s law of
“forgiveness,” Matt. 18:21, 22. The conditions are repentance and confession, Matt.
18:15-17; Luke 17:3.
As to limits to the possibility of divine “forgiveness,” see Matt. 12:32, 2nd part (see
BLASPHEMY
) and 1 John 5:16 (see
DEATH
). See
FORSAKE
,
LAY
,
Note
(2) at end,
LEAVE
,
LET
,
OMIT
,
PUT
, No. 16,
:
REMIT
,
SEND
,
Note
, (1),
SUFFER
,
YIELD
.
2.
(
$&
, 5483), “to bestow a favor unconditionally,” is used of the
act of “forgiveness,” whether divine, Eph. 4:32; Col. 2:13; 3:13; or human, Luke 7:42, 43
(debt); 2 Cor. 2:7, 10; 12:13; Eph. 4:32 (1st mention). Paul uses this word frequently, but
No. 1 only, in Rom. 4:7, in this sense of the word. See
DELIVER
.
: & * $
, “to let loose from” ( , “from,”
$
, “to loose”), “to release,” is
translated “forgive,” “ye shall be forgiven,” Luke 6:37,
KJV
(
RV
, “release,” “ye shall be
released”), the reference being to setting a person free as a quasi-judicial act. The verb
does not mean “to forgive.” See
DISMISS
,
RELEASE
.
B. Noun.
(
/
, 859) denotes “a dismissal, release” (akin to A, No. 1); it is used of
the remission of sins, and translated “forgiveness” in Mark 3:29; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14, and
in the
KJV
of Acts 5:31; 13:38; 26:18, in each of which the
RV
has “remission.” Eleven
times it is followed by “of sins,” and once by “of trespasses.” It is never used of the
remission of sins in the Sept., but is especially connected with the Year of Jubilee (Lev.