The Spirit and Forgiveness

Ἵνα δείξῃ τὴν πρὸς ἑαυτὸν καὶ τὸν Πατέρα τοῦ παναγίου Πνεύματος ἔνωσιν, ὁ Κύριος ἡμῶν καὶ Δεσπότης, ἔφη τοῖς μαθηταῖς ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν ἀναστὰς, 'Λάβετε Πνεῦμα ἅγιον. Ἅν τινων ἀφῆτε τὰς ἁμαρτίας, ἀφίενται·' τῇ αὐθεντίᾳ δῆλον ὅτι οὖ λαμβάνετε Πνεύματος, τοῦ Θεῖκῶς συγχωρεῖν τὰ ἁμαρτήματα ἔχοντος. Ἅγιος Ἰσίδωρος Του Πηλουσιώτου, Βιβλιον Πρῶτον, Ἐπιστολή ϟΖ', Ὑμητιῳ

That He show the Holy Spirit and the Father were united to Himself, Our Lord and Master, risen from the dead, said to the disciples, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. When you forgive the sins of others they are forgiven.' 1 Clearly then by His authority, by which you receive His Spirit, having it divinely, you forgive sins. Saint Isidore of Pelusium, Book 1, Letter 97, to Hymetius 1 Jn 20 22-23