The polyvalence of and the two cognitive frames of forgiveness in the synoptic gospels

Abstract

Depending on whether God or a human is the forgiving agent in the Synoptic Gospels (and beyond), the verb valence of "forgive," differs in several ways. The present article argues that the differences are reflections in linguistic conventions of the cognition that only God can remove the substance of sin, while both God and humans can remit the moral debt of sin. Construction grammar, a linguistic theory which assumes that syntax and semantics are inseparable, is used in the analysis. Theological implications are discussed.