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Roman Catholics and Evangelicals:

Agreements and Differences
by Norman L. Geisler and Ralph E. MacKenzie.

The authors highlight several important areas of agreement between Roman Catholics and Evangelical
Protestants. These shared beliefs form a foundation for dialogue and cooperation despite significant theological
differences. Below are the key similarities:

1. Belief in the Trinity

 Both groups affirm the doctrine of the Trinity: one God in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

2. The Deity of Christ

 Both Roman Catholics and Evangelicals believe in the full divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ,
affirming His role as the Son of God and Savior.

3. The Authority of the Bible

 Both traditions uphold the Bible as the inspired, infallible Word of God, though they differ in how it is
interpreted and whether tradition holds equal authority.

4. The Resurrection of Jesus

 Both agree on the bodily resurrection of Jesus as a central tenet of the Christian faith.

5. Salvation through Christ

 Both Roman Catholics and Evangelicals affirm that salvation is made possible only through the atoning
death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

6. Moral Teachings

 Both groups uphold similar moral and ethical teachings, including opposition to abortion, euthanasia,
and the redefinition of marriage.

7. The Importance of Evangelism

 Both traditions share a commitment to spreading the gospel and making disciples of Jesus Christ.

8. Belief in the Second Coming

 Both Roman Catholics and Evangelicals believe in the return of Christ at the end of time, though they
may differ in eschatological details.
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9. The Need for Grace

 Both agree that God’s grace is essential for salvation, though they differ in how grace is received and
applied.

10. The Role of the Church

 Both view the Church as an important institution established by Christ, though their understandings of
its nature and function differ.

11. Affirmation of Key Creeds

 Both traditions accept the core teachings of historic Christian creeds, such as the Apostles’ Creed and
the Nicene Creed.

The book emphasizes that while these agreements provide common ground for mutual respect and cooperation,
the doctrinal differences remain significant and should not be minimized. Nonetheless, these shared beliefs
highlight the deep roots both traditions have in the historic Christian faith.

Below is a summary of key differences highlighted in the book:

1. Authority of Scripture and Tradition

 Roman Catholics: Emphasize a dual-source view of authority, where Scripture and Sacred Tradition are
equally authoritative and are interpreted by the Magisterium (teaching authority of the Church).
 Evangelicals: Hold to sola scriptura (Scripture alone) as the ultimate authority in matters of faith and
practice, rejecting the equal authority of tradition.

2. Salvation and Justification

 Roman Catholics: Believe in salvation as a process involving faith, good works, and the sacraments.
Justification is seen as both an event and a process, where grace enables cooperation with God.
 Evangelicals: Teach salvation by grace through faith alone (sola fide). Justification is understood as a
one-time declarative act of God, not based on works.

3. The Role of the Sacraments

 Roman Catholics: Recognize seven sacraments as means of grace (e.g., Baptism, Eucharist,
Confirmation, etc.). The sacraments are essential for salvation.
 Evangelicals: Typically recognize only two ordinances (Baptism and the Lord's Supper), viewing them
as symbolic acts of obedience rather than channels of salvific grace.

4. The Church

 Roman Catholics: View the Catholic Church as the one true Church founded by Christ, with the Pope
as its supreme earthly head.
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 Evangelicals: Believe the Church is a spiritual body of all true believers in Christ, not confined to a
single institutional entity.

5. The Virgin Mary

 Roman Catholics: Hold doctrines such as the Immaculate Conception, Perpetual Virginity,
Assumption, and Mary as Mediatrix and Co-Redemptrix.
 Evangelicals: Honor Mary as the mother of Jesus but reject doctrines not explicitly supported by
Scripture, emphasizing Christ as the sole mediator.

6. Purgatory and Prayers for the Dead

 Roman Catholics: Teach the existence of purgatory, where souls undergo purification before entering
heaven, and practice prayers for the dead.
 Evangelicals: Reject the concept of purgatory and prayers for the dead, viewing them as unbiblical.

7. The Eucharist

 Roman Catholics: Believe in transubstantiation, where the bread and wine become the actual body and
blood of Christ.
 Evangelicals: Typically view the Lord’s Supper as symbolic, though some hold to a spiritual presence
of Christ.

8. The Role of Saints

 Roman Catholics: Venerate saints and teach that they can intercede for believers.
 Evangelicals: Do not venerate saints or believe in their intercession, emphasizing a direct relationship
with God through Christ.

9. Nature of the Gospel

 Roman Catholics: Include the sacraments and the Church’s teachings as part of the gospel message.
 Evangelicals: Focus on the message of salvation by faith in Christ alone.

The book also discusses areas of agreement, such as belief in the Trinity, the deity of Christ, the resurrection,
and the importance of moral living, but it stresses the theological and doctrinal divides that continue to separate
the two traditions.

Sola Scriptura
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The doctrine of sola scriptura (Scripture alone) asserts that the Bible is the sole and ultimate authority for
Christian faith and practice. Advocates of sola scriptura, particularly in the Protestant tradition, present several
key arguments in its favor:

1. Biblical Basis for Scripture’s Authority

 Supporters argue that the Bible itself teaches its sufficiency and authority:
o 2 Timothy 3:16-17: "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for
every good work."
 This passage is interpreted to mean that Scripture provides everything necessary for faith
and life.
o Acts 17:11: The Bereans are commended for examining the Scriptures daily to test Paul’s
teachings, suggesting Scripture’s role as the standard of truth.
 Matthew 15:3-6: Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for elevating human traditions above God's Word,
underscoring the primacy of Scripture.

