Roman Catholic Theology and Practice: An Evangelical Assessment

by Gregg R. Allison

In this balanced volume, Gregg Allison—an evangelical theologian and church historian—helps readers understand the nuances of Roman Catholic teaching. Walking through the official Catechism of the Catholic Church, Allison summarizes and assesses Catholic doctrine from the perspective of both Scripture and evangelical theology.

Noting prominent similarities without glossing over key differences, this book will equip Christians on both sides of the ecclesiastical divide to fruitfully engage in honest dialogue with one another.

Genres: Theology, Catholic, Nonfiction, Christian, Ecclesiology, Church History, Christianity

496 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2014

About the author

Gregg R. Allison (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is professor of Christian theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is secretary of the Evangelical Theological Society, a book review editor for the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, an elder at Sojourn Community Church, and a theological strategist for Sojourn Network. Allison has taught at several colleges and seminaries, including Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon, and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois, and is the author of numerous books, including Historical Theology: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine, Sojourners and Strangers: The Doctrine of the Church, and Roman Catholic Theology and Practice: An Evangelical Assessment.

Reviews

[Mrs. Angie Vogt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Professor Allison has managed to do what no other evangelical writer has done before; he has provided a thorough, accurate, and charitable response to the most current body of official Catholic teaching, The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). When I first discovered this book at a university bookstore, I smirked with the usual Catholic response. “What kind of anti-Catholic screed will this be?” Upon reviewing the table of contents, I was genuinely intrigued. The book is divided into parts that correspond to the four major parts of the CCC.
Dr. Allison sets up a framework that was most helpful to me at the beginning of his book by analyzing Catholic theology as "a coherent and all-encompassing system." Two fundamental axioms are what he refers to as "Nature-Grace Interdependence" and the "Christ-Church interconnection" that underlie every aspect of Catholic covenant belief and practice. So organically woven into all Catholic thought, these presuppositions are at the heart of what makes Catholic-Evangelical dialogue so difficult. In fact, he refers back to these two principles throughout the book.
What I appreciate most about this book, besides the scholarship and thoughtfulness, is how respectful and serious Allison is. His contention is that while Evangelicals and Catholics can indeed celebrate the fact that there is more in common than there is in difference, those differences are still significant. For serious Christians interested in examining their own theological assumptions, this is a must read.

[Christian Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an impressive work that that walks through the Roman Catholic catechism and provides detailed analysis from an evangelical perspective. If you are wanting an accurate presentation of Roman Catholic thought, this is a worthwhile read.

[Landon Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book on and off. It is by far the best treatment on Roman Catholic theology from an evangelical perspective. The first few chapters that talk about the nature-grace interdependence and Christ-church interconnection are crucial and worth the whole book. The appendix on evangelical ministries to catholics gives some practical tips for evangelism and discipleship.

Overall, I highly recommend.

[Philip Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

“…Catholics who are journeying toward evangelicalism, and evangelicals who are journeying toward Catholicism, need to know what they are getting themselves into. I am not unaware of the reality that one of the most decisive factors in these journeys between faiths is the counsel of a spiritual guide or mentor from the faith toward which the person is traveling. A corollary of this fact is that the doctrinal and practical issues that are the focus of this book may not play the key role in the decision making process; indeed, they may exercise little influence on the move. This reality, however, does not make theological matters any less important, because when evangelicals become Catholic, for example, they must accept Catholic theology in its entirety. Accordingly, they must embrace the Catholic Church's Tradition and its Magisterium; the role of Mary as Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix; justification as not only a declaration of acquittal before God and the imputation of Christ's righteousness, but also as their ongoing progress in holiness; the commission of mortal sin as resulting in the loss of salvation and leading to eternal punishment in hell; no possibility of the assurance of salvation; the reality of purgatory; the infallibility of the pope and the episcopal college; the sacramental economy; transubstantiation; participation in the sacraments of the Church so as to receive divine grace, with which they must cooperate in order to merit eternal life; requirements that go beyond Scripture and that are necessary for salvation; and much more. If this book succeeds in underscoring the vast divide on the above issues that separates Catholicism and evangelicalism, as difficult as the process of critique has been, at least it will make people aware of the theological distance between the two, even if such issues are not at the heart of journeys of faith.”

This was super helpful. Will definitely be returning to this as a reference book, though probably not to read through from front to back again. This is the way interfaith discussion and assessment should go. Thoughtfully quoting, interacting with, and summarising the official documents that lay out a groups actual beliefs. In other words, twitter is a bad platform for doing this. I remember hearing a Trueman lecture years ago where he said the best way to understand a group is to familiarise yourself with their creeds and catechisms. I reckon there's real merit to that and I'm not surprised to see he endorsed the book. Well worth your time even if it's not the most exhilarating read at times.

