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Roman Catholicism
In this series, Dr. R.C. Sproul carefully and respectfully looks at the doctrines that are at the heart of the Catholic-Protestant divide.
Audiobook
First published September 1, 2013
59 people want to read
About the author
R.C. Sproul
673 books2,000 followersDr. R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, an international Christian discipleship organization located near Orlando, Fla. He was founding pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Fla., first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.
Ligonier Ministries began in 1971 as the Ligonier Valley Study Center in Ligonier, Pa. In an effort to respond more effectively to the growing demand for Dr. Sproul’s teachings and the ministry’s other educational resources, the general offices were moved to Orlando in 1984, and the ministry was renamed.
Dr. Sproul’s radio program, Renewing Your Mind, is still broadcast daily on hundreds of radio stations around the world and can also be heard online. Dr. Sproul produced hundreds of lecture series and recorded numerous video series on subjects such as the history of philosophy, theology, Bible study, apologetics, and Christian living.
He contributed dozens of articles to national evangelical publications, spoke at conferences, churches, and academic institutions around the world, and wrote more than one hundred books, including The Holiness of God, Chosen by God, and Everyone’s a Theologian. He signed the 1978 Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy and wrote a commentary on that document. He also served as general editor of the Reformation Study Bible, previously known as the New Geneva Study Bible.
Dr. Sproul had a distinguished academic teaching career at various colleges and seminaries, including Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando and Jackson, Miss. He was ordained as a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 11, 2018
A helpful introduction to Roman Catholicism for Protestants, focusing on major differences between their beliefs. Sproul takes a charitable approach and seeks truthfully represent Catholic beliefs, even pointing out common Protestant misconceptions. This isn't a narrated book; it's a series of recorded lectures.
It's a brief study of Roman Catholic theology, but Sproul doesn't talk about justification, which is the main point of disagreement with Protestant theology, because Dr. John Gerstner was speaking about that topic at the same event where these talks were recorded.
Sproul says the biggest difference is the sufficiency of Christ. The question is, is Christ alone is our perfect sacrifice who offers Himself and alone achieves our redemption?
The 5 major issues discussed are:
1. Scripture and Authority
2. Papal Infallibility
3. The Church and Salvation
4. Sacraments
5. Mariology
Notes
Scripture and Authority
Council of Trent declared in 1546 that Scriptures come under dictation of Holy Spirit, and God is author of both testaments. "Dictation" here was used figuratively to mean Scriptures come from God, not that humanity and personality of writers was bypassed when they wrote.
Since 16th century, Roman Catholicism developed view of inerrancy and inspiration, particularly in 19th century with Modernist Controversy.
Vatican I (1870) said Scriptures "came under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit" and "contain revelation without error."
Vatican II issued Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation which said "The Books of Scripture must be acknowledged as teaching firmly, faithfully, and without error that truth which God wanted put into the sacred writings for the sake of our salvation." Higher critics use this to support their view that truth is included in Scripture, not necessarily that all Scripture is true.
Jewish canon didn't include Apocrypha.
Protestant view: Bible is fallible collection of infallible books; church could have erred in recognizing which books are canonical. Catholic view: Bible is infallible collection of infallible books; church could not have erred.
There's debate within Catholicism whether there's 1 source (Bible) or two (Bible and tradition).
Papal Infallibility
Papal infallibility became official doctrine by Vatican I (1870), fairly recently (well after Reformation), though concept was present much earlier.
In 1854, Pious IX declared immaculate conception of Mary.
The Church and Salvation
1441 Council of Florence restated that those outside Roman Catholic Church can't be saved. In Jansenist Movement, Church said grace could be found outside Catholic Church.
Pius IX described those who don't know truth of Catholicism, but would believe if given chance, as having "invincible ignorance."
In 1943 Pius XII said those outside Catholic Church are outside Body of Christ (true Church).
Vatican II referred to Protestants as "separated brethren" rather than "schismatics and heretics."
Those who have true desire to be obedient to God can be considered member of Catholic Church by "votum ecclesiae implicito."
Sacraments
In Catholic Church, baptism is instrumental cause of justification. In Protestantism, it's faith.