2. Rejection of Human Tradition

 Proponents of sola scriptura argue that human traditions are fallible and can lead to error. They cite
examples where traditions or teachings of the Church have deviated from or contradicted Scripture.
 They claim that making tradition an equal or superior authority to Scripture risks undermining the
Bible’s divine authority.

3. Clarity and Accessibility of Scripture

 The doctrine of the perspicuity of Scripture holds that the essential teachings of the Bible are clear and
understandable to all believers, not just to clergy or theologians.
 While certain passages may require careful study, sola scriptura emphasizes that the core message of
salvation and Christian living is accessible without reliance on extrabiblical authorities.

4. Historical Evidence of Biblical Sufficiency

 Advocates argue that the early Church relied primarily on Scripture, particularly the Old Testament, as
the foundation of its teaching.
 The apostolic writings (now the New Testament) were treated as authoritative from their inception, and
early Christian leaders frequently appealed to Scripture to resolve doctrinal disputes.

5. The Danger of Adding to Scripture

 Proponents point to biblical warnings against adding to or altering God’s Word:

o Deuteronomy 4:2: "You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it."
o Revelation 22:18-19: A warning against adding to or taking away from the words of prophecy in
Scripture.
 These warnings are interpreted as a prohibition against elevating tradition or extrabiblical teachings to
the level of Scripture.

6. Unity in Scripture as the Final Authority

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 Advocates argue that sola scriptura provides a single, unchanging standard for faith and practice,
whereas reliance on tradition can lead to subjective or culturally influenced interpretations.
 By grounding faith solely in the Bible, Protestants seek to avoid the doctrinal fragmentation they
associate with competing traditions or ecclesiastical authorities.

7. The Example of Jesus and the Apostles

 Jesus and the apostles frequently appealed to Scripture as the ultimate authority in theological debates:
o Jesus quoted Scripture in response to challenges (e.g., Matthew 4:1-11 during His temptation).
o The apostles used Scripture to explain and defend the gospel message (e.g., Acts 2, Acts 13).

8. Scripture’s Inspiration and Perfection

 The Bible is viewed as the divinely inspired Word of God (2 Peter 1:21), making it uniquely
authoritative and trustworthy.
 Since Scripture is the Word of God, it is seen as complete and not requiring supplementation by tradition
or ecclesiastical decrees.

In summary, proponents of sola scriptura argue that Scripture is the sole, sufficient, and final authority for
Christian faith and practice based on its divine inspiration, clarity, and historical role in guiding the Church.
They see reliance on Scripture alone as the best safeguard against doctrinal error and a means of preserving the
purity of the gospel.

Roman Catholics do not believe in

Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone)

as the sole authority for faith and practice because of their theological understanding of the relationship between
Scripture, Tradition, and the teaching authority of the Church. Below are the key reasons for this position:

1. The Role of Sacred Tradition

 Roman Catholics believe in the equal authority of Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. They hold that
divine revelation comes through both the written Word (Scripture) and the oral teachings handed down
from the apostles (Tradition).
 Tradition is seen as a living transmission of the faith, guided by the Holy Spirit, which complements and
helps interpret Scripture.

2. The Development of the Canon

 Roman Catholics point out that the Bible itself does not contain a list of its own books. The canon of
Scripture was formally recognized by the Church, particularly at councils such as those of Hippo (393
AD) and Carthage (397 AD) and affirmed later at the Council of Trent (1546).
 They argue that the Church, through its authority, played a critical role in discerning which books were
divinely inspired, making it illogical to rely on Scripture alone without recognizing the authority of the
Church.
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3. Interpretive Authority

 Catholics believe that the Bible requires an authoritative interpreter to prevent misinterpretations and
doctrinal errors. The Magisterium (the teaching authority of the Pope and bishops) is viewed as the
divinely appointed interpreter of both Scripture and Tradition.
 Without such an authority, they argue, differing interpretations of Scripture can lead to doctrinal
fragmentation, as seen in Protestant denominations.

4. Scriptural Basis Against Sola Scriptura

 Catholics point to passages in Scripture that emphasize the role of oral teaching and tradition:
o 2 Thessalonians 2:15: "So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were
taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter."
o 1 Timothy 3:15: Describes the Church as "the pillar and foundation of truth."
 These verses are interpreted as evidence that divine revelation is not confined to the written Word but
also includes oral Tradition and the Church’s authority.

5. Historical Practice of the Church

 Before the New Testament was completed and widely available, the early Christian community relied on
apostolic preaching and teaching, which were passed down orally. This reflects the importance of
Tradition alongside Scripture.
 The Bible was not accessible to most people until the invention of the printing press, and for centuries,
the Church played a central role in teaching and preserving Christian doctrine.

6. Unity of the Faith

 Catholics believe that reliance on both Scripture and Tradition, guided by the Magisterium, ensures
unity in doctrine and prevents divisions that can arise from private interpretations of Scripture.

In summary, Roman Catholics reject sola scriptura because they see Scripture, Tradition, and the Church’s
teaching authority as interconnected and essential for preserving and transmitting the fullness of divine
revelation. They argue that relying on Scripture alone is inconsistent with the Bible's own teachings and the
historical development of the Christian faith.