[Kirk Metzger · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a tough task to do an assessment of Roman Catholic teaching and practice for all evangelicals, but Allison does a good job. Going through this book is a beneficial way to understand Roman beliefs and practice in contrast with our Protestant brothers and sisters.

[Laurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good, thorough assessment of Catholic theology and practice. I’m so thankful to have read it and have much more clarity now about Catholicism because of Allison’s work.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the great faults we often have when dealing with others who hold to different beliefs is to not understand their position properly. Sometimes the misunderstanding is due to simple ignorance. Sometimes the misunderstanding is willful and malicious. If we are going to hold to the position that all truths is God’s truth, then we do not have to succumb to the fear that often sparks the clear violations of the 9th commandment that often plague discussion and debate. “Straw man” is just a fancy way to say “a lie” and Christians especially have no reason or right to engage in this type of rhetoric.

One of the persistent areas of debate where Christians can be found slinging handfuls of half-truths is when Protestants discuss Catholicism(or Catholics discuss Protestantism, I am sure…I just have much more experience from this side of Wittenburg).

That is why a book like Gregg Allison’s Roman Catholic Theology and Practice: An Evangelical Assessment is so needed and so helpful. Allison does not stoop to conjecture and caricature. He does not play a he-said/she-said game either. Allison presents Roman Catholic theology in its own words and in its best light. He also presents a forceful case against Roman Catholic theology from an Evangelical perspective. He does all this while keeping the tone, if not irenic, at least civil and never sinking to the depths that conversations like this often fall. Allison’s approach should be mimicked by Christians in many areas(when interacting with people of other faiths, dealing with hot-button issues like abortion, evolution, gay marriage, race relations, etc…).

Archibald Alexander had a great rule about when we engage in debate. He said to, “(a)ttribute to an antagonist no opinion he does not own, though it be a necessary consequence.” Basically his point was that when debating, we should present the case that our opponent would make. Allison does this nicely.

Allison’s approach, beyond his respectful tone and honesty, is another positive of this volume. Instead of approaching Roman Catholic theology in an atomistic, let’s-talk-about-Mary….now-let’s-talk-about-transubstantiation approach, Allison critiques the theological system of Roman Catholicism. He deals with topics of course, but the topics are not dealt with as divorced from the framework from which they arise.

Allison provides the church with a great resource. He dives into some deep waters at times, but this work remains immensely readable and quite helpful.


I received a review copy of this book from the publisher.

[Tim Norman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful book for those in the evangelical tradition looking to understand Roman Catholic faith and doctrine. I've known Dr. Allison for years. He's uniquely gifted and experienced to have written this book. The format was easy to follow and could be accessed for certain topics if the reader desired. The book follows along with the sections of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Each section begins with a summary of the CCC. Then, Allison notes some of the areas of agreement between Evangelicals and Catholics. Next, he addresses areas where Evangelicals would generally differ from Catholics.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that Gregg Allison is one of the most charitable evangelical authors you will find when it comes to the Catholic-Evangelical dialogue. This book, overall, does a good job presenting the CCC. There are some areas, and quotes, that seem cherry picked to better fit his narrative but that is to be expected. Overall a good book and I recommend it to evangelicals who might be too wary to learn about Catholicism from a Catholic.

[Joseph Yue · Rating 2 out of 5]