Catholic view is that Christ's righteousness is infused (put) into believer, so believer actually has righteousness. Protestant view is that Christ's righteousness is imputed to (counted towards account of) believer, even though believer isn't actually righteous.
Catholic view is that those who die with mortal sin go to Hell.
Difference between Catholicism and Protestantism is how a person is redeemed; justified. If justification is by faith alone (trusting in Christ's righteousness), what happens to a person who trusts in their own works/merit, even partly? This question caused Reformation.
When priest says, "te absolvo," he doesn't mean that he has power to absolve, but that he speaks in Jesus' name.
Catholic views on absolution, contrition, confession aren't issue; issue is view of satisfaction. Catholic view is that for sacrament of confession to be complete, person must do works of satisfaction (to satisfy God's justice).
Catholic view is that treasury of merit is filled with works of supererogation, and that excess merit can be transferred to someone else by indulgence. Protestant view is that only the only treasury of merit is the one filled by Christ's merit alone.
Catholic view is that Christ is sacrificed again at every Mass. Bible says Christ's sacrifice was once for all (Heb 10:10).
Catholic view is that Jesus' body is physically present at every Mass, which means His body omnipresent.
Mariology
Catholics view Mary as intercessor/mediator of redemption/salvation, but Bible only speaks of Christ or Spirit as mediator.
Thomas Aquinas repudiated notion of Mary's sinlessness, because Mary called Jesus her Savior (Luke 1:47). Exegetically, "savior" in Bible doesn't always refer to spiritual salvation from sin.
In 1950, Pius XII stated bodily assumption of Mary (that she was taken to Heaven bodily).
In 1953-1954 Catholic Church defined coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven.
Catholic Church draws parallel between Mary and Eve, as Bible draws parallel between Christ and Adam. They view Mary as representative of humanity as Eve was.
In Catholic view, redemption depends on Mary's decision to be mother of Jesus. Bible says angel announced to Mary; he didn't ask her permission.
Official Catholic stance is that they don't worship (latria) Mary, but venerate (dulia) her. But millions of Catholics worship (bow to statues, etc.).
Biggest issue is sufficiency of Christ. Christ alone is our perfect sacrifice who offers Himself and alone achieves our redemption.
NT grounds our assurance in Christ's resurrection; no need to have Mary's resurrection as a second example.
It's a brief study of Roman Catholic theology, but Sproul doesn't talk about justification, which is the main point of disagreement with Protestant theology, because Dr. John Gerstner was speaking about that topic at the same event where these talks were recorded.
Sproul says the biggest difference is the sufficiency of Christ. The question is, is Christ alone is our perfect sacrifice who offers Himself and alone achieves our redemption?
The 5 major issues discussed are:
1. Scripture and Authority
2. Papal Infallibility
3. The Church and Salvation
4. Sacraments
5. Mariology
Notes
Scripture and Authority
Council of Trent declared in 1546 that Scriptures come under dictation of Holy Spirit, and God is author of both testaments. "Dictation" here was used figuratively to mean Scriptures come from God, not that humanity and personality of writers was bypassed when they wrote.
Since 16th century, Roman Catholicism developed view of inerrancy and inspiration, particularly in 19th century with Modernist Controversy.
Vatican I (1870) said Scriptures "came under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit" and "contain revelation without error."
Vatican II issued Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation which said "The Books of Scripture must be acknowledged as teaching firmly, faithfully, and without error that truth which God wanted put into the sacred writings for the sake of our salvation." Higher critics use this to support their view that truth is included in Scripture, not necessarily that all Scripture is true.
Jewish canon didn't include Apocrypha.
Protestant view: Bible is fallible collection of infallible books; church could have erred in recognizing which books are canonical. Catholic view: Bible is infallible collection of infallible books; church could not have erred.
There's debate within Catholicism whether there's 1 source (Bible) or two (Bible and tradition).
Papal Infallibility
Papal infallibility became official doctrine by Vatican I (1870), fairly recently (well after Reformation), though concept was present much earlier.
In 1854, Pious IX declared immaculate conception of Mary.
The Church and Salvation
1441 Council of Florence restated that those outside Roman Catholic Church can't be saved. In Jansenist Movement, Church said grace could be found outside Catholic Church.
