Same Words, Different Worlds: How Roman Catholicism Understands the Christian Faith

It is often pointed out that Evangelical Protestants and Roman Catholics have a lot in common. On the one hand, there is an apparent „common orthodoxy“ based on the ancient Trinitarian and Christological creeds, which use the same basic words of the gospel: God, Jesus Christ, Bible, sin, faith, salvation, and so on. On the other hand, there is a profound difference in how the doctrines of Christ, the Church, and salvation (i.e. the core of the gospel) play out in doctrine and practice. In dealing with Roman Catholicism, especially in times of mounting ecumenical pressure, Evangelical Protestants should attempt to go beyond superficial commonalities based on shared vocabulary. They should instead be aware of the internal theological framework of Roman Catholicism and try to understand it in the light of Scripture. This seminar helps to have keys to biblically understand Roman Catholicism as a whole and to see what is at stake in terms of the gospel.