Composed as a comprehensive tome assessing Catholicism systematically from an "Evangelical perspective", it accomplishes only the first half of what it aims to do: presenting the Catholic views fairly and accurately by directly citing the Catechism; as for the critiques offered from the "Evangelical" perspective, it fails at many levels.
1. The loose definition of the so-called "Evangelicalism"; The author obviously tried to reconcile the wide spectrum of Protestant theologies and set the whole up against Catholicism, but essentially he still only represents the Reformed/Calvinist view on most issues. The selection of quoting other Protestant theologians turned out to be rather convenient; when talking about justification, he quotes Martin Luther to support his position, while regarding the Marian doctrines, Luther's support of Immaculate Conception was not even mentioned. On multiple points, this reluctant alliance is incredibly weak.
2. Every single critique towards Catholicism as Reformed is derived from, or at least related to, the critique of the Nature-Grace interdependence theme, which is build upon a very shaky ground. Yet, only 10 pages were devoted to discussing such a central issue, the case has been poorly presented at the beginning. Overall, Nature-Grace interdependence is simply a superior paradigm comparing to its counterpart, i.e., the notion of "total depravity", not only philosophically, but also exegetically and historically.
3. Logical inconsistencies are observed on numerous occasions, as the same standard is not applied to both parts. For example, when assessing the theology surrounding contraception, Allison granted that there are implicit biblical support for the Catholic view, but it nevertheless should be rejected because such a doctrine is not explicitly stated. However, turning to the next page, he insists that abortion is murder, a notion inferred to by the Scripture, but never explicitly stated.
4. Serious problem of historical retrievalism. When the church history and some church fathers happen to seemingly "agree" to his position on a certain point (e.g., Scripture & Tradition), he very diligently quotes them. But when they are unanimously against his doctrine (e.g. Baptism Regeneration), not a word is mentioned. In fact, the latter case is far more frequent than the former.
In conclusion, it is a mostly honest presentation of Catholic theology, but the critiques are biased, deeply flawed and very problematic.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gregg Allison does a superb job of penetrating to the underlying theological differences which separate Evangelical Protestants from Roman Catholics. The second chapter ("Scripture, Evangelical Theology, and Catholic Theology") is the best part of the book since this is where Allison describes and critiques the two features characterizing Catholic theology which form the consistent theme for the rest of the book: the "nature-grace interdependence" and the "Christ-Church interconnection". The essence of the Evangelical rejection of these two foundational characteristics is described in the "Evangelical Assessment" of Chapter 2:
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Evangelical theology disagrees strongly with its counterpart’s self-understanding as the ongoing incarnation of the ascended Christ. Such a construction posits far more of a continuity between the incarnation of the Son of God as Jesus Christ and the Church as the prolongation of this incarnation than is warranted. The incarnation of the second person of the Trinity was a unique event: There was no prefiguration of it in the Old Testament,67 nor is a principle or law of incarnation articulated in the New Testament. Accordingly, there can be no continuation of the incarnation, nor any derivative, secondary instance of it, with respect to the church (or any other reality, for that matter). . . . To be fair, “this somewhat ontological interpretation” of these passages by the Catholic system is possible,68 thus providing reinforcement for the Catholic Church’s self-understanding as the extension of the incarnation. However, it is countered by the evangelical system’s relational interpretation: . . . Often overlooked in this discussion is the fact of the ascension and its implications for Christ: Presently, he is not here on earth but is ruling from heaven from his position of authority at the right hand of the Father. It was to heaven that Jesus ascended (Acts 1:11); it was to this exalted status that the Father raised him (Eph. 1:20–21); it was from there that Christ sent the Holy Spirit to take his place as another Helper (John 15:26; Acts 2:33); and it is from heaven that Jesus will return (Matt. 26:64; Acts 1:11; 1 Thess. 4:16).
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All subsequent discussion of the Roman Catholic Catechism centers on this essential divide on the question of the Incarnation: Evangelicals affirm that the Incarnation has conclusively ended and nature is absolutely incapable of continuing or extending it. Roman Catholics affirm that the Incarnation was only the beginning of the ongoing presence of Christ in nature, particularly the Church and the Eucharist. Evangelicals affirm that Scriptural affirmations that the Church and the Eucharist are the "body" of Christ are purely allegorical, while Catholics affirm these statements are true in a literal (though mystical) sense.

As a convert from Roman Catholicism to Eastern Orthodoxy, I find Allison's evaluation of the Roman Catholic Catechism penetrating. The Orthodox, like the Catholics, strongly affirm that the real presence of Christ's flesh and blood in the bread and wine of the Eucharist. Allison's Evangelical assessment of the key Scriptures which affirm the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist glaringly omit any mention of the fact that the Orthodox and Catholic "realist" interpretation of these passages aligns more closely with that of the ancient Christian community than with Evangelical theology. This omission may perhaps testify to the underlying difference in the exegesis of Scripture which divides Evangelicals, Catholics, and Orthodox:

* Evangelical Protestants practice personal interpretation based on textual criticism.
* Roman Catholics practice Papal interpretation based on the authority of Rome.
* Eastern Orthodox practice Patristic interpretation based on the historical tradition.

