
Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emerged in the 16th century as a reaction to the perceived errors, abuses, and discrepancies of the Roman Catholic Church. The movement was sparked by Martin Luther, who published his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517, criticising the sale of indulgences by the Catholic Church, which purported to offer the remission of sins to their purchasers.
Protestants follow the theological tenets of the Protestant Reformation, emphasising the justification of sinners by grace through faith alone, the priesthood of all believers, and the Bible as the sole infallible source of authority. They reject the idea of a celibate priesthood and instead advocate for a form of government in society that respects different opinions and acknowledges freedom of conscience.
The term protestant comes from the letter of protestation from German Lutheran princes in 1529 against an edict condemning Martin Luther's teachings as heretical. Over time, the term took on a broader sense, referring to any adherent of a Western church that subscribed to the main Protestant principles.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Faith Alone | Salvation is by faith alone, through grace alone, in Christ alone |
Scripture Alone | The Bible is the "Sola Skriptura", God's only book |
Reform Without Ceasing | The church is always in need of reform |
Universal Priesthood | The government of the Church is shared between the clergy and the laity |
Salvation | God gives unconditional grace |
Worship | God is a God of freedom |
Eucharist | The Lord's Supper is open to all baptised people |
What You'll Learn
- Protestants believe in salvation by faith alone, through grace alone, in Christ alone
- Protestants believe in the Bible as the highest source of authority for the church
- Protestants reject the idea of papal primacy
- Protestants believe in the priesthood of all believers
- Protestants reject the Catholic veneration of saints and the Virgin Mary
Protestants believe in salvation by faith alone, through grace alone, in Christ alone
Protestants believe that salvation is by faith alone, through grace alone, in Christ alone. This is a central tenet of the Protestant faith, and it distinguishes Protestants from Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians.
The doctrine of sola fide, or justification by faith alone, asserts that God's pardon for guilty sinners is granted to and received through faith alone, excluding all "works" (good deeds). It is God's input that saves mankind from sin, and without it, mankind's actions and omissions are afflicted by the curse, and most would face God's wrath.
According to the doctrine, God sent his only Son in human form to be reborn in all of mankind, so through Jesus Christ alone (solus Christus) sinners may receive pardon (justification). This justification is not dependent on the thoughts, words, and deeds of those justified through faith alone in Christ. It is a divine verdict of acquittal pronounced on the believing sinner.
The doctrine of sola fide is a tenet of most Lutheran and Reformed churches but is not affirmed by the Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox churches.
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Protestants believe in the Bible as the highest source of authority for the church
Protestantism emerged in the 16th century as a reaction to perceived errors, abuses, and discrepancies in the Catholic Church. The movement's founder, Martin Luther, believed in a critical yet serious reading of scripture, holding the Bible as a source of authority higher than that of church tradition.
Protestants believe that the Bible is the Word of God, and that it is the only infallible source of authority for Christian faith and practice. They believe that the Bible is clear and accessible to people of average intelligence, and that it is sufficient for all matters of belief and practice.
Protestants also believe in the Priesthood of all Believers, which means that all Christians have a direct connection with God and are thus able to interpret the Bible for themselves. This has resulted in a proliferation of Protestant denominations, each with its own interpretation of scripture.
While Protestants believe that the Bible is the ultimate authority, they also recognise the importance of history and tradition in interpreting scripture. They believe that the Bible should be interpreted in light of the context in which it was written, and that the guidance of scholars and theologians can be helpful in understanding more difficult passages.
In summary, Protestants hold the Bible as the highest source of authority, but they also recognise the value of community interpretation and the insights of trained theologians.
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Protestants reject the idea of papal primacy
Protestants also believe in the priesthood of all believers, which gives the same value to every baptised Christian. This is in contrast to the Catholic Church, which puts the essence and authority of the Church in an exclusive priesthood.
