In Roman Catholic Theology and Practice, Gregg Allison, an evangelical theologian and church historian, helps readers understand the nuances of Roman Catholic teaching. Walking readers through the official Catechism of the Catholic Church, Allison summarizes and assesses Catholic doctrine from the perspective of both scripture and evangelical theology.

Table of Contents

• Dedication
• Contents
• Preface: Intrigue and Critique
• Abbreviations
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Scripture, Evangelical Theology, and Catholic Theology
• Scripture and Its Interpretation
• An Evangelical Vision of Life with God and Human Flourishing
• Catholic Theology as a Coherent, All-Encompassing System
• The Nature-Grace Interdependence
• Evangelical Assessment
• The Christ-Church Interconnection
• Evangelical Assessment
• Conclusion
• Part 1: The Profession of Faith
• 3 The Profession of Faith (Part 1, Section 1, Chapters 1–3) The Human Capacity for God; the Doctrine of Revelation; the Doctrine of Faith
• Introduction: The Nature and Shape of the Catechism
• The Human Capacity for God (Sec. 1, Ch. 1)
• Evangelical Assessment
• The Doctrine of Revelation: God Comes to Meet Human Beings (Sec. 1, Ch. 2)
• The Revelation of God (Art. 1)
• The Transmission of Divine Revelation (Art. 2)
• Sacred Scripture (Art. 3)
• Evangelical Assessment
• Divine Revelation
• The Transmission of Divine Revelation/Sola Scriptura
• Scripture and Its Interpretation
• The Canon of Scripture
• The Authoritative Interpretation of Scripture
• The Doctrine of Faith: The Human Response to God (Sec. 1, Ch. 3)
• Evangelical Assessment
• 4 The Profession of Faith (Part 1, Section 2, Chapter 1, Article 1—Chapter 3, Article 8) The Doctrines of God, Angels, Humanity, and Sin; the Doctrines of the Person of Christ, the Incarnation, and the Immaculate Conception of Mary; the Work of Christ; Christ's Resurrection, Ascension, and Second Coming; the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit
• The Doctrines of God, Angels, Humanity, and Sin: “I believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth” (Sec. 2, Ch. 1, Art. 1)
• Evangelical Assessment
• The Doctrine of the Person of Jesus Christ: “… and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord” (Sec. 2, Ch. 2, Art. 2)
• Evangelical Assessment
• The Doctrine of the Incarnation and the Doctrine of the Immaculate Conception: “he was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and was born of the Virgin Mary” (Sec. 2, Ch. 2, Art. 3)
• Evangelical Assessment
• The Doctrine of the Work of Jesus Christ: “Jesus Christ suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried” (Sec. 2, Ch. 2, Art. 4)
• Evangelical Assessment
• The Doctrine of the Resurrection: “he descended into hell, on the third day he rose again” (Sec. 2, Ch. 2, Art. 5)
• Evangelical Assessment
• The Doctrine of the Ascension: “he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father” (Sec. 2, Ch. 2, Art. 6)
• Evangelical Assessment
• The Doctrine of the Second Coming and Divine Judgment: “from thence he will come again to judge the living and the dead” (Sec. 2, Ch. 2, Art. 7)
• Evangelical Assessment
• The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit: “I believe in the Holy Spirit” (Sec. 2, Ch. 3, Art. 8)
• Evangelical Assessment
• 5 The Profession of Faith (Part 1, Section 2, Chapter 3, Article 9) The Doctrine of the Church
• The Doctrine of the Church: “I believe in the holy catholic church” (Sec. 2, Ch. 3, Art. 9; Para. 1–3)
• Evangelical Assessment
• General Assessment
• Oneness/Unity
• Holiness
• Catholicity
• Apostolicity
• The Doctrine of the Church: “I believe in the holy catholic church” (Sec. 2, Ch. 3, Art. 9; Para. 4–6)
• Evangelical Assessment
• Catholic Clergy/Hierarchy
• Catholic Laity
• Catholic Religious
• The Communion of Saints
• Mary as Mother of the Church
• 6 The Profession of Faith (Part 1, Section 2, Chapter 3, Articles 10–12) The Doctrines of Salvation, Our Future Resurrection, and Eternal Life
• The Doctrine of Salvation: “I believe in the forgiveness of sins” (Sec. 2, Ch. 3, Art. 10)
• Evangelical Assessment
• The Doctrine of Our Future Resurrection: “I believe in the resurrection of the body” (Sec. 2, Ch. 3, Art. 11)
• Evangelical Assessment
• The Doctrine of Eternal Life: “I believe in life everlasting” (Sec. 2, Ch. 3, Art. 12)
• Evangelical Assessment
• Conclusion
• Part 2: The Celebration of the Christian Mystery
• 7 The Celebration of the Christian Mystery (Part 2, Section 1) The Liturgy and the Sacramental Economy
• Introduction: Why the Liturgy?
