What Does “Penance” Mean in the Bible?
To repent and change one’s life. Other Bibles say “repentance” here.
It can mean
- In Mark 1:4: to change one’s life, to turn back to God.
- In the Church: the sacrament of Penance, which is also called confession or reconciliation.
- Also: the prayer or good work the priest asks of you after confession, to make up for the sin.
Where it appears in the Bible
Mark 1:4
What the Bible says
Mark 1:4
John was in the desert baptizing, and preaching the baptism of penance, unto remission of sins.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
Source: Catechism 535, 1423-1424 and 1459-1460