Compare
Assyrian Church of the EastandReformed and Presbyterian Churches
At a glance
- Common groundIn full: Common ground
- Common inheritanceNo direct historical relationship: the Church of the East developed beyond the Roman Empire from the 5th century, more than a thousand years before the Reformation. What they share is the Bible and the faith of Nicaea as each receives it.
2 sources
- The Christology of the Church of the East in the Synods of the Fifth to Early Seventh Centuries: Preliminary Considerations and MaterialsSource verified
- Christianity: The First Three Thousand YearsIdentified, not independently read
Provisional: broadly supported, but awaiting fuller checking.
- GodOne God in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit
- ChristChrist is fully divine and fully human
- Common inheritanceNo direct historical relationship: the Church of the East developed beyond the Roman Empire from the 5th century, more than a thousand years before the Reformation. What they share is the Bible and the faith of Nicaea as each receives it.
- Key differencesIn full: Key differences
- ChristAssyrian Church of the EastTwo natures and two qnome in one person (East Syriac)Reformed and Presbyterian ChurchesTwo natures united in one person, as defined at Chalcedon (451)
- Church and ministryAssyrian Church of the EastBishops governing in synods; self-governing churches without a universal headReformed and Presbyterian ChurchesElders and ministers in graded courts and synods
- Sacraments and ordinancesAssyrian Church of the EastChrist's body and blood are truly presentReformed and Presbyterian ChurchesChrist received after a heavenly and spiritual manner, by faith
Below: 1 more difference.
- How their histories connectIn full: How their histories connect
- Lines parted · 410–7th century · A gradual processA church beyond the Roman Empire (gradual estrangement)Read the account in Assyrian Church of the East
- Line of descentReformed and Presbyterian Churches took shape in the Reformation of the Western church under Rome (1519–1560).
- Connected today?In full: their relationship today
Not yet researched
The Atlas has not yet researched their present relationship. This is a gap, not evidence either way.
Composed from each tradition’s sourced records. Where a topic is not yet recorded for one side, the Atlas says so rather than guess.
Structured comparison. Composed from each tradition’s sourced position records. No research has yet been written for this particular pair, so the Atlas shows only what those records establish.
Where they differ
Christ
How Christ's divinity and humanity are expressed
- Assyrian Church of the East
- Two natures and two qnome in one person (East Syriac)
- Reformed and Presbyterian Churches
- Two natures united in one person, as defined at Chalcedon (451)
Creeds and councils
Councils received
- Assyrian Church of the East
- The Council of Nicaea (325); The Council of Ephesus (431) is not received
- Reformed and Presbyterian Churches
- Councils can err and are tested by Scripture
Sacraments and ordinances
Christ's presence in the Eucharist or Lord's Supper
- Assyrian Church of the East
- Christ's body and blood are truly present
- Reformed and Presbyterian Churches
- Christ received after a heavenly and spiritual manner, by faith
Church and ministry
Church government
- Assyrian Church of the East
- Bishops governing in synods; self-governing churches without a universal head
- Reformed and Presbyterian Churches
- Elders and ministers in graded courts and synods
Not yet comparable (7)
No sourced position is recorded for one side, so the Atlas does not say whether they agree:
- Creeds and councils (the nicene creed): not recorded for Reformed and Presbyterian Churches
- Scripture and authority (sources of authority): not recorded for Assyrian Church of the East
- Salvation and grace (characteristic emphasis): not recorded for Assyrian Church of the East
- Sacraments and ordinances (how the rites are understood and counted): not recorded for Assyrian Church of the East
- Sacraments and ordinances (who is baptised): not recorded for Assyrian Church of the East
- Church and ministry (ministry): not recorded for Reformed and Presbyterian Churches
- Mary and the saints (how mary is named): not recorded for Reformed and Presbyterian Churches
How their histories relate
The Atlas has no researched record of a direct historical relationship between these two. Not every pair of traditions experienced a schism or union with each other. Each took shape in its own way:
Their relationship today
Not yet researched
The Atlas has no researched record of the present relationship between these two. That is a gap in the research, not evidence of any particular relationship.
Developments towards reconciliation
No documented agreement or formal dialogue between these traditions is recorded in the Atlas.
Explore further
Assyrian Church of the East
All citations link to the Atlas’s single source register.