In contrast to the prevailing wisdom of many Christian and secular psychologists, biblical studies scholar T. Martin (1997) claims that a Christian has an obligation not to forgive an unrepentant offender. In this article, I analyze each of his points, offer more evidence from the writings of the early Church, and reach the following conclusion: Although we must always remember that reconciliation between victim and offender is the goal in Christian relationships, subtle distinctions between God's forgiveness of humans or the Church's reconciliation with offenders (on the one hand) and forgiveness between two individual Christians (on the other hand) allow us to maintain that Christians can and should forgive unrepentant offenders, at least as forgiveness is defined in the psychological tradition. I end with a series of forgiveness-related challenges and questions for scholars in biblical studies, theology, and psychology.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Ambrose of Milan., (1955). Letter XLI. In SchaffP., & WaceH. (Eds.), A select library of Nicene and Post-Nicene fathers of the Christian church, First series (Vol. 13, pp. 547–549). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
2.
Augustine of Hippo. (1888a). Sermons on selected lessons of the New Testament. In SchaffP. (Ed.), A select library of Nicene and Post-Nicene fathers of the Christian church, First series (Vol. 6). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing.
3.
Augustine of Hippo., (1888b). Homilies on the gospel of John. In SchaffP. (Ed.), A select library of Nicene and Post-Nicene fathers of the Christian church, First series (Vol. 7). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing.
4.
BassE., & DavisL. (1994). The courage to heal: A guide for women survivors of child sexual abuse (3rd ed.). NY: HarperCollins.
5.
ChrysostomJohn (1889). Homilies on Philemon: Homily I. In SchaffP. (Ed.), A select library of Nicene and Post-Nicene fathers of the Christian church, First series (Vol. 13, pp. 547–549). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing.
6.
Clement of Alexandria. (1885). Stromata: Book VII. In RobertsA., & DonaldsonJ., (Eds.), The Ante-Nicene Fathers: Translations of the writings of the fathers down to A.D. 325 (Vol. 2, pp. 523–556). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing.
7.
Educational Psychology Study Group. (1990). Must a Christian require repentance before forgiving?Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 9, 16–19.
8.
EnrightR. (1997, April/May). Is there a distinction between forgiving and reconciling?The World of Forgiveness, 1(2), 1–2.
9.
EnrightR. D., & CoyleC. T. (1998). Researching the process model of forgiveness within psychological interventions. In WorthingtonE. L.Jr. (Ed.), Dimensions of forgiveness: Psychological research and theological perspectives (pp. 139–161). Philadelphia, PA: Templeton Foundation Press.
10.
EnrightR. D., & the Human Development Study Group. (1991). The moral development of forgiveness. In KurtinesW. M., & GewirtzJ. L. (Eds.), Handbook of moral behavior and development. Volume I: Theory (pp. 123–152). Hillsdale, NJ: LEA.
11.
ForwardS. (1989). Toxic parents: Overcoming their hurtful legacy and reclaiming your life.NY: Bantam.
12.
GassinE. A. (1994, March). Forgiveness and psychological wholeness: A review of the empirical literature. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Christian Association for Psychological Studies, San Antonio, TX.
13.
GassinE. A. (1997, March). Receiving forgiveness as an exercise in moral education. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL.
14.
GassinE. A. (1998). Receiving forgiveness as moral education: A theoretical analysis and initial empirical investigation.Journal of Moral Education, 27, 71–87.
15.
HargraveT. D. (1994). Families and forgiveness: Healing wounds in the intergenerational family.NY: Brunner/Mazel.
16.
JonesL. G. (1995). Embodying forgiveness: A theological analysis.Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
17.
KislyL. (1995, February). Living in communion: An interview with Father Thomas Hopko.In Communion, pp. 1–5.
18.
MartinT. (1997). The Christian's obligation not to forgive.Expository Times, 108, 360–362.
19.
Maximos the Confessor., (1981). Third century on love. In PalmerG. E. H., SherrardP., & WareK. (Eds. & Trans.), The Philokalia: The complete text compiled by St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St. Markarios of Corinth, Vol. 2 (pp. 83–99). Boston: Faber and Faber.
20.
McCulloughM. E., SandageS. J., & WorthingtonE. L. (1997). To forgive is human: How to put your past in the past.Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity.
21.
SmedesL. B. (1996). The art of forgiving: When you need to forgive and don't know how.NY: Ballantine.
22.
SmithW. H. (1999, October 9). Watch and warn: Three trends that threaten the health of Christ's church.World, 14, 61.
23.
TaylorV. (1952). Forgiveness and reconciliation.London: Macmillan.
24.
Tertullian (1885). Against Marcion: Book IV. In RobertsA., & DonaldsonJ., (Ed.), The Ante-Nicene fathers: Translations of the writings of the fathers down to A.D. 325, Vol. 3 (pp. 345–423). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing.