The Eastern Orthodox Allison affirms that Christ is present in the Church "spiritually", such as when the Church celebrates the Lord's Supper (1 Cor. 10:14-22) or when it "binds" and "looses" (Matt. 18:18-20); however, the "ontological" presence of Christ is categorically denied on the basis of the Ascension: Christ is in Heaven, not on Earth. This is radically opposite to the Eastern Orthodox conception of the Incarnation, which is described in terms of a "permanent alternation" of creation as a whole:
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Creation is brought back to the possibility of harmony with its Creator. Our redemption, however, is no one-time event, over and done with at the moment of the Passion or Ascension. God did not become man simply to provide for the inspiration of future generations; His saving acts have brought about in the world in which we live a permanent alteration. Prior to the Incarnation, man could only know God as if at a distance, even as a shadow. But now God Himself lives among us, as Jesus promised: "I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" (Matt. 28:20). ("The Transformation of Reality", Missionary Leaflet # E23b, Bishop Alexander [Mileant])
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Scriptural references to the ongoing presence of Christ in the Faithful (e.g., Matt. 28:20, Matt. 18:20, John 14:23, Jhn 17:21) are not addressed directly, but they would fall under Allison's assertion that they must be understood "spiritually" rather than "ontologically". Allison, unfortunately, does not exhaustively defend this position, but his purpose is more focused on explaining what the Evangelical position *is* rather than defend it. I would be interested to see a deeper analysis of why Evangelical theology believes its interpretation is more defensible than that of the Orthodox and the Catholics.

[Jason Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for those wanting to learn more about what the Roman Catholic Church believes, practices, and why. Not the most exciting read, however Allison is thorough in showing commonalities between Evangelicals and Catholics, and also showing where we disagree and why. There were many helpful sections that I know I will go back and reread.

[Robbie Melton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was pretty good. One of the first books from a Protestant that I’ve read which didn’t blatantly misrepresent the teachings of the Church.

One thing I loved about this book was that it followed the structure of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

[Robby · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very frustrating book. Allison is careful to accurately present the Catholic faith, and he more or less succeeds. He endeavors to then critique that faith from the point of view of “evangelical theology,” charging handily forward without regard to the problem that there is no such thing. He mentions early on that there are more properly evangelical “theologies,” but largely leaves that caveat aside except in a few places where the differences in evangelicalism can’t be overlooked (the proper timing of baptism, the meaning of the Eucharist, etc.).

A few places he seems to straw man the Catholic position, but much more problematic are the numerous places he simply ignores obvious Scriptural support for the Catholic position he’s critiquing. A prime example: in dismissing the Catholic understanding of baptismal regeneration, he omits any reference to 1 Peter 3:20 which explicitly states that baptism now saves us. Perhaps he could work around that statement, but it is impossible to mount a convincing argument from Scripture against baptismal regeneration that does not deal with that verse somehow.

Other weaknesses in his argumentation are based on what seems a purposeful obtuseness about certain things. He objects to the renunciation of Satan in the Catholic baptism rite because such a renunciation is not found attached to any baptism in the New Testament. He doesn’t expand on the point. To me, one needs much more than an offhand assertion to carry the day when arguing against renouncing Satan. When would such a renunciation not be appropriate in a Christian context.

Many other points follow these in similar ways. I had hoped, based on reviews, to see a solid comparison of Catholic and evangelical positions. Instead, Allison presents a plausible case for Catholicism and an incoherent mess for evangelicalism.

[Clifford Luebben · Rating 4 out of 5]

As far as I can gather, this books seems to becoming the standard Evangelical book on comparing and contrasting our theology with Roman Catholic theology. Dr. Gregg R. Allison does so by summarizing the Roman Catholic Catechism section by section and then offering Evangelical assessments of those sections as he goes along. It is refreshingly devoid of antagonism and tries hard to give an honest and fair description of the official teachings of the Vatican according to their catechism. Before Allison goes through the Catechism, he first explains two theological concepts that he thinks run throughout Catholic theology: the first he calls "The Nature-Grace Interdependence"; the second he calls "The Christ-Church Interconnection". Pointing out these key thoughts of Roman Catholic theology and assessing them from an Evangelical perspective is probably one of the key contributions of this book, and it would be worth it for someone to by the book just to read that chapter and have it as a resource. I plan to reread that chapter myself before I move onto other books. Allison's short concluding chapter with advice for Evangelicals on how to minister to Roman Catholics is also quite excellent. Allison spent part of his career as a missionary in Rome, so he has personal experience & practice in the matter besides his theological knowledge. This book is definitely a must read for those who want to understand the similarities & differences of Roman Catholic & Evangelical theology.

[mpsiple · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful. Allison essentially walks the reader through the Catholic Catechism, while offering an "evangelical" response at the end of each section, noting both agreement and disagreement. Although not a "fun" read (the experience was like going through a reference manual), this book will help the average Protestant get a basic understanding of Roman Catholicism and its main emphases. As a resource for the basics, it's great.

