Read 2 Cor. 5:14-21 for a complete understanding of reconciliation.
It says nothing about a priest being able to remit or retain sins. It says nothing about retaining sins at all. It says nothing about "The Church" acting in any way between man and God.
Absolutely.
Do you really think Paul means to have you throw away the clear words of Jesus himself in John 20:22? Who is the "disciple," and who is the "master"? Was Paul crucified for you?
It says nothing about a priest being able to remit or retain sins. It says nothing about retaining sins at all. It says nothing about "The Church" acting in any way between man and God.
On the contrary. In 2 Cor. 5:18, the ministry of reconciliation was given to the ambassadors of the Church. This ministry of reconciliation refers to the sacrament of reconciliation, also called the sacrament of confession or penance. And the sacrament comes from the Book of John
In John 20:21, before He grants the Apostles the authority to forgive sins, Jesus says to them, "as the Father sent me, so I send you." As Christ was sent by the Father to forgive sins, so Christ sends the apostles and their successors forgive sins.
In the next verse, John 20:22, the Lord "breathes" on the apostles, and then gives them the power to forgive and retain sins. The only other moment in Scripture where God breathes on man is in Gen. 2:7, when the Lord "breathes" divine life into man. When this happens, a significant transformation takes place.
Then, in John 20:23, Jesus says, "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained." In order for the apostles to exercise this gift of forgiving sins, the penitents must orally confess their sins to them because the apostles are not mind readers. The text makes this very clear.
Your bible also contains the Book of John, doesn't it?