These are the tradition's own historic confessions, as its members would recognise them. Every tradition varies internally.
TEACHING AND SCRIPTUREHow the teaching differs from Scripture
On the left — what the tradition teaches. On the right — what Scripture says. Below — the gospel conclusion. Each point can be checked against the text.
01Tradition and the Magisterium placed beside Scripture
THE TRADITION TEACHESThe Catholic Church teaches that certainty about all revealed truths comes not from Scripture alone; Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition are to be accepted with equal reverence, and the right of authoritative interpretation belongs to the Church’s Magisterium.
WHAT SCRIPTURE SAYS2 Timothy 3:16–17Scripture is able to fully equip the man of God.Acts 17:11Even the apostolic preaching was tested by the Scriptures.Mark 7:8–13Christ condemns tradition when it is made higher than the Word of God.Galatians 1:8Even an angelic revelation must be rejected if it changes the gospel.
Gospel truthApostolic tradition cannot contradict apostolic Scripture.
Every later dogma, tradition and church decision must be tested by the Word of God.
02The Pope given authority over the whole Church and dogmatic infallibility
THE TRADITION TEACHESThe Bishop of Rome is held to be Peter’s successor and to possess “full, supreme and universal power” over the whole Church. In certain cases his definitive teaching on faith and morals is recognized as infallible.
WHAT SCRIPTURE SAYSColossians 1:18The head of the Church is Christ.Ephesians 1:22–23God made Christ Head over all the Church.1 Peter 5:1–3Peter himself calls himself a fellow elder, not the supreme ruler of the other apostles.Galatians 2:11–14Paul publicly corrects Peter when he acts wrongly.Acts 15The decision is made by the apostles and elders together, not by Peter alone as an infallible head.
Gospel truthThe Church has one universal Head — Jesus Christ.
The New Testament gives no human being infallible authority over the whole Church.
03Dogmas assigned to Mary that are not in the apostolic teaching
THE TRADITION TEACHESCatholicism dogmatically affirms Mary’s Immaculate Conception, her bodily Assumption into heaven, and names her Advocate, Helper and Mediatrix.
WHAT SCRIPTURE SAYSThe New Testament nowhere reports Mary’s bodily assumption and never commands anyone to pray to her.
Luke 1:46–47Mary herself calls God “my Saviour.”Romans 3:23“All have sinned.”1 Timothy 2:5“There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
Gospel truthMary is blessed among women and a worthy example of faith and obedience.
But the only Mediator between man and God is Jesus Christ.
Veneration of Mary must not be turned into a system of dogmas and prayerful mediation that the apostles never established.
04Prayers addressed to the departed saints
THE TRADITION TEACHESThe Catechism states plainly that the faithful may and should ask the saints in heaven to intercede for them.
WHAT SCRIPTURE SAYSMatthew 6:9Christ teaches us to address prayer to the Father.John 16:23Ask the Father in Christ’s name.Hebrews 4:14–16Through Christ the believer comes directly to the throne of grace.Romans 8:34Christ intercedes for us.1 Timothy 2:5Christ is the one Mediator.
Gospel truthThe apostolic church prayed to God through Jesus Christ.
The New Testament contains not one prayer addressed to Mary or to a departed saint.
05Purgatory introduced as purification after death
THE TRADITION TEACHESThose who die in God’s grace but are not yet fully purified, according to Catholic teaching, undergo after death a further purification — purgatory.
WHAT SCRIPTURE SAYSJohn 5:24The believer has passed from death to life.Romans 8:1“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”Hebrews 10:14Christ “by one offering has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”Philippians 1:23Paul expects after death to be with Christ.2 Corinthians 5:8To be away from the body is to be at home with the Lord.
Gospel truthThe blood of Christ does not leave the believer after death with a remaining purification still to be finished in purgatory.
Christ’s sacrifice is sufficient.
06Indulgences add a system of “temporal punishments”
THE TRADITION TEACHESEven after the forgiveness of sin, according to the Catechism, a “temporal punishment” may remain. An indulgence can remit it wholly or in part, and may even be applied to the dead.