But ... Allison's critique centers largely on the nature-grace interdependence and Christ-church interconnection. He argues that these two axioms form the basis for a coherent system of theology. Unfortunately, his nearly lone source for these axioms is a PhD dissertation written by a Protestant (there are almost no Catholic quotes in this section of the book). In addition, I didn't find his explanations of evangelical theology all that helpful in many places, either.

[Christopher-James Neethling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book that specifically deals with the difference in theology and doctrine between what Christians believe and how we interpret the Bible as opposed to Catholic's interpretation and application of doctrine and theology. This is an in-depth book on the subject. Readers who do not have the stomach for a deep dive into the difference will have a hard time digesting this book.

[Emmanuel Boston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allison provides another positively excellent contribution to the multi-faceted Christian world. I imagine that all three major branches of Christianity will greatly benefit from his careful and gracious work in Roman Catholic Theology and Practice: An Evangelical Assessment. How can I review in only a few paragraphs this much needed book weighing in at 496 pages?


Book thesis:
[This book] seeks to accomplish two things: first, to note with fascination and appreciation the commonalities between Catholic and evangelical theology… and second, to examine the differences between the two, demonstrating how Catholic theology and practice at these points of divergence do not conform properly to Scripture.

Allison elaborates further upon his methodology:

[he] will propose for the purpose of understanding and assessment an approach that considers Catholic theology as a coherent, all-encompassing system with two major features: the nature-grace interdependence, that is, a strong continuity between nature and grace; and the Christ-Church interconnection, that is, an ecclesiology (a doctrine of the church) that views the Catholic Church as the ongoing incarnation of Jesus Christ. These axioms will also be assessed.

Indeed this holistic view of the Catholic faith is desperately needed for those who wish to think honestly and truthfully about their estranged heritage. Allison posits a two-fold axiom upon which the rest of the Catholic faith depends. Quoting one thinker he states that this [or these] is “perhaps the only theological topic in which Catholic and Protestant thought have gone their own ways, passing like ships in the night, with no sense of common problems and standards of judgment.” We must consider the Catholic faith as a unity, not as series of unconnected statements that can be argue tit-for-tat as if we are already operating on the same basis. Indeed, much of Catholic theology makes sense within its system, and to argue from a Protestant theological system against minor points does no good when the Catholic system necessitates those very points. The army of Sparta is strong because they hold together, and even if one is removed, he is replaced by another—the whole system holds itself together. Allison offers a valued critique to the two-fold axiom of Catholic systematic theology as the start to the book; only then can he rightly wade into the maelstrom to point out flaws in the particulars.

Allison opens each section/chapter with the Roman Catholic view, highly substantiated with footnotes from the catechism itself, and then follows it with an evangelical assessment of the views in question—first through notes of “intrigue” (areas of agreement) and then through notes of “critique.” Each critique section includes reference to one or both of the axioms which Allison has dealt with separately in a presuppositional critique, as well as following detailed logical and biblical criticisms.

There is hardly room for improvement throughout, which is quite a statement considering its length, breadth, and nature! And yet I believe it holds true. I think there is a slight misunderstanding of thought in two places, but which does not bear much upon anything else. For example Allison critiques the re-presentation of the sacrifice of Christ in the mass (which he is at pains to explain the Catholics do not view as re-sacrifice), and argues against their understanding of the eternal nature of the sacrifice—because the sacrifice was unbound by time it can be presented again in a different time. In the course of his argument he cites the institution of the Lord’s Supper as evidence: it could not be the re-presentation then when Christ had not yet been presented at all—meanwhile forgetting that timelessness works in both directions (or perhaps better, no directions because it is without time). However this slight flaw in argument is by no means the lynch pin of an adequate critique, and Allison’s case by and large remains sound.

His thesis is supported in every chapter. His tone is cordial and serious—noting that the issues at stake are quite serious and not at all inconsequential. After spending so much time invested in this book, it feels abrupt to end the review without further comment, though I believe it necessary. So I will leave you with a few concluding personal reflections:


The areas of divergence are really quite significant; not something small to be glossed over.

But there is also much insight to be found in the Catholic faith which can be affirmed (even as it is/not found in prominent evangelical theology).

I want a similar assessment of the Orthodox faith and the Pentecostal faith.

Where do we go from here in work with Catholics? Do we primarily work for them or alongside them?



I received an electronic copy of Roman Catholic Theology and Practice: An Evangelical Assessment from the publisher as part of Crossway’s Beyond the Page program. My thoughts are my own.

This review has been crosslisted on http://ejboston.blogspot.com and http://www.amazon.com/review/R1W7NU5N...

[Matthew Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gentle book that reveals the core differences between the RCC and the Evangelical church. But it. It is a hard read but a worthy one as well.

