Questions regarding beliefs and practices of Protestantism. Also, questions that are seeking answers from a Protestant viewpoint.
29
votes
11answers
572 views
What is the basis of my fractured understanding of “Sola Scriptura”?
As a Catholic, I'm often baffled by other Christians who base their faith purely off personal interpretation of the Bible as the be-all-end-all proof for everything under the sun (which is what I mean ...
-1
votes
2answers
338 views
What's the Protestants' view on the purpose of sacraments?
Once an orthodox priest told me that Protestants themselves don't know what they need the sacraments for. He said that since they deny the doctrine of transubstantiation and have separated themselves ...
10
votes
4answers
144 views
Where did the ecclesiastical offices go?
In the Bible, there are three distinct titles:
Episcopai — literally administrator, these were tasked with overseeing a church/region
Presbyteros — a lesser title, still tasked with ...
5
votes
2answers
177 views
What is the biblical basis for baptism by immersion?
There are two modes of water baptism of which I am familiar--immersion and sprinkling. As far as I know Catholics practice sprinkling along with many Protestant traditions, although many other ...
11
votes
1answer
304 views
Is there a hierarchy in the Trinity?
It seems that there is some form of hierarchy within the Trinity.
For example, these passages seem to indicate that the Holy Spirit is subservient to the Father and Jesus:
John 14:26 (NIV)
...
4
votes
4answers
264 views
What do Protestants say was the source for the doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary?
Not counting Martin Luther, who appears to have believed in the doctrine of the Perpetual Virginity of Mary, what do other Protestants think is the source and reason for Catholic adherence to the ...
1
vote
3answers
179 views
Are non-Anglican Protestant churches ever named after extra-biblical saints?
Catholic and Orthodox Churches are often named after saints because we believe in the communion of Saints and like to put our congregations under some sort of patronage.
I've seen Episcopal churches ...
10
votes
4answers
561 views
What is the biblical basis for salvation by faith alone (sola fide)?
One of the key issues in the Reformation was the doctrine of Sola Fide, that is, that salvation is by faith alone, apart from works.
What, then, is the biblical basis for this belief?
2
votes
1answer
213 views
What did Luther think of the Eastern Orthodox and vice versa?
When the Reformation began to take hold, the Orthodox may have been in decline, but were definately still present. I'm curious to know what what the two "breakaways" thought of each other - is it a ...
5
votes
3answers
87 views
Changes in Rome since Trent versus the Evangelicals
I am aware that there have been two wide spread movements to bring the Evangelical and Roman Catholic Churches closer together (ECT and ECT2). My question is this: What has changed in Roman Catholic ...
5
votes
3answers
194 views
Do Evangelical leaders (televangelists, megachurch pastors, etc…) not consider themselves Protestants?
Kind of based off this question contrasting Evangelicalism and Protestantism. My assumption as a Catholic (which you are certainly more than free to trounce upon) is that since modern day ...
10
votes
2answers
348 views
What is the basis for Cessationism?
Cessationism is the belief held by some protestants that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as prophecy, do not occur in present day. The general thinking is that these gifts "ceased" at ...
6
votes
1answer
277 views
Protestant numbering of the 10 Commandments
With the exception of Lutherans (who apparently use the same numbering system for the Decalogue as Catholics) Do other Protestants have a consistent method for numbering the 10 commandments?
...
15
votes
3answers
354 views
Protestant arguments for perpetual virginity of Mary
It's common knowledge that Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodoxy have the doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary. Protestants generally don't have that belief.
Less known is that Zwingli and ...
13
votes
8answers
313 views
Was Jesus finite or infinite? (human or God?)
I've always heard it said that Jesus was "completely human" and "completely God".
How could he be both human (finite by very nature) and God (infinite by very nature)?
4
votes
3answers
283 views
How do Protestants deal with pre-Reformation heresies?
Have any of the old heresies (i.e. Manichean, Arian, Nestorian, Iconoclasm) been resurrected and repackaged by main-line denominations
-or-
Do Protestants, in general, still accept the ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
Godparents in Protestantism
Without infant Baptism, do Protestants have godparents?
Furthermore, are there any traditions common to most Protestant denominations concerning who should see to it that a child is raised in the ...
11
votes
4answers
3k views
Why the difference in depiction of the cross between Catholics and Protestants?
As I understand it, Roman Catholic crosses have Jesus hanging on them, but Protestant crosses do not. I understood that Protestant crosses do not because they want to focus on the Resurrection, not ...
4
votes
1answer
129 views
Does Sola Scriptura go hand in hand with personal interpretation?
I asked this question on Sola Scriptura a few months ago and got the answer that denied my premise that Sola Scriptura is about private interpretation. Unfortunately, I didn't get a good reason as to ...
