Question 37 · Salvation

What happens to a Christian who sins seriously after baptism?

What the sources show

Shepherd of Hermas c. 140 · Tertullian c. 203One more chance

In the second century, Hermas and the young Tertullian allowed one repentance after baptism, and only one. ¹²

Tertullian c. 215Not forgiven by the Church

Rigorists, including the later Tertullian and the followers of Novatian, refused to readmit adulterers or those who denied Christ under persecution. ³⁴

Cyprian of Carthage c. 252 · Gregory of Nyssa c. 390 · Council of Trent 1547Can be restored

The bishops chose mercy: after long penance, the lapsed were readmitted, and no dying penitent was refused communion. Trent called penance the "second plank after shipwreck". ⁶⁷¹⁰

The answers given:

ApostolicBefore NicaeaNicaea and afterMiddle AgesReformation to today

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Apostolic Fathers

30–150

140c. AD

One more chance

Shepherd of Hermas fl. c. 140 ADShepherd of Hermas Mandate 4.3.6

But I tell you, he said, after that great and holy calling, if anyone, tempted by the devil, sins, he has one repentance. But if he sins again and again and repents, it is of no use to such a person; he will hardly live.

Hermas, at Rome, announces one repentance for baptized sinners, against teachers who allowed none.

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Before Nicaea

150–325

203c. AD

One more chance

Tertullian c. 155–c. 220 ADOn Repentance 7.10

God, foreseeing these poisons of the devil, although the door of forgiveness has been shut and bolted with the bar of baptism, has let something still stand open. He has placed in the vestibule a second repentance, to open to those who knock: but now once only, because it is already the second time; and never again, because the last was in vain.

Written while Tertullian was still a Catholic.

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215c. AD

Not forgiven by the Church

Tertullian c. 155–c. 220 ADOn Modesty 1.6

I hear that an edict has even been published, and a peremptory one. The supreme pontiff, that is, the bishop of bishops, decrees: "I forgive the sins of adultery and fornication to those who have done penance." What an edict!

Tertullian, now a Montanist, mocks a bishop (of Rome or Carthage) for readmitting adulterers.

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215c. AD

Not forgiven by the Church

Tertullian c. 155–c. 220 ADOn Modesty 21.7

"But," you say, "the Church has power to forgive sins." This I acknowledge and set out even more, since I have the Paraclete himself in the new prophets saying: "The Church can forgive sin, but I will not, lest they commit others."

"The new prophets" are the Montanist prophets.

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250c. AD

Can be restored

Novatian fl. c. 250 ADLetter 30, from the Roman clergy to Cyprian 30.6

Let us pray for the lapsed, that they may be raised up... When they have understood their crime, let them meanwhile be willing to show us patience... Let them knock at the doors, but certainly not break them down. Let them come to the threshold of the church, but certainly not leap over it.

The Roman clergy, bishop-less after Fabian's martyrdom (250), wrote to Cyprian in Novatian's hand. This is his early, moderate voice, before his schism: no hasty medicine for the lapsed, but prayer, penance and patience, not despair.

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252c. AD

Can be restored

Cyprian of Carthage c. 200–258 ADLetter 57, from the council of Carthage to Cornelius 57.1

We had decided some time ago, dear brother, in shared counsel, that those who had been tripped up by the adversary in the persecution and had fallen and defiled themselves with forbidden sacrifices should do full penance for a long time, and if danger of sickness pressed, should receive peace at the point of death. For it was not right, nor did fatherly love and divine mercy allow, that the Church should be shut to those who knock.

After the persecution of Decius (250). Novatian at Rome refused to readmit the lapsed and began a rival church.

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Nicaea to Chalcedon

325–451

390c. AD

Can be restored

Gregory of Nyssa c. 335–c. 395 ADCanonical Letter to Letoius canon 5

If anyone dies before completing the time fixed by the canons, the kindness of the Fathers commands that he share in the holy things, and not be sent on that last long journey without provision for the way.

"The Fathers" here are Nicaea (canon 13). The same letter lets a bishop shorten the years of penance for a sincere convert.

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Reformation

1500–1700

1530AD

Can be restored

Augsburg Confession (Lutheran)Augsburg Confession Article 11

Concerning confession they teach that private absolution be retained in the churches, though enumeration of all offenses be not necessary in confession.

Article 11 keeps private absolution while dropping the medieval demand to list every sin: 'Who can understand his errors?' (Psalm 19:12).

1530AD

Can be restored

Augsburg Confession (Lutheran)Augsburg Confession Article 12

Touching repentance they teach that such as have fallen after baptism may find remission of sins at what time they are converted, whenever they come to repentance, and that the church should give absolution unto such as return to repentance. ... The Novatians are also condemned, who would not absolve such as had fallen after baptism, though they returned to repentance.

Article 12 answers Novatian's heirs directly: no fall after baptism puts a penitent sinner beyond absolution.

1547AD

Can be restored

Council of TrentSession 6, Decree on Justification Chapter 14

Those who by sin have fallen from the grace of justification they received can be justified again, when, moved by God, they take care to recover the lost grace through the sacrament of penance by the merit of Christ. This way of justification is the restoration of the fallen, which the holy Fathers fittingly called the second plank after the shipwreck of lost grace.

"Second plank after shipwreck" is Jerome's phrase (Letter 130.9).

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1646AD

Can be restored

Westminster AssemblyWestminster Confession of Faith 15.2, 4

By it, a sinner, out of the sight and sense not only of the danger, but also of the filthiness and odiousness of his sins, as contrary to the holy nature, and righteous law of God; and upon the apprehension of his mercy in Christ to such as are penitent, so grieves for, and hates his sins, as to turn from them all unto God, purposing and endeavoring to walk with him in all the ways of his commandments. ... As there is no sin so small, that it deserves damnation; so there is no sin so great, that it can bring damnation upon those who truly repent.

The Reformed answer: repentance unto life is always open; no sin, however great, damns the truly penitent.

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Witnesses not in the library yet

These writers also matter for this question. Their texts will join the timeline above once they are translated.

325
Council of Nicaea, Canons 8, 11–13
Rules for receiving the Novatianists and the lapsed, and viaticum for the dying.

How this page was made

Every early quote was read in its Greek or Latin and translated for this page by Claude (Opus 5.5) on 13 October 2026. Each line names the printed edition it was read from. A quote marked indirect does not state the answer outright; read its note. A writer's silence is never counted as an answer.