DEFINITION OF TERMS - FORGIVE (APHIEMI)

Word Information

Word: Aphiemi (Gk)
English: Forgive

Source: Thayer’s Greek Lexicon of the New Testament
Author: Joseph H. Thayer

And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Luke 11:4

Thayer’s Definitions:

to send away
to yield up, to expire
to let go, let alone, let be to disregard
to omit, neglect
to let go, give up a debt, forgive, to remit
to depart from any one; abandon, leave destitute

Explanation

This word basically means “to send away”. It is translated 52 times as “leave” and 47 times as “forgive” in the New Testament.
Forgiveness entails ‘letting go’ of our rights to retribution/vengeance against those who have wronged us.
It’s like canceling a debt.

Mark 2:7 Context

“Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive (“aphiemi”) sins but God only?“
The Scribes were angered that Jesus ‘forgave’ sins this way. Yet, the Lord shows us the authority given to mankind to ‘remove’ or ‘retain’ the guilt of others, as well as the effects on our forgiveness as received from the Lord.

Mark 2:8-12

But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His Spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”-He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, Saying, “We never saw anything like this!”