2
votes
3answers
143 views
Do Lutherans have a rebuttal for the Jesus > Religion argument
I hear it a lot in Christian rock and this youtube video articulates the idea that somehow we'd be better off following Jesus and not following the Church He started.
As a Catholic that's about as ...
3
votes
1answer
187 views
Do Catholics reject the sola of the Reformation
The Reformation brought five solas that gives bonderies on how the Protestant view the biblical teaching. Here is the five solas:
1. Sola Gratia (By grace alone)
2. Soli Deo Gloria ...
6
votes
1answer
513 views
What are the protestant arguments against a sacramental economy?
Given that all the 7 sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Marriage, Holy Orders Anointing of the Sick and Reconciliation) are each explicitly mentioned in the Bible as commands put forth ...
4
votes
2answers
126 views
How do the Catholic and Protestant understandings of “Regula Fidei” differ?
In the Hermeneutics course I am taking, a definition of "Regula Fidei" was posed that seemed different from the way my Catholic acquaintances use the term. How is the term Rule of Faith used ...
1
vote
2answers
935 views
Is there any real significant difference between Protestantism and Catholicism?
I know a lot of people who have very strong views against Catholics and was really starting to wonder, just as the title suggests, other than Catholicism having priests, what differences are there?
11
votes
2answers
227 views
When was the OT canon as used by Protestants finalized?
At what date (and/or event) was the Old Testament canon currently recognized by most Protestants finalized? What is the earliest occurrence we have of it being referenced in it's current form and who ...
12
votes
5answers
306 views
Is God of Anger or of Love?
Numbers 25 shows God as a god who destroys and kills anyone who aligns him/herself with the wrong deity. However, Matthew 5:39 talks about how we should "not resist an evil person".
How can we ...
6
votes
1answer
114 views
Honor and solidarity
Ideally, one would both be able to be honorable (i.e. to do the right thing especially with regard to others) and be in solidarity with relatives and friends (i.e. to support them, especially when ...
10
votes
2answers
401 views
Difference between Augustinianism and Calvinism
Is there a difference between Augustinianism and (Five Points) Calvinism as they relate to the doctrine of salvation?
If so, what is the difference?
4
votes
1answer
70 views
“Those excluded from the Congregation”
Deuteronomy 23:1-8 lists some people that are forbidden to "enter the assembly of the LORD".
Deuteronomy 23:1-8 (NKJ)
Those Excluded from the Congregation
1 “He who is emasculated by ...
12
votes
1answer
119 views
According to Protestant trinitarians, what is the significance of the father-son relationship between God and Christ?
What is the significance of the father-son relationship between God and Christ in the Trinity? Non-trinitarians believe that Christ is literally the son of God, but that doesn't quite work with the ...
8
votes
2answers
158 views
How do “Sola Fide” adherents reconcile with the three aspects of faith?
Historical Protestantism (particularly in the Lutheran and Reformed traditions) have since the Magisterial Reformation held to two doctrines relating what is required of an individual for salvation.
...
10
votes
2answers
903 views
Why are wives considered the “weaker partner”? (1 Peter 3:7)
In 1 Peter, we read:
1 Peter 3:7 (NIV)
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the ...
9
votes
2answers
120 views
How do we reconcile the futility of Ecclesiastes with the reward of heaven?
There's no question that Christianity believes in heaven. We have a tag here heaven filled with questions about it.
Having said this, there are many places in the Old Testament that speak of the ...
12
votes
4answers
460 views
Since God provided for the forgiveness of sins in the Old Testament, why do we need Jesus?
I thought of this when I was researching this question.
Leviticus 4 goes into great detail about the sacrifice that must be made in order for a sin to be forgiven. However, we see here that God ...
10
votes
2answers
161 views
How do Protestants interpret “baptized for the dead” in 1 Corinthians 15:29?
1 Corinthians 15:29 (KJV)
Else what shall they do which are baptized
for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized
for the dead?
I know that the LDS Church ...
7
votes
1answer
307 views
When (and why) did the empty cross v.s. crucifix split happen?
Today, we have Catholic and Orthodox churches (and a few others) using the crucifix whereas most Protestant denominations have an empty cross. Did this empty-cross split happen around when Martin ...
-3
votes
2answers
359 views
Why do some Protestants not read the Old Testament? [closed]
It seems to me that in order to understand the New Testament you need to Read the Old Testament...so why do some Protestants not read it?
4
votes
1answer
101 views
How does the Protestant OT canon differ from the Jewish scriptures? [duplicate]
Is the OT canon currently accepted by Protestants the same as the Jewish scriptures? If not, where and how do they differ?
