Binding and Loosing in Early Christian Church Authority
Early Christians linked binding and loosing to real church authority, especially in forgiving sins, judging offenders, and keeping church order. Cyprian and the Apostolic Constitutions apply it to bishops, while Tertullian and Origen discuss Peter and the apostles. Key Bible passages are Matthew 16:19, Matthew 18:18, and John 20:23. The teaching is strong that this was seen as an active church power, but the exact scope was debated.
115 early-church witnesses · 220 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about binding and Loosing in Church Authority?
Early Christian writings connect binding and loosing to real church authority, but they do not all place that authority the same way. Cyprian and the Apostolic Constitutions apply binding and loosing to bishops and church order, while Tertullian and Origen connect the words first to Peter and then discuss how that authority works. The Bible passages most often tied to the topic are Matthew 16:19, Matthew 18:18, John 20:23, and the church-order texts in Hebrews 13:17.
The overall picture is broad and strong for some kind of binding-and-loosing authority in the church, but mixed on whether it belongs only to Peter, to the apostles, or to bishops as their successors. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Early Christians often read binding and loosing as authority to forgive, retain, and correct sins.
- Cyprian and the Apostolic Constitutions apply this authority to bishops and church leadership.
- Tertullian argues Peter received the keys personally, while Origen widens the discussion to 'every Peter.'
Questions Answered by the Sources
Did early Christians say binding and loosing was given to Peter personally?
Several early writers read Matthew 16:19 as a personal grant to Peter, linking the keys and the power to bind and loose specifically to him. Origen also discusses the saying as given to Peter, and Tatian preserves the Bible passage in Gospel form.
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Tertullian, On Modesty Direct teaching
...r loosed on earth shall be bound or loosed in the heavens," you therefore presume that the power of binding and loosing has come down to you, that is, to every church akin to Peter, what sort of man are you, subverting and wholly changing the manifest intention of the Lord, conferring this gift, as that intention did, personally upon Peter? He says, "On you I will build My Church," and, "I will give to you the keys," not to the Church; and, "Whatever you shall have loosed or bound," not what they shall have loosed or bound. For the result also teaches this. In Peter himself the Church was reared, that is, through Peter himself. Peter himself first used the key. You see what key: "Men of Israel, let what I say sink into your ears: Jesus the Nazarene, a man destined by God for you," and so forth. Therefore Peter himself was the first to unbar, in Christ's baptism, the entrance to the heavenly kingdom. In that kingdom, the sins that were previously bound are loosed, and those that have not been loosed are bound, in accordance with true salvation. And he bound Ananias with the bond of death, and he absolved the man weak in his feet from his defect of health. Moreover, in that disput
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Tertullian, On Prescription Against Heretics Direct teaching
Was anything withheld from the knowledge of Peter, who is called the rock on which the church should be built, who also obtained the keys of the kingdom of heaven, with the power of loosing and binding in heaven and on earth?
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Tertullian, On Modesty Supporting witness
Hence the power of loosing and of binding committed to Peter had nothing to do with the capital sins of believers;
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Tertullian, On Modesty Direct teaching
or, Whatsoever you shall have bound or loosed in earth, shall be bound or loosed in the heavens, you therefore presume that the power of binding and loosing has derived to you, that is, to every Church akin to Peter, what sort of man are you, subverting and wholly changing the manifest intention of the Lord, conferring (as that intention did) this (gift) personally upon Peter?
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Origen, Commentary on Matthew Direct teaching
... after this, let us see in what sense it is said to Peter, and to every Peter, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 16:19). First, I think that the saying, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven," is spoken in a way consistent with the words, "The gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). For he is worthy to receive from the same Word the keys of the kingdom of heaven, who is strengthened against the gates of Hades so that they do not prevail against him. He receives, as it were, as a prize, the keys of the kingdom of heaven, because the gates of Hades had no power against him, so that he might open for himself the gates that were closed to those who had been conquered by the gates of Hades. And he enters, as a temperate man, through an opened gate, the gate of temperance, by the key that opens temperance. And as a righteous man, he enters by another gate, the gate of righteousness, which is opened by the key of righteousness. And so it is with the rest of the virtues. For I think that for every virtue of knowledge, certain mysteries of wisdom are opened up to him who has lived according to virtue, corresponding to the kind
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Tatian, The Diatessaron Background
...ather who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Cephas, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. To you I will give the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Then he strictly commanded his disciples and warned them not to tell anyone about him, that he was the Messiah. From now on Jesus began to show his disciples that he was determined to go to Jerusalem and suffer much, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and on the third day rise. And he was speaking plainly. Then Simon Cephas, grieving for him, said, "May that be far from you, my Lord." But he turned and looked at his disciples, and rebuked Simon, and said, "Get behind me, Satan. You are a stumbling block to me, because you are not thinking of what pertains to God, but of what pertains to men."
