Compare
Eastern Catholic ChurchesandLutheranism
At a glance
- Common groundIn full: Common ground
- Common inheritanceThe Western (Latin) church: Protestant churches grew, directly or through later movements, from the 16th-century Reformation of the Western church, so until then their history and that of the Catholic Church is one history.
2 sources
- Christianity: The First Three Thousand YearsIdentified, not independently read
- Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of JustificationSource verified
Provisional: broadly supported, but awaiting fuller checking.
- GodOne God in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit
- ChristChrist is fully divine and fully human; Two natures united in one person, as defined at Chalcedon (451)
- Sacraments and ordinancesChrist's body and blood are truly present; Infants are baptised
- Common inheritanceThe Western (Latin) church: Protestant churches grew, directly or through later movements, from the 16th-century Reformation of the Western church, so until then their history and that of the Catholic Church is one history.
- Key differencesIn full: Key differences
- Scripture and authorityEastern Catholic ChurchesScripture and Tradition, interpreted by the bishops in communion with the popeLutheranismScripture as the supreme authority for faith and life
- Mary and the saintsEastern Catholic ChurchesThe saints, above all Mary, are venerated and asked for their prayersLutheranismThe saints are remembered as examples but not invoked
Below: 2 topics where teaching varies.
- How their histories connectIn full: How their histories connect
- Lines parted · Various, 16th–20th centuries · A gradual processUnions with Rome (ecclesial union)Read the account in Eastern Catholic Churches
- Line of descentLutheranism took shape in the Reformation of the Western church under Rome (1517–1530).
- 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
Scripture and authority
Sources of authority
- Eastern Catholic Churches
- Scripture and Tradition, interpreted by the bishops in communion with the pope
- Lutheranism
- Scripture as the supreme authority for faith and life
Mary and the saints
Asking the saints to pray
- Eastern Catholic Churches
- The saints, above all Mary, are venerated and asked for their prayers
- Lutheranism
- The saints are remembered as examples but not invoked
Where teaching varies within a tradition (2)
Sacraments and ordinances
How the rites are understood and counted
- Eastern Catholic Churches
- Seven sacraments (holy mysteries)
- Lutheranism
- Lutheran confessions usually speak of Baptism and the Lord's Supper; some also count absolution. No fixed number is recorded here.
Church and ministry
Church government
- Eastern Catholic Churches
- Bishops in communion with the pope, who holds universal jurisdiction
- Lutheranism
- Episcopal in some churches, synodical or congregational in others.
Ministry
- Eastern Catholic Churches
- Bishops in historic apostolic succession
- Lutheranism
- Some Lutheran churches keep the historic episcopate; others do not regard it as necessary.
Not yet comparable (6)
No sourced position is recorded for one side, so the Atlas does not say whether they agree:
- Creeds and councils (the filioque): not recorded for Eastern Catholic Churches
- Creeds and councils (councils received): not recorded for Lutheranism
- Salvation and grace (characteristic emphasis): not recorded for Eastern Catholic Churches
- Sacraments and ordinances (how christ's presence is explained): not recorded for Eastern Catholic Churches
- Mary and the saints (how mary is named): not recorded for Lutheranism
- Day of worship (weekly day of worship): not recorded for Lutheranism
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
Eastern Catholic Churches
All citations link to the Atlas’s single source register.