Catholic vs. Church of Christ
A side-by-side comparison of Catholic and Church of Christ teaching on 16 questions, from Scripture and salvation to baptism, communion and church government.
Catholic
The Catholic Church is the largest Christian body, led by the pope as bishop of Rome and organized around the seven sacraments. It traces its line of bishops to the apostles and teaches that Scripture and Sacred Tradition together carry God’s revelation.
Church of Christ
The Churches of Christ come from the American Restoration Movement of the early 1800s, which sought to return to the pattern of the New Testament church. Congregations are independent, and they are known for weekly communion and unaccompanied singing.
At a glance
Where they differ: Authority: Scripture and tradition; Books of the Bible; How a person is saved; Baptism; Communion (the Lord’s Supper); Sacraments or ordinances; Church government; Mary and the saints; Death, purgatory and hell; Style of worship; The Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts.
Where they agree: The Trinity; Can a saved person fall away?; Predestination and free will; Clergy and women in ministry; Day of worship.
Side by side
| Question | Catholic | Church of Christ |
|---|---|---|
| Authority: Scripture and traditionDiffer | Scripture and Sacred Tradition together form one deposit of faith. The Magisterium, the teaching office of the pope and bishops, interprets both authoritatively. | The New Testament is the pattern for worship and church life. Practices are expected to be supported by a command, an example or a necessary inference from Scripture. |
| Books of the BibleDiffer | 73 books: the 66 Protestant books plus seven deuterocanonical books (Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, and 1 and 2 Maccabees) and additions to Esther and Daniel. | 66 books. |
| The TrinityAgree | One God in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Spirit is said to proceed from the Father and the Son (the filioque clause added to the Nicene Creed in the West). | One God in three persons. Churches of Christ have no written creed and rest the belief directly on Scripture. |
| How a person is savedDiffer | Salvation is God’s gift, received through faith and baptism. The believer cooperates with grace through works of love, and the sacraments are the ordinary channels of that grace. Justification is understood as a real inner renewal, not only a declaration. | Saved by grace, received through faith that includes repentance, confession of Christ and baptism. Baptism is taught as the point at which sins are forgiven, and faith is understood as active obedience. |
| Can a saved person fall away?Agree | Yes. A person can lose the grace of God through mortal sin, and it is restored through repentance and the sacrament of reconciliation (confession). | Yes. A Christian who lives in sin without repenting can fall away, and Churches of Christ point to warnings such as Hebrews 6 and 10. |
| Predestination and free willAgree | God knows and wills the salvation of the elect, and human free will genuinely cooperates with grace. The church condemns the view that God predestines anyone to damnation. | Rejects Calvinist predestination. God offers salvation to all and each person must choose to obey the gospel. |
| BaptismDiffer | A sacrament that cleanses original sin and begins new life in Christ. Infants are baptized, usually by pouring water, and adults are baptized after instruction. | Immersion of a believer for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). Baptism is taught as necessary for salvation, and infant baptism is rejected. |
| Communion (the Lord’s Supper)Differ | The Eucharist. Bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ (transubstantiation), and the whole Christ is truly present under their appearance. | A memorial observed every Sunday, since Acts 20:7 is taken to show the pattern of the early church. The elements are symbols. |
| Sacraments or ordinancesDiffer | Seven sacraments: baptism, confirmation, Eucharist, penance, anointing of the sick, holy orders and marriage. | Two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. |
| Church governmentDiffer | Governed by bishops in communion with the pope, who is the successor of Peter and holds universal authority. Priests serve under bishops. | Each congregation is fully autonomous and is led by a group of elders (also called shepherds or overseers). There is no denominational headquarters. |
| Clergy and women in ministryAgree | Priests and bishops must be men, and priests in the Latin Church are celibate. Women serve as religious sisters, teachers and lay leaders, but not as ordained clergy. | Elders, preachers and public worship leaders are men. Women teach children and other women and take part in many other roles. |
| Mary and the saintsDiffer | Mary is honored as Mother of God, and Catholics pray to her and the saints to intercede. Catholic teaching includes the Immaculate Conception, the Assumption and Mary’s perpetual virginity. | Mary is honored as the mother of Jesus. There is no prayer to saints, and no role for saints in worship. |
| Death, purgatory and hellDiffer | Those who die in grace but are not fully purified go through purgatory before heaven. The living pray for the dead. Hell is eternal separation from God. | The dead await judgment in Hades, in comfort or in torment. After the resurrection the righteous enter heaven and the wicked face eternal punishment. |
| Style of worshipDiffer | Highly liturgical. The Mass follows a set order, with readings, a homily and the Eucharist at the center. Worship uses vestments, incense and candles on many occasions. | A simple service of singing, prayer, preaching, communion and giving. Most congregations sing without instruments. |
| The Holy Spirit and spiritual giftsDiffer | The Spirit works through the sacraments, and the church recognizes gifts (charisms) of healing and prophecy. The Catholic Charismatic Renewal, begun in 1967, welcomes tongues, but it is not the norm. | Generally teaches that miraculous gifts, such as tongues and healing, ended with the apostolic age. The Spirit is understood to work through the written Word. |
| Day of worshipAgree | Sunday, the day of the resurrection. Catholics are obliged to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days. | Sunday, the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). |
| Best known for | Papal authority, the seven sacraments, the Mass, Marian devotion and a worldwide network of schools, hospitals and charities. | Weekly communion, unaccompanied singing, believer’s baptism for forgiveness and a determination to follow the New Testament pattern. |
“Agree” means the two traditions take the same broad position, although the wording above may still note finer differences. “Varies” means at least one of the two is itself divided on the question, so no single position can be given. These summaries describe typical teaching, and individual churches may vary. For an authoritative statement, consult each denomination’s own confessions.
Learn more on this site
- The Inspiration and Inerrancy of Scripture
- The Reliability of Scripture
- The Canon
- Textual Variants and "Lost Books" (Gnostic Gospels, Apocrypha)
- What Does the Bible Say About Salvation?
- Grace
- Justification
- Baptism
- Catholic Church
- Eastern Orthodox Church
- What Does the Bible Say About Heaven?
- What Does the Bible Say About Hell?
- What Does the Bible Say About Judgment Day?
- What Does the Bible Say About Worship?
- What Does the Bible Say About Spiritual Gifts?
- The Trinity
- The Deity of Christ
- Free Will, Predestination, and Divine Sovereignty
- Sabbath
More comparisons
Catholic
Church of Christ
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- Lutheran vs. Church of Christ
- Presbyterian / Reformed vs. Church of Christ
- Anglican / Episcopal vs. Church of Christ
- Methodist vs. Church of Christ
- Baptist vs. Church of Christ
- Anabaptist / Mennonite vs. Church of Christ
- Pentecostal vs. Church of Christ
- Seventh-day Adventist vs. Church of Christ
- Church of Christ vs. Non-denominational