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Origen, Commentary on Matthew Supporting witness
Matthew 16:19 And, in the first place, I think that the saying, I will give unto you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, is spoken in consistency with the words, The gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
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Tatian, The Diatessaron Supporting witness
Matthew 16:19 To you will I give the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
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Origen, Commentary on Matthew Supporting witness
Wherefore he has the keys of the kingdom of heaven, opening to those who have been loosed on earth that they may be also loosed in heaven, and free;
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Origen, Commentary on Matthew Supporting witness
Matthew 16:18 Are the keys of the kingdom of heaven given by the Lord to Peter only, and will no other of the blessed receive them?
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Tertullian, On Modesty Supporting witness
If, because the Lord has said to Peter, Upon this rock will I build My Church, to you have I given the keys of the heavenly kingdom;
Did early Christians apply binding and loosing to bishops and church leaders?
Other early sources apply the language of binding and loosing to bishops, especially in the context of judging offenders, restoring the fallen, and governing the church. The Apostolic Constitutions explicitly say bishops received both powers, and Cyprian links the church's ordering to these texts.
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Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching
...d says, "As the Father has sent me, even so I send you. Receive the Holy Spirit. Whoever's sins you remit, they shall be remitted to him, and whoever's sins you retain, they shall be retained," John 20:21 yet, so that He might set forth unity, by His authority He arranged the origin of that unity as beginning from one. Certainly the rest of the apostles also were the same as Peter, endowed with an equal share of honor and power; but the beginning proceeds from unity. The Holy Spirit also pointed out this one Church in the Song of Songs, speaking in the person of our Lord, and says, "My dove, my spotless one, is but one. She is the only one of her mother, chosen of her who bore her." Song of Songs 6:9 Does the one who does not hold this unity of the Church think that he holds the faith? Does the one who strives against and resists the Church trust that he is in the Church, when the blessed Apostle Paul also teaches the same thing and sets forth the sacrament of unity, saying, "There is one body and one Spirit, one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God"? Ephesians 4:4
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Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Supporting witness
...rit upon my servants and my handmaids.” And the Lord said, “Receive the Holy Spirit: whose sins you remit, they shall be remitted; and whose you retain, they shall be retained.” But this Holy Spirit the Lord Christ at one time calls the Paraclete, and at another declares to be the Spirit of truth. And He is not new in the Gospel, nor was He newly given. For it was He Himself who accused the people in the prophets, and in the apostles gave them the appeal to the Gentiles. For the former deserved to be accused because they had despised the law. And those of the Gentiles who believe deserve to be helped by the defense of the Spirit, because they earnestly desire to attain to the law of the Gospel. Certainly, in the Spirit there are different kinds of offices, because in the times there is a different order of occasions. Yet because of this, He who carries out these offices is not different, nor is He another in acting this way. Rather, He is one and the same, distributing His offices according to the times, the occasions, and the impulses of things. Moreover, the Apostle Paul says, “Having the same Spirit; as it is written, I believed, and therefore I have spoken; we also believe,
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Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Supporting witness
...rit upon my servants and my handmaids.” And the Lord said, “Receive the Holy Spirit: whose sins you remit, they shall be remitted; and whose you retain, they shall be retained.” But this Holy Spirit the Lord Christ at one time calls the Paraclete, and at another declares to be the Spirit of truth. And He is not new in the Gospel, nor was He even then newly given. For it was He Himself who accused the people in the prophets, and in the apostles gave them the appeal to the Gentiles. For the former deserved to be accused, because they had despised the law. And those of the Gentiles who believe deserve to be aided by the defense of the Spirit, because they eagerly desire to attain to the Gospel law. Certainly, in the Spirit there are different kinds of offices, because in the times there is a different order of occasions. Yet because of this, He who carries out these offices is not different, nor is He another in doing so. He is one and the same, distributing His offices according to the times, and the occasions and impulses of things. Moreover, the Apostle Paul says, “Having the same Spirit; as it is written, ‘I believed, and therefore I have spoken’; we also believe, and therefore
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Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. Mark Supporting witness
...reathed on their faces and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. Whosever sins you remit, they are remitted to them; and whosever sins you retain, they are retained.” Breathe also Your Holy Spirit upon us Your servants, who are standing around and are about to enter on Your holy service: upon the bishops, elders, deacons, readers, singers, and laity, with the entire body of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.
