I don't think the thief's forgiveness was ever in dispute....otherwise Jesus would never have promised him that the would be with him in "paradise".
The story of the adulterous woman is disputed. Believed to be added later....but there is no doubt that Jehovah gave his son the authority to forgive sins on earth. In fact "all authority" was
given to him also in heaven, as he said in Matthew 28:18....
"And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."
.....hard to imagine that he didn't already have "all authority" if he was God incarnate....?
Luke 5:17-24...ESV
"17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. 18 And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, 19 but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.”
When did Jesus receive this "authority"?
I think you meant that the "new covenant" did not take effect until Jesus died...but baptism was an important component in becoming a Christian. John's baptism was a preliminary one in symbol of repentance for sins against God's Law.....those who were prepared by John's baptism, had to be baptized again as disciples of Christ.
Under the circumstances, the thief did not have the option to be baptized either way, but he did have reassurance that Jesus would resurrect him "in paradise".....not heaven. (John 5:28-29)
In Hebrews ch 9 there are two principal covenants mentioned.....the Law covenant and the new covenant. Paul refers to Christ’s mediating the new covenant. (Heb 9:15) His words at Heb 9:16 have been a subject of controversy among Bible scholars. Accordingly, the text has been rendered in the following ways:
“For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.” (
KJ)
“For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established.” (RS)
“For where a covenant is it is necessary for the death to be brought in of him that hath covenanted.” (
Ro)
“For where there is a covenant, the death of the human covenanter needs to be furnished.” (
NW)
“For where a covenant is, the death of the covenant-victim to come in is necessary.” (
Yg)
“For where a Covenant exists, the Death of that which has ratified it is necessary to be produced.” (
ED)
“For where a covenant is, there is a necessity for the death of that which establisheth the covenant.”—
The New Testament in an Improved Version.
I like the rendering in the RS the best because I believe that it conveys the idea way better than the others....we all understand what a will is and how the person has to die before the will can be executed. The new covenant was like that.
The words "testament" and "covenant" are not words we are familiar with in the 21st century, so I believe that this scripture would confuse a lot of people.