• Evangelical Assessment
• The Sacramental Economy (Sec. 1)
• The Liturgy—Work of the Holy Trinity (Sec. 1, Ch. 1, Art. 1)
• Evangelical Assessment
• The Paschal Mystery in the Church's Sacraments (Sec. 1, Ch. 1, Art. 2)
• Evangelical Assessment
• The Sacramental Celebration of the Paschal Mystery (Sec. 1, Ch. 2)
• Celebrating the Church's Liturgy (Sec. 1, Ch. 2, Art. 1), and Liturgical Diversity and the Unity of the Mystery (Sec. 1, Ch. 2, Art. 2)
• Evangelical Assessment
• 8 The Celebration of the Christian Mystery (Part 2, Section 2, 259 Chapter 1, Articles 1–2) The Seven Sacraments; The Sacraments of Christian Initiation: Baptism and Confirmation
• The Seven Sacraments of the Church (Sec. 2)
• The Sacraments of Christian Initiation (Sec. 2, Ch. 1)
• The Sacrament of Baptism (Sec. 2, Ch. 1, Art. 1)
• Evangelical Assessment
• Introductory Matters
• Biblical Basis
• Historical Development
• Faith and Baptism
• Extraordinary Scenarios
• The Sacrament of Confirmation (Sec. 2, Ch. 1, Art. 2)
• Evangelical Assessment
• 9 The Celebration of the Christian Mystery (Part 2, Section 2, 299 Chapter 1, Article 3) The Eucharist
• The Sacrament of the Eucharist (Sec. 2, Ch. 1, Art. 3)
• Excursus: The Contemporary Celebration of the Sacrament of the Eucharist
• Evangelical Assessment
• Sacramental Interpretation of the “Bread of Life” Discourse
• Prefigurations of the Eucharist
• The Dogma of Transubstantiation
• Re-presentation of Christ's Sacrifice
• The Church's Participation in the Offering of Christ
• Infusion of Grace
• Ongoing Worship of Christ
• Relationship of the Eucharist to Penance
• 10 The Celebration of the Christian Mystery (Part 2, Section 2,327 Chapter 2, Articles 4–5) The Sacraments of Healing: Penance and Reconciliation; Anointing of the Sick
• The Sacraments of Healing (Sec. 2, Ch. 2)
• The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation (Sec. 2, Ch. 2, Art. 4)
• Evangelical Assessment
• Penance Is Not a Sacrament
• Pre- and Post-Baptismal Sins
• Two Moments of Conversion
• Acts of Penance
• The Two-Sided Nature of Sin
• Mortal and Venial Sins
• Human and Divine Action
• Two Effects of Penance
• Indulgences
• The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick (Sec. 2, Ch. 2, Art. 5)
• Evangelical Assessment
• Anointing of the Sick Is Not a Sacrament
• Other Disagreements
• 11 The Celebration of the Christian Mystery (Part 2, Section 2,357 Chapter 3, Articles 6–7) The Sacraments at the Service of Communion: Holy Orders; Matrimony
• The Sacraments at the Service of Communion (Sec. 2, Ch. 3)
• The Sacrament of Holy Orders (Sec. 2, Ch. 3, Art. 6)
• Evangelical Assessment
• Church Government/Offices
• Old Covenant Levitical Priesthood
• Two Aspects of the Priesthood
• Ministerial Effectiveness
• Celebration and Recipients of the Sacrament
• The Sacrament of Matrimony (Sec. 2, Ch. 3, Art. 7)
• Evangelical Assessment
• Conclusion
• Part 3: Life in Christ
• 12 Life in Christ (Part 3, Section 1, Chapters 1–2) Human Vocation: Life in the Spirit; the Human Community
• Human Vocation: Life in the Spirit (Sec. 1)
• The Dignity of the Human Person (Sec. 1, Ch. 1)
• Man: The Image of God (Sec. 1, Ch. 1, Art. 1)
• Our Vocation to Beatitude (Sec. 1, Ch. 1, Art. 2)
• Human Freedom (Sec. 1, Ch. 1, Art. 3)
• The Morality of Human Acts (Sec. 1, Ch. 1, Art. 4)
• The Morality of the Passions (Sec. 1, Ch. 1, Art. 5)
• Moral Conscience (Sec. 1, Ch. 1, Art. 6)
• The Virtues (Sec. 1, Ch. 1, Art. 7)
• Sin (Sec. 1, Ch. 1, Art. 8)
• Evangelical Assessment
• The Human Community (Sec. 1, Ch. 2)
• The Person and Society (Sec. 1, Ch. 2, Art. 1)
• Participation in Social Life (Sec. 1, Ch. 2, Art. 2)
• Social Justice (Sec. 1, Ch. 2, Art. 3)
• Evangelical Assessment
• 13 Life in Christ (Part 3, Section 1, Chapter 3) Salvation; Law; Grace and Justification; Merit; the Church, Mother and Teacher
• God's Salvation: Law and Grace (Sec. 1, Ch. 3)
• The Moral Law (Sec. 1, Ch. 3, Art. 1)
• Grace and Justification; Merit (Sec. 1, Ch. 3, Art. 2)
• The Church, Mother and Teacher (Sec. 1, Ch. 3, Art. 3)
• Evangelical Assessment
• Law
• Grace and Justification
• Merit
• The Church, Mother and Teacher
• Conclusion
• Conclusion
• 14 Evangelical Ministry with Catholics