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Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. James Supporting witness
... who was a sinner, who gave healing to the paralytic along with the remission of his sins: forgive, remit, and pardon, O God, our offenses, voluntary and involuntary, in knowledge and in ignorance, by transgression and by disobedience, which Your all-holy Spirit knows better than Your servants do.
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Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching
...said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sins, they will be forgiven; if you retain anyone's sins, they will be retained." John 20:21-23 In this place He shows that only the one who has the Holy Spirit can baptize and give forgiveness of sins. Moreover, John, who was to baptize Christ our Lord Himself, received the Holy Spirit beforehand while he was still in his mother's womb, so that it might be certain and clear that no one can baptize except those who have the Holy Spirit. Therefore those who support heretics or schismatics must answer us whether they have the Holy Spirit or not. If they have Him, why are hands laid on those who were baptized among them when they come to us, so that they may receive the Holy Spirit, since He must surely have been received there, where, if He was there, He could also be given? But if heretics and schismatics who baptize outside do not have the Holy Spirit, and for that reason hands are laid on them among us, so that what is neither there nor can be given there may be received here, then it is also plain that forgiveness of sins cannot be given by those who certainly do not have the Holy Spirit. And therefore, so that ac
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Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness
...pentance? Therefore, He who is both Lord and a most gentle Father promises that He will forgive the sins of those who repent, and that He will blot out all the iniquities of the man who begins again to practice righteousness. For just as the uprightness of his past life is of no help to the man who lives badly, because his later wickedness has destroyed his works of righteousness, so also former sins do not stand in the way of the man who has corrected his life, because his later righteousness has wiped away the stain of his former life. For the man who repents of what he has done understands his former error. And for this reason the Greeks speak better and more meaningfully of metanoia, which we may express in Latin as a return to a right understanding. For he returns to a right understanding, and recovers his mind, as it were, from madness, when he is grieved over his error. He rebukes himself for his madness and strengthens his mind for a better way of life. Then he is especially on guard against this very thing, so that he may not be led again into the same snares. In short, even dumb animals, when they have been trapped by deceit, if they somehow get free and escape, become
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Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness
Matthew 16:19 And again, in the Gospel, when Christ breathed on the apostles alone, saying, Receive the Holy Ghost: whose soever sins you remit they are remitted unto them, and whose soever sins you retain they are retained.
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Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness
And I will give unto you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
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Tatian, The Diatessaron Supporting witness
...o them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive any man's sins, they shall be forgiven him. If you retain them against any man, they shall be retained.”
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Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Supporting witness
And the Lord said, Receive the Holy Ghost: whose sins you remit, they shall be remitted;
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Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Supporting witness
And the Lord said, Receive the Holy Ghost: whose sins you remit, they shall be remitted;
More related quotations from this section 8 shown
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John 20:23 Direct teaching
Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
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Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness
Mercy has a great reward; for God promises it, that He will remit all sins.
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Luke 24:47 Supporting witness
and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
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Hermas, Connection to Hebrews 10:17 Background
And when the Lord saw that their repentance was good and pure, and that they were able to remain in it, He ordered their former sins to be blotted out.
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1 John 1:9 Background
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
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Hebrews 10:18 Background
Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.
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Hebrews 10:17 Background
And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
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Luke 7:48 Background
And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
Common Questions
Did early Christians think bishops could bind and loose sins?
Yes. Cyprian and the Apostolic Constitutions speak of bishops receiving power to bind and loose, and to remit sins.
Did early Christians think this authority belonged only to Peter?
Some writers, like Tertullian, argued that the words were given personally to Peter, while others applied them more broadly to church leaders.
Which Bible passages mattered most on binding and loosing?
Matthew 16:19, Matthew 18:18, and John 20:23 are the main passages tied to this topic.
Source Index for Binding and Loosing in Church Authority
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 220 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 115
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
Bible Passages 80 shown of 105
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.
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