[Hunter Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything you want a review to be. Very fair but doesn’t pull punches. Incredibly helpful and accessible.

[amanda]

Lengthy & dense. The introduction was well worded & thought out w/ clear points & I wish that was simply a blog post to reference back to.

[Michael Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I live in an area with a large number of people who attend the Roman Catholic Church. In fact, many of my friends and co-workers are of the Catholic persuasion. Most of the time, conversations do not center on matters of doctrinal differences between the Catholic Church and Protestants. As a Protestant, I am well aware of the Protestant Reformation and as a former Seminary student, I am also knowledgeable of the reasons behind the split from the Catholic Church. With that said, I admittedly am not that knowledgeable of many of the specifics of Catholic doctrine. Thus I was excited to read Gregg Allison’s book Roman Catholic Theology & Practice: An Evangelical Assessment.

My hope was that by reading this book, I would be better prepared when conversations regarding the differences between Catholic and Protestant/Evangelical doctrine present themselves. Since I have one co-worker who likes to engage in such discussions, having a resource to both understand her position based on her Catholic upbringing and what the Evangelical approach to similar points of doctrine are would be quite helpful. After reading Allison’s book, I am far better prepared for interactions on matters of doctrine with my Catholic friends and colleagues.

Allison provides the reader with a reasoned and well researched profile of core Catholic doctrines and the Evangelical response/perspective on those doctrines. He notes in the introduction to this book that he is an “evangelical theologian whose experience with Catholic theology and practice is more extensive and personal than that of most evangelicals.” I found that statement quite comforting as it demonstrates the author is one familiar with the subject matter he is speaking to rather than simply going on a tirade against an opposing doctrine. Additionally, one of his main purposes in writing this book is to not only outline points of doctrinal disagreement, but also to point out when applicable, points of commonality between Catholic and Evangelical theologies. It is those points of agreement that can at times be a springboard for discussion rather than simply focusing solely on where the two sides find disagreement.

Each section and each chapter first focuses on a point of the Catholic catechism, analyzing the specifics of that particular element of Catholic doctrine and how that system approaches Scripture on that subject. That discussion is followed by an Evangelical assessment of the Catholic doctrine, again noting points of agreement as well as points of disagreement, being careful along the way to engage the Scriptural proofs for the Evangelical position.

All in all I found the information to be extremely fascinating and informative. An example of something I found interesting was the Catholic Catechism’s discussion of sin. I had heard my Catholic friends mention venial and mortal sins which is the idea that some sins are less serious (venial) while other sins (mortal) are a more “grave violation of the law of God.” Allison does an excellent job of explaining the details and what qualifies as sins which belong in either category. Closely connected with the idea of venial and mortal sins is the concept of purgatory. Venial sin “does not result in the loss of sanctifying grace…however, venial sin does merit temporal punishment in purgatory.” According to Catholic doctrine, mortal sin can only be appeased through the “sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.”
Allison rightly notes the Scriptural problems with the core tenets of venial and mortal sins. While he asserts that Scripture does not degrees of sins in regards to “terms of the consequences that different sins produce”, Allison correctly notes that the Catholic approach is far too weighted on trying to differentiate between sins with a resultant allowance to deal with sin by one’s own efforts. The correct and biblical approach is noting that all sin is an affront to God regardless of how “minor” or “major” it may be regarding its earthly consequences. Moreover, while living a life of loving obedience to God’s law should be the goal of all believers, only the shed blood of Christ can deal with the issue of sin and its impact on our relationship with God. Human effort is wholly insufficient, thus the need for Christ to come and die for sin.

This is a book I highly recommend, especially for those like myself who have a number of Catholic friends, family, and co-workers or for those interested in learning about the differences between Catholic and Evangelical doctrines. Well researched, informative and scholarly without losing its accessibility, this is a book I will refer to quite often.

I received this book for free from Crossway Books for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Zach Barnhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took my time reading through this book.

It’s easy to get into a brand new book, fly through it, tweet the good quotes you find along the way, shelf it, and move on. But when I was provided this book for review via Crossway, I knew this especially was more than something to be scanned, but rather, deeply searched.

I don’t think it is going too far to say that this book brings something to evangelicalism that it has been lacking for decades: an honest and unbiased look at Catholic theology.


It is sadly too common and too easy these days for evangelicals to enter into discussion about Catholicism with a lot of wrong ideas about what the Catholic faith holds and why it believes what it believes. If you ask evangelicals today their thoughts on Catholic theology, they may mention Mary as an important figure, they will likely mention the Pope, maybe confession booths, but nonetheless our views on Catholicism remain shallow, and often misguided. The worst is making assumptions about what Catholics believe, and in turn determining where their salvation lies. Ironically, many of the same people that do this assuming also have little clarity in defining why exactly, according to Scripture, that elements of Catholic theology are wrong.