Pius IX described those who don't know truth of Catholicism, but would believe if given chance, as having "invincible ignorance."
In 1943 Pius XII said those outside Catholic Church are outside Body of Christ (true Church).
Vatican II referred to Protestants as "separated brethren" rather than "schismatics and heretics."
Those who have true desire to be obedient to God can be considered member of Catholic Church by "votum ecclesiae implicito."
Sacraments
In Catholic Church, baptism is instrumental cause of justification. In Protestantism, it's faith.
Catholic view is that Christ's righteousness is infused (put) into believer, so believer actually has righteousness. Protestant view is that Christ's righteousness is imputed to (counted towards account of) believer, even though believer isn't actually righteous.
Catholic view is that those who die with mortal sin go to Hell.
Difference between Catholicism and Protestantism is how a person is redeemed; justified. If justification is by faith alone (trusting in Christ's righteousness), what happens to a person who trusts in their own works/merit, even partly? This question caused Reformation.
When priest says, "te absolvo," he doesn't mean that he has power to absolve, but that he speaks in Jesus' name.
Catholic views on absolution, contrition, confession aren't issue; issue is view of satisfaction. Catholic view is that for sacrament of confession to be complete, person must do works of satisfaction (to satisfy God's justice).
Catholic view is that treasury of merit is filled with works of supererogation, and that excess merit can be transferred to someone else by indulgence. Protestant view is that only the only treasury of merit is the one filled by Christ's merit alone.
Catholic view is that Christ is sacrificed again at every Mass. Bible says Christ's sacrifice was once for all (Heb 10:10).
Catholic view is that Jesus' body is physically present at every Mass, which means His body omnipresent.
Mariology
Catholics view Mary as intercessor/mediator of redemption/salvation, but Bible only speaks of Christ or Spirit as mediator.
Thomas Aquinas repudiated notion of Mary's sinlessness, because Mary called Jesus her Savior (Luke 1:47). Exegetically, "savior" in Bible doesn't always refer to spiritual salvation from sin.
In 1950, Pius XII stated bodily assumption of Mary (that she was taken to Heaven bodily).
In 1953-1954 Catholic Church defined coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven.
Catholic Church draws parallel between Mary and Eve, as Bible draws parallel between Christ and Adam. They view Mary as representative of humanity as Eve was.
In Catholic view, redemption depends on Mary's decision to be mother of Jesus. Bible says angel announced to Mary; he didn't ask her permission.
Official Catholic stance is that they don't worship (latria) Mary, but venerate (dulia) her. But millions of Catholics worship (bow to statues, etc.).
Biggest issue is sufficiency of Christ. Christ alone is our perfect sacrifice who offers Himself and alone achieves our redemption.
NT grounds our assurance in Christ's resurrection; no need to have Mary's resurrection as a second example.
September 25, 2019
This wasn’t Sproul’s opinion of the RCC, rather it was a series of lessons on what Catholics believe based on papal encyclicals, councils, and statements of the church.
Very helpful and informative — even for those of us who were raised in the RCC. The final section on Mariology was eye-opening and disheartening!
Very helpful and informative — even for those of us who were raised in the RCC. The final section on Mariology was eye-opening and disheartening!
November 7, 2022
Really solid short series of lectures. I especially liked and appreciated parts 4 and 5 that dig into the Catholic sacraments and how they view Mary as the “sinless” mother of Christ. Sproul is a fantastic speaker/pastor/teacher/writer, and I always learn so much from him.
January 4, 2018
I recommend the reading of any book by R.C. Sproul.
March 1, 2019
Excellent from Sproul - as ever - and a supremely even-handed look into four of the key aspects that divide Protestants and Catholics.
July 11, 2017
This is an audio book lecture given my on some key differences between the Roman Catholic church and Protestant churches. Sproul is one of my favorite bible teachers. I consider him to be the elder statesman of reformation theology. The lecture is well informed, honest and even corrected a few misconceptions I had. While it is obviously presented from the reformation point of view, it is not Catholic bashing.
September 29, 2013
Great Intro into Roman Catholic polemics
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews