What is the etymology of the word forgiveness? What are some ancient examples of person-to-person forgiveness?
In Hebrew, the word salah means that offenses are wiped away from sight (God’s forgiveness of sin). The oldest preserved accounts of forgiveness are within the Hebrew scriptures. An example is in Genesis 37-45 (Joseph unconditionally forgives his half-brothers).
In Christianity, within the New Testament, two Koine Greek words appear in the context of person-to-person forgiveness. One is aphiemi (to forgive; a quality relationship is restored between God and the formerly sinful person). Another is agape (love; creative, forgiving love). An example of person-to-person forgiveness is the prodigal son in Luke 15: 11-32.
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