WHAT SCRIPTURE SAYSRomans 5:1Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God.Romans 8:33–34God justifies; who is to condemn?Colossians 2:13–14Christ forgave all our trespasses, cancelling the record that stood against us.Hebrews 10:17–18Where there is forgiveness of sins, “there is no longer any offering for sin.”
Gospel truthForgiveness in Christ is not partial.
The Church does not administer an extra store of the merits of Christ and the saints to shorten punishment after death.
07Forgiveness of grave sins tied to obligatory confession to a priest
THE TRADITION TEACHESConfession of grave sins to a priest is a required part of the sacrament of penance; the priest pronounces the absolution.
WHAT SCRIPTURE SAYS1 John 1:9“If we confess our sins, He… will forgive us our sins.”Hebrews 4:14–16The believer comes directly to the throne of grace through Jesus the High Priest.1 Timothy 2:5Between God and man there is one Mediator — Christ.James 5:16Believers confess their faults to one another, not only to a special priestly class.
Gospel truthThe Church may proclaim God’s forgiveness, and ministers may help a person in repentance.
The source of absolution is God, and access to Him is open to every believer directly through Jesus Christ.
08Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice presented as a eucharistic sacrifice
THE TRADITION TEACHESCatholicism teaches that the sacrifice of the Cross and the eucharistic sacrifice are “one and the same sacrifice”; the Eucharist is offered also for the living and the dead.
WHAT SCRIPTURE SAYSJohn 19:30“It is finished!”Hebrews 7:27Christ offered Himself once.Hebrews 9:12He “entered once for all into the holy places,” having obtained eternal redemption.Hebrews 9:26Christ appeared once to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.Hebrews 10:10–14One sacrifice has been offered once for all.
Gospel truthThe Lord’s Supper is holy and a real participation in the body and blood of Christ (1 Cor. 10:16), but the sacrifice of Calvary is not offered again.
Christ offered Himself once for all.
09Salvation placed inside a complex system of sacraments and merits
THE TRADITION TEACHESCatholicism does teach that initial grace and justification cannot be earned by man. Yet the Catechism then speaks of the merits of good works done in grace, and even of merit with regard to attaining eternal life.
WHAT SCRIPTURE SAYSEphesians 2:8–9“By grace you have been saved through faith… not of works.”Romans 3:28A person is justified by faith apart from works of the law.Romans 4:5God justifies the one who believes, not the one who has earned justification.Titus 3:5“He saved us, not by works of righteousness which we had done.”
Gospel truthGood works are necessary as the fruit of living faith and new life, but they do not become a merit by which a person acquires or completes Christ’s salvation.
Salvation wholly begins, is accomplished and is held by the grace of God in Christ.
The main departureThe problem of Roman Catholicism is not that it fails to speak of Christ, the Trinity, the resurrection or the holiness of Communion.
The problem is that around the apostolic faith an extra system of authorities and dogmas has been built, which the New Testament does not establish:
Scripture + equally binding Tradition → papal supremacy → extra Marian dogmas → prayers to the saints → purgatory → indulgences → obligatory priestly absolution → an extra system of merits.
Christ is the Head of the Church. Christ is the only Mediator. Christ is our High Priest. His sacrifice was offered once for all. His blood fully cleanses from sin. And every church teaching must be tested by the apostolic Word.
COMPARED WITH ACTS
How it differs from the apostolic church
01The Pope and the hierarchy
In Acts Peter is first among the apostles but not head over them: at the Jerusalem council James announces the decision, and it is made by ‘the apostles and elders with the whole church’. Paul openly rebukes Peter.
Acts 15:13–22 · Galatians 2:11Priests and sacrifice
The apostolic church has no special priesthood offering sacrifice: elders and deacons serve, and all believers are called priests. Christ's sacrifice was offered ‘once for all’.
Acts 6:3–6 · 14:23 · 1 Peter 2:9 · Hebrews 10:10–14Mary and the saints
In Acts Mary prays together with the disciples, but no one prays to her. Peter raises Cornelius, who fell at his feet: ‘Stand up; I too am a man.’
Acts 1:14 · 10:25–26 · 14:14–15Clerical celibacy
Compulsory celibacy for priests is a later rule. Peter was married, and the apostles took their wives with them in ministry.
Mark 1:30 · 1 Corinthians 9:5 · 1 Timothy 3:2