---
title: Mark 2:7
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/mark-2-7/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/mark-2-7.md
type: verse
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
reference: Mark 2:7
testament: NT
section: Gospels
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# Mark 2:7

## Text (Berean Standard Bible)

> “Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

## NWT Wording of the Key Phrase

- NWT (2013 revision): "'Why is this man talking this way? He is blaspheming. Who can forgive sins except one, God?'"

## JW Usage

The Watchtower treats the scribes' question as a misunderstanding. They had a technically correct theology — only God can forgive sins — but they failed to recognise that Jesus had been delegated this authority by Jehovah. JW commentary frames v. 7 as the scribes incorrectly accusing Jesus of blasphemy when in fact he was acting within the limits of his Jehovah-given authority. The verse is read as a near-miss; Jesus and the scribes are both partly right.

## Protestant Usage

The scribes' theology is exactly correct: only God can forgive sins (compare Isaiah 43:25, Psalm 51:4). They state the law of divine prerogative, and Jesus does not contradict them. He does not say "actually, agents can also forgive sins on God's behalf." He accepts their premise and proceeds to demonstrate that he has the authority — by reading their thoughts (v. 8, a divine capacity per Jeremiah 17:10) and healing the paralytic with a word (v. 11, a divine power). The miracle proves the claim. The scribes were right that only God can forgive; Jesus showed he belongs in that category. Pair Mark 2:7 with Luke 5:21 (the parallel) for the same pattern.

## 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]
- [The Angel That Bore Jehovah's Name](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/acts-7-38-angel-name.md) — Acts 7:38, Exodus 23:20-23 — an angel who forgives sin and demands absolute obedience [Deity of Christ]
- [The Salvation-Name Dilemma](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/salvation-name-dilemma.md) — Old Testament — only Jehovah's name saves. New Testament — only Jesus' name saves. [Deity of Christ]
- [Yeshua — His Name Is "Jehovah Saves"](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/yeshua-jehovah-saves.md) — Matthew 1:21 — the bridge between the two saving names [Deity of Christ]