---
title: Mark 2:10
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/mark-2-10/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/mark-2-10.md
type: verse
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
reference: Mark 2:10
testament: NT
section: Gospels
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# Mark 2:10

## Text (Berean Standard Bible)

> But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” He said to the paralytic,

## NWT Wording of the Key Phrase

- NWT (2013 revision): "But in order for you to know that the Son of man has authority to forgive sins on earth—' he said to the paralytic:"

## JW Usage

The Watchtower reads "the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" as a delegated authority claim. Jesus has been given the right to forgive sins by Jehovah; he is acting as Jehovah's appointed agent. The verse is read as Jesus legitimately exercising a Jehovah-granted prerogative, not as evidence that he holds divine identity.

## Protestant Usage

Notice what Jesus does not say. He does not say "the Son of Man has been given authority by Jehovah to forgive sins." He does not say "I declare forgiveness on Jehovah's behalf." He says "the Son of Man has authority… to forgive sins" — first person, his own authority, applied to the divine prerogative the scribes have just correctly identified as belonging to God alone. The miracle that follows in v. 11 is the proof: Jesus heals the paralytic with a word, demonstrating that the authority he claims is real. Pair Mark 2:10 with Daniel 7:13-14 (the Son of Man receives universal eternal dominion) — Jesus's "Son of Man" self-designation is not a humility marker but a claim to the Daniel-7 figure who exercises divine authority over all peoples and tribes.

## Arguments Using This Verse

- [Jesus Forgives Sins — Only God Can Do That](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/jesus-forgives-sins.md) — Mark 2:5-12 [Deity of Christ]