This table is a comprehensive doctrinal comparison chart that systematically evaluates a wide range of Christian theological themes according to their creedal affirmation, doctrinal tier, alignment with Scripture, key supporting verses, and a concise explanatory detail for each. It includes foundational doctrines such as the Trinity, Incarnation, Resurrection, and Justification, alongside more controversial topics like Papal Infallibility, Purgatory, Sacramental Efficacy, and Marian dogmas. Each entry is assessed through the lens of Scripture’s authorial intent, with references categorized as Affirms, Rejects, or Requires Contextual Analysis. The creedal columns reference their affirmation in the Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian creeds, while the tier classification helps distinguish between primary, secondary, and tertiary matters of theological importance.

Introduction

This table is designed to aid readers, teachers, and theological students in discerning the clarity, coherence, and theological grounding of various doctrinal claims as measured by their correspondence to Scripture and the historical confessions of the Church. It is particularly useful for evaluating the degree to which teachings—especially those contested between Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant traditions—maintain fidelity to the biblical witness. The inclusion of explanatory notes offers interpretive insight into the theological and practical implications of each doctrine, helping readers understand not only what the Church has historically taught but also how those teachings stand when examined in light of Scripture’s testimony. In sum, this table serves as both a diagnostic and educational resource for those seeking to grow in doctrinal understanding, spiritual maturity, and alignment with the teachings handed down through the apostles and preserved in the canon of Scripture.

Spirit & Truth

According to Scripture, the Holy Spirit is the divine Person who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8), and it is through His power that the soul is drawn to repentance and faith. While Scripture is the clear and inspired foundation of all truth (2 Tim 3:16-17), the Spirit is not confined to written text alone; He works dynamically through the Church’s corporate life, including people, tradition, and liturgical expression, to lead believers into deeper holiness and communion with God. As seen in Acts 2:42, the early Christians devoted themselves not only to “the apostles’ teaching,” but also to “the fellowship, the breaking of bread, and the prayers”—practices which were deeply communal and rhythmically structured. This shows that the Spirit can and does move within ordered, historical expressions of worship and fellowship, drawing hearts to repentance and shaping them through patterns of faithfulness.

Tradition, when properly subordinate to Christ and aligned with the apostolic gospel, becomes a vessel through which the Spirit preserves and transmits the truths of God across generations. Paul exhorts the Thessalonians, “stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter” (2 Thess 2:15). Here, both oral and written instruction are presented as valid conduits of divine truth, passed on through the Church’s memory and practice. The Spirit, who indwells the Church (1 Cor 3:16), is able to guard the apostolic deposit through faithful teachers, creeds, catechisms, and councils that maintain continuity with biblical teaching. While tradition must never override Scripture, it often provides the scaffolding for the faithful interpretation of Scripture and the preservation of doctrinal clarity, shaping hearts toward sanctification and communion with the Triune God.

Furthermore, liturgy and historical continuity provide a sacred context for worship and spiritual formation, allowing believers to participate in rhythms of grace where the Spirit works over time. In Hebrews 12:28–29, the Church is called to offer to God “acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,” implying form and spiritual posture that is shaped by covenant history. When liturgical forms are grounded in Scripture, they become means by which the Spirit fosters humility, repentance, and worship “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). Through the repetition of ancient prayers, the celebration of the sacraments, and the participation in creedal confession, the believer is catechized into the gospel story. The Spirit uses these tools not merely as aesthetic or cultural expressions, but as spiritually formative practices that deepen our union with Christ (1 Cor 10:16–17), sanctify the soul, and bring about a life of obedient faith empowered by divine grace.

Framework & Grid

This doctrinal comparison table is a structured theological reference designed to assess a wide range of Christian teachings in light of their scriptural foundation, historical affirmation, and theological significance. Its primary purpose is to equip readers with a clear, comparative framework for evaluating core and contested doctrines—particularly those that distinguish Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant traditions. Each row addresses a specific doctrinal theme and includes five key categories: (1) Creedal Affirmation, indicating whether the doctrine is explicitly upheld in the Apostles’, Nicene, or Athanasian Creeds; (2) Doctrinal Necessity, classifying the issue as primary, secondary, or tertiary in terms of its necessity for faith and ecclesial unity; (3) Scriptural Fidelity, summarizing whether Scripture affirms, rejects, or requires contextual analysis for that doctrine; (4) Scriptural References, listing representative passages relevant to the issue; and (5) Explanatory Comments, offering a concise theological summary to clarify the issue’s meaning and implications. This table aims to support faithful discernment, doctrinal clarity, and responsible theological engagement grounded in the authority of Scripture and the confession of the historic Church.

Table of Topics