Same Words, Different Worlds: Do Roman Catholics and Evangelicals Believe the Same Gospel?

by Leonardo De Chirico

Overview

Do Evangelical Protestants and Roman Catholics share a common orthodoxy, as promoted by initiatives such as Evangelicals and Catholics Together—Or do the profound differences between Evangelical and Catholic theology and how they view the doctrines of Christ, the Church and salvation mean they actually hold to very different gospels?

Same Words, Different Worlds explores whether Evangelicals and Catholics have the same gospel if they have core commitments that contradict. It lays out how the words used to understand the gospel are the same but differ drastically in their underlying theology.

With keen insight, Leonardo de Chirico looks at various aspects of Roman Catholic theology - including Mary, the intercession of the saints, purgatory and papal infallibility - from an Evangelical perspective to argue that theological framework of Roman Catholicism is not faithful to the biblical gospel. Only by understanding the real differences can genuine dialogue flourish.

Same Words, Different Worlds will deepen your understanding of the differences between Evangelical and Catholic theology, and how the Reformation is not over in the church today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781789743609
Publisher:	IVP
Publication date:	10/21/2021
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	5.43(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Leonardo De Chirico is pastor of the Church Breccia di Roma