The Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church are similar in many ways. They are steeped in tradition, hyper-adoration of Mary, additional books of the Bible, salvation based on faith and works, in the claim of apostolic authority and succession within their church doors. But Protestantism has shaken the chains of tradition and man-made ideology. It focuses on the sufficiency of the word of God and subjects church councils, church fathers, and church tradition to the Scriptures. This is not so with Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.
You will find many differences between Protestantism, Catholicism, and Eastern Orthodoxy. But there are a lot of similarities between Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy
| TOPIC | PROTESTANTISM | CATHOLICISM | EASTERN ORTHODOXY |
| Apostolic Succession |
There is no apostolic succession. | “Apostolic succession is the line of bishops stretching back to the apostles…The role of apostolic succession in preserving true doctrine is illustrated in the Bible” (catholic.com) | Apostolic succession is an important part of the Orthodox church. It ensures that the true faith revealed and practiced from apostolic times has remained. |
| Authority | Authority rests in Scripture and the elders and pastors of various churches. In denominations, authority is vested in the session, presbytery, or other organizational structure. | “The Church’s Magisterium exercises the authority it holds from Christ to the fullest extent when it defines dogmas…” (CCC 88). | The Eastern Orthodox church is the true apostolic church, which is the authority to proclaim God’s word and reveal tradition. (goarch.org) |
| Baptism | An ordinance for believers (sometimes administered to covenant infants). It is not necessary for salvation. | A sacrament that forgives sins (CCC 977). It erases original sin (CCC 405) and grants justification (CCC 1992). | Baptism is a sacrament that is necessary for salvation. It is by three-fold immersion and washes away sin. |
| Church | The church is comprised of true believers who inhabit multiple physical locations in independent churches and denominations. | The Roman Catholic Church is the true church that has apostolic authority, the papacy, bishops, and priests. | “The Church, as a whole, is infallible…” (goarch.org) |
| Clergy | Pastors and Elders, sometimes Bishops, depending on the denomination. | Priests, Bishops, Cardinals, the Pope. | Bishops, priests, and deacon |
| Communion, Eucharist |
Protestant nation very slightly, but generally speaking, Communion is a symbol and signed the sacrifice of Christ. | The Roman Catholic Eucharist is a divine sacrifice (CCC 1068) that is a re-presentation of the sacrifice of the cross (CCC 1366), which is the same sacrifice of Christ (CCC 1367), that is also propitiatory (CCC 1367), that is for the reparation for the sins of both the living and the dead (CCC 1414), that is offered by the Catholic priest (CCC 1369), and to deny that it is such is to be anathematized (Trent: Canon 3). | Forgiveness of sins is obtained through the Eucharist since it presents the sacrifice of Christ. |
| Grace | Grace is the unmerited kindness in favor of God. It is not obtained through any action of ourselves. | Can be infused into the soul (CCC 1999; 2023), can be merited (CCC 2010, 2027), can be lost by sinning (CCC 1861, 1874) | In Eastern orthodoxy, grace is God’s uncreated energies mediated to believers. Through this grace, people become partakers of the divine nature. |
| Images | Images are not used in worship. It is not permitted to bow before images in a worship service. | Statues are often used as focal points of worship, representing spiritual things. It is permitted to bow before statues. | Icons are used in worship. They are windows into heaven (antiochian.org/icons). It is permitted to bow before icons for worship. |
| Justification | justification is a one-time event obtained by faith (Rom. 3:28-30; 4:5;5:1; 10:4; Gal. 2:16; 3:8; Phil. 3:9; Titus 3:5), not by any works of the Law (Rom. 3:20, 28; 4:5). Sin is breaking the Law of God (1 John 3:4). | Justification is granted through baptism (CCC 2020), not by faith alone (Trent, Justification, Canon 9, 14). It is maintained through a life of obedience and participation in the sacraments. | Justification refers to a process or state of becoming righteous. It is accomplished at baptism and maintained through a life of obedience. (orthodoxbridge.com) |
| Mary | Protestants honor Mary as the woman who was blessed to bear the Messiah. Protestants do not pray to Mary, nor do they seek her intercession in spiritual matters. | Mary is exalted far beyond what the Bible reveals. Mary never sinned (Immaculate Conception) and was assumed into heaven. 1) Mary is the all holy one (CCC 2677). 2) She is prayed to (CCC 2679). 3) She is Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix (CCC 969). 4) Mary brings eternal life by her intercession (CCC 969). 5) She helped make atonement for sins (Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, Ott, page 213). 6) She crushed the head of the serpent (Pope Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus). 7) She delivers souls from death (CCC 966). 8) When considering the Church, there is no better way than to look to Mary (CCC 972). 9) Catholics entrust themselves to Mary’s prayer (CCC 2677). 10) Catholics pray to Mary (CCC 2679). They can pray to Mary. | Mary is exalted far beyond what the Bible reveals. Not necessarily conceived without sin. It varies among Orthodox believers. They emphasize her role as the Theotokos (God-bearer). They can pray to Mary. |
| Penance | There is no penance by which we are made right with God. | “As a means of regaining grace and justice, penance was at all times necessary for those who had defiled their souls with any mortal sin…” (newadvent.org). | “The Sacrament of Penance (Confession) is, for Orthodox Christians, how those who have repented their sins, come before God and the Church to seek reconciliation and ask for divine forgiveness.” (goarch.org) |
| Purgatory | No such thing as Purgatory. | It is a temporary state after death where the Catholic undergoes purification. “Through indulgences, the faithful can obtain the remission of temporal punishment resulting from sin for themselves and also for the souls in Purgatory” (CCC 1498). | There are varying opinions within Orthodoxy. After death, it is a process of purification of the soul. It is not officially defined. |
| Sacraments | Generally, the sacraments are considered as symbols. There are two: Baptism and Communion. | Sacraments are a means of grace. They are necessary for salvation (CCC 1129) and “confer the grace that they signify” (CCC 1127). There are seven: Baptism, Confirmation (or Chrismation), the Eucharist, Penance, the Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony (CCC 1210). | A sacrament is a means of obtaining God’s grace. There are seven sacraments: baptism, confirmation, eucharist, repentance [first four are necessary for salvation], priesthood, anointing of the sick, marriage |
| Salvation | By faith alone, in Jesus alone. Not by works | Salvation is a process that includes baptism (CCC 405), good works (CCC 2068), participation in sacraments (CCC 1129), indulgences (CCC 1471, 1498), and penance (CCC 980). | Salvation is a process that continues in a person’s life and even into the next life. Salvation was found only in the Eastern Orthodox Church. (johnsanidopoulos.com). |
| Scripture | Scripture is the final authority, not church fathers or councils. It consists of 66 books: 39 in the O.T. and 27 in the N.T. The apocryphal is excluded. | The Catholic Bible consists of the standard Bible, including the Old and New Testaments. However, it adds Tradition, which is oral, the writings of the Church Fathers, and the ecumenical councils. Extra books in the Catholic Bible include Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Baruch, 1 and 2 Maccabees, additional chapters of Esther, and additional chapters of Daniel in its canon. | Scripture consists of the Bible (with apocryphal books) and Tradition, which is oral, the writings of the Church Fathers, and the ecumenical councils. Emphasizes early church interpretations. |
