What is Forgiveness?:
The concept of forgiveness appears in the Bible under two terms: one refers to the relief of debts and one’s obligation to pay while the other refers to the reestablishment of some interpersonal relationship which was fractured due to a misdeed. God’s forgiveness of others is described using both terms, indicating that both concepts overlap to a significant degree.
Forgiveness and the Lord’s Prayer:
One of the most famous passages in the Lord’s Prayer asks for forgiveness while we must have the ability to forgive others. This prayer appears in two gospels, Matthew and Luke, but while the translation of both says “forgiveness,” the original terms are different: in Matthew, the forgiveness meant is that of debts while in Luke, the forgiveness is that of sins.
Forgiveness and Apology:
A prerequisite of forgiveness is often that someone apologize, yet apologizing is difficult. First, we risk being viewed as the instigator of unpleasantness. Second, we risk being ridiculed for our actions. Third, we risk being perceived as weak because we are the ones conceding. Fourth, we risk rejection and humiliation if the other person rejects our apology and refuses to forgive. Apologizing, then, can require a great deal of courage.