That’s why I was so excited to pick up this book, to read it with a careful eye, and let it resonate with me for a bit. Allison has spent nearly his entire ministry working on formulating a volume like this; the least I could do as a reader is allow it to marinate with me. Before reading this book, I knew I disagreed with Catholics on doctrines like the Pope, the Virgin Mary, purgatory, etc., but I wanted to be equipped with a Biblical defense for my beliefs against such doctrine, which would allow me to rightly affirm and critique where appropriate.

One of the highlights of the book for me has been reading about Catholic theology’s emphasis on the interdependence of nature and grace. This was a concept I wasn’t really familiar with in terms of a thought pattern. I knew Catholics embraced nature, but to see Allison present this philosophy so clearly really helped me gain a grasp for the whole of Catholicism. I now feel like I can read men like Augustine, Chesterton, and Aquinas with the correct lens.

Gregg Allison has made this book so easy to read, that there’s really no excuse for not reading it. After all, most of us have or know someone who has some background with the Catholic church. The format and outline this books follows flows so smoothly. Allison presents a detailed summary and review of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, point by point, and follows each with the evangelical response to said point. It’s greatly designed for quick reference in Catholic doctrinal points, but also laid out well when studying along with the Catechism. Right before I got this book, I checked out the Catechism of the Catholic Church at my library, and read Allison’s book along with it, which I found really helped me see clearly what the Catholic Church holds against the evangelical arguments and agreements.

This book is — dare I say — a necessary read for those in ministry or going into ministry. As church leaders, we must know how to have these kinds of conversations, because Catholicism is not a lost art. Catholic theology is growing in Latin America. Its emphasis on tradition lends itself to never “dying out.” And honestly, the Catholic Church has done a lot of good for Christianity as a whole. Though there are many areas it goes grey, and many more areas it steers way off course, it is still a thing we should analyze, to make out faith stronger, to become more knowledgeable and clear in thinking through such issues, and most of all, pursuing a right relationship with Christ. Thanks to Gregg for a clear, well-presented, honest, and massive fresh look at Catholic theology, and what we should do with it.

I was provided a copy of this book by Crossway in exchange for my review.

[Ben Makuh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catholic theology, to the average outsider, is a mysterium tremendum. Being an evangelical and somewhat of a theology geek myself, I've always been curious to know what Catholics really believe—to cut through the layers of misinformation, Protestant biases, and sheer hearsay. Such a curiosity is only sated by a comprehensive, systematic overview: it wouldn't do to simply learn about the immaculate conception of Mary, for example, without understanding the overarching framework in which it makes sense. As luck would have it, that is precisely the project that Theologian Gregg Allison has recently accomplished.

In his work Roman Catholic Theology and Practice: An Evangelical Assessment, he walks through the Catholic Catechism offering a brief summary of each doctrine without comment. After each summary he then presents an Evangelical response wherein he weighs both points of agreement and departure between the two theological perspectives. Though Allison himself comes from a Reformed perspective, he strives to speak for the entire Evangelical ecosystem, giving every side of a doctrine where intramural disagreement exists.

What is the value of such a book? Perhaps those who would be most inclined to pick up a reference like this are not simply those who have an academic curiosity like myself, but those who live on the social border to Catholicism. Whether it's a friend or a relative or a coworker, we all likely know someone who is Catholic. This book aims to help you engage in more fruitful dialog with them by having an accurate portrayal of their belief system. Though one could read straight through the whole thing, I envisage a reader picking it up and flipping to a specific section to read up either before or after a conversation with a Catholic.

The book's strength lies in Allison's Evangelical response sections: he strikes me as being fair-handed with both sides (of course, I'm biased to agree with him) yet he offers concise, exegetically specific reasons why a certain Catholic doctrine is wanting. If there is substantial agreement, he says so. I especially appreciate that he maintains a charitable tone throughout, as Evangelicals can tend to become rather vitriolic and unnecessarily offensive when dealing with those Papists.

One potential weakness of the book is its highly intricate structure. Given the complexity of the task at hand, Allison does an admirable job of keeping the book as simple as possible, but a brief perusal of the table of contents can be a bit daunting. Nonetheless, I would heartily recommend this work to anyone who has a reason to know what Catholics believe in contrast to Evangelical Orthodoxy. Secondarily, a Catholic who wonders what Evangelical Protestants are all about might benefit from it as well.

DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of a fair, unbiased review.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those who do not interact very often with Roman Catholics do you know what they believe and the difference between their belief and the Protestant belief system? Prior to reading the book, I’ve only a brief understanding of the Catholic faith, such as how Catholic believe that faith plus works secures salvation, but Protestant believe that faith alone secures salvation. That certainly was too shallow an understanding.

Gregg R. Allison has written a comprehensive book that deals with the differences between the Catholic and Protestant faith. This book is certainly no light reading and will need readers who are discipline in reading it all the way through. As a novice in this topic, I like how Allison first gives a broad overview on what the Catholic faith is about. I have found this portion very helpful as I examine the different areas in the atheism of the Catholic church. I appreciate how Allison summaries the difference between Catholic and Protestant as the ‘and’ vs ‘alone’. In the Catholic church, scripture and tradition holds authority whereas in the Protestant faith, scripture alone holds the authority. This really helped to give a framework in understanding the Catholic faith.

In the chapters following Allison then brings the readers through the Catholic catechism examining them part by part. Allison first breaks down the catechism into smaller chunks, he then examines and explains what the catechism teaches. Next Allison gives an evaluation of the section from an evangelical perspective. He highlights the errors in the catechism but also show christians some pointers that we can learn from their catechism.

Being new to the Catholic faith, I have to say I felt slightly overwhelm by the amount of new information I was getting. This is one book that I have to plough through slowly, but I am thankful that Allison guides us through the book not as an outsider, but examines the catholic faith as one who has been brought up in the Catholic faith. I’ve found the book to be informative and helpful. I’ll surely use it as reference the next time I wish to talk to a Catholic.

For those who find themselves often interacting to people of the Catholic faith, this book will be a helpful and compressive guide into what a Catholic believe and also give us insights as to what we can agree and have to disagree with the Catholic faith.

Rating: 4.25 / 5

Disclaimer: I was given this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Brian Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give this book five stars not because it's the most well-written book, or the most enjoyable book to read. Rather, I give it five stars for being an important book. Apparently, it's the only one of its kind.

In this book, Allison, an evangelical theologian with a background in evangelizing Catholics (in Italy, no less), works his way through the Catechism of the Catholic Church, comparing and contrasting Catholic doctrine with evangelical Christian theology (or theologies, since there's no one official evangelical theology). After setting forth some of the foundational differences between Catholicism and Protestantism, Allison works his way in order through the three major parts of the CCC. After exploring some elements of Catholic doctrine, he provides an "evangelical assessment," noting points of agreement and points of disagreement.

The strength of the book is its methodical approach. It's also written in a non-polemical tone.

That being said, Allison is not a very flashy or particularly enjoyable writer. (I couldn't help but notice how often he used "accordingly.") For those who know biblical theology well, they might just as well read the CCC with a critical and discerning eye.

As I was reading the book, I thought about how I would like to know more about the history of the Catholic Church's doctrines. My hope is that Allison might set his mind to writing such a book, a historical theology of the divergence of Catholic theology from Protestant theology, as a companion to this volume, the way his own Historical Theology is a companion to Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology.

At any rate, this book makes it clear that much of the theology of the Catholic Church is opposed to what God has revealed in the Bible, and is therefore false.

[Dwain Minor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, is all I have to say. I was a student of Dr. Allison's at SBTS and knew that I would want to read his book on Catholicism. He had a background in ministering to Catholics, that much I knew, but this was still better than I had thought it would be.

This is no lightweight read however. This is not a few bullet points in a fight against Roman Catholics. Allison works through the entire Catechism and points out where Evangelicals agree and differ.

This work is charitable in its dealing with Catholic Theology without glossing over the differences. I think it is a must read for those who really want to know about the similarities and differences of Evangelicals and Roman Catholics.

[Lauren Ketchum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite possibly the best book written on RC theology from a Protestant perspective. His personal experience with Catholic ministries helps him approach the points of contention with compassion yet powerful insight and strong Biblical conviction. Simplifying the multiplicity of disagreements down to the nature-grace paradigm and Christ-church connection transformed my understanding of the fundamental divergence between RC and Protestant theology and practice.

[Todd Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does very well what it intends to do: walk through the Catechism if the Catholic Church and evaluating it from an evangelical Protestant perspective. It is a strong resource and is, as is usual with Gregg Allison, clearly written. Reading it from cover to cover can be a chore, but that is due to the book’s intention, not its execution.

[Joey Ellis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Allison is so long winded. And while he gets to the actual worldview issues dividing Catholics and Evangelicals, he paints too broadly and assumes every Evangelical has the same bad theology that he has.