Conservatism

• Evangelical Protestantism

  Evangelicals hold that Christians are saved by grace through faith in atonement. Evangelicals are committed to spreading the word of Jesus. The authority of the Bible is based on texts in particular. 'All scripture is inspired by God' - Timothy 3:16-17 - 'No prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's interpretations [...] but men moved by Holy Spirit spoke from God - 2 Peter 1:20-21. The Evangelical view of the Bible is that it is literally true.
• 'All scripture is inspired by God' Timothy 3:16-17
• 'No prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's interpretations [...] but men moved by Holy Spirit spoke from God 2 Peter 1:20-21
• Catholicism believes that the Bible is inspired by God but has a different approach to that of Evangelical Protestantism.
• Catholics believe in the Apostolic tradition and the Apostolic succession
• Apostolic Tradition


  Jesus commanded his Apostles to preach the gospel to everyone, this was done orally from Jesus' and the Holy Spirit's teachings and in writing inspired by the Holy Spirit. This was carried on through the Apostolic Succession
• Apostolic Succession


  Jesus' apostles appointed Bishops as their successors, and the Bishops were given teaching authority, and this has established a continued line until the end of time
• For Catholics, both scripture and tradition have equal authority.
• The whole body of the Catholic faith is 'inerrant' (without mistakes) in matters of belief because there is a sensus fidei ('Instinct of faith') that allows the faithful to recognise authentic Christian doctrine and to reject the false
• Article 3 of the Catechism

  Sacred scripture is not the word of humans but is God's word written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. God chose the human authors and inspired them to write what he wanted. The Old Testament and the New Testament are without errors because they were inspired by God. Truth comes in all different forms in the Bible. The original copies were without errors, however, over time imperfect copying and translating has led to it being imperfect
• Article 3 of the Catechism - To interpret scripture 


  In order to interpret scripture scripture as a whole must be seen as unity, it must be read within the living tradition of the Church and the interpreter must be attentitive to the analogy of faith