The idea of papal primacy is also at odds with the Protestant belief in justification by faith alone. Protestants believe that believers are justified, or pardoned for sin, solely on the condition of faith in Christ, rather than a combination of faith and good works.
Protestants also reject the idea that the pope has "full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church", as stated in the Catholic Church's 1983 Code of Canon Law. They believe that the pope's power should be limited and that he should be subject to higher human jurisdiction.
Finally, Protestants do not accept the Catholic Church's claim that the pope's primacy was established by Jesus and is of divine institution. They argue that the pope's primacy was established by humans and is subject to change.
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Protestants believe in the priesthood of all believers
Protestants believe in the universal priesthood of all believers, which gives the same value to every baptised Christian. This belief was one of the most innovative principles of the Reformation Movement.
The government of the Church is shared between the clergy and the laity. Pastors do not have a special status in the Church. They play a particular role because they have studied theology at university. Pastors aim for unity within their Church, preach, celebrate the sacraments, organise the life of the community, and give pastoral care in times of need and theological training to their parishioners.
The doctrine of the priesthood of all believers states that all believers in Christ share in his priestly status. Therefore, there is no special class of people who mediate the knowledge, presence, and forgiveness of Christ to the rest of the believers. All believers have the right and authority to read, interpret, and apply the teachings of Scripture.
This belief stands in opposition to the concept of a spiritual aristocracy or hierarchy within Christianity. It is also distinguished from the concept of the priesthood of all believers, which did not grant individuals the right to interpret the Bible apart from the Christian community at large because universal priesthood opened the door to such a possibility.
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Protestants reject the Catholic veneration of saints and the Virgin Mary
Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emerged in the 16th century, emphasising the 'justification of sinners by grace through faith alone', the 'priesthood of all believers', and the Bible as the 'sole infallible source of authority for Christian faith and practice'. The movement was sparked by Martin Luther, who sought to reform the Catholic Church from perceived errors, abuses, and discrepancies.
Protestants believe that a person's value does not depend on their qualities, merits, or social position, but on God's free gift of love. Humans cannot hope to deserve salvation through their own efforts to please God. Instead, God gives humans His unconditional grace. This free gift of God's love enables humans, in turn, to love their fellow humans without asking anything in return.
Protestants only acknowledge the authority of the Holy Scripture, which can strengthen their faith and is the ultimate reference on issues of theology, ethics, and the institution of the Church.
The universal priesthood of believers is one of the most innovative principles of the Reformation Movement. It gives the same value to every baptised Christian. The government of the Church is shared between the clergy and the laity. Pastors play a particular role because they have studied theology at university, but they do not have a special status in the Church.
The early Protestants, including Martin Luther and John Calvin, did not reject the idea of respecting and honouring Mary, but they were concerned with the Catholic Church's degree of honour given to her. They believed that the high esteem in which Mary was held distracted from the worship of God and could even be considered idolatry.
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Frequently asked questions
Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emerged in the 16th century as a reaction to the Roman Catholic Church. It is characterised by a belief in the Bible as the sole infallible source of authority, the priesthood of all believers, and justification of sinners by grace through faith alone.
While both Protestants and Catholics agree on who Jesus is, there are several differences between the two denominations. These include their understanding of the Bible, the church, salvation, grace, the Eucharist, the priesthood, and the veneration of saints and the Virgin Mary.
Protestants believe that God is the only source of holiness, divinity, and absolute authority. They believe that God's love is a free gift that gives every human being inestimable worth. They also believe that faith arises from a personal encounter with God and that the Bible is the ultimate reference on issues of theology, ethics, and the institution of the Church.
Protestantism emerged in the 16th century as a reaction to perceived abuses within the Roman Catholic Church. The movement was largely driven by Martin Luther, who published his "Ninety-Five Theses" in 1517 as a reaction against the sale of indulgences by the Catholic Church. Luther's teachings spread throughout Europe, leading to the establishment of various Protestant denominations, including Lutheranism, Calvinism, Anglicanism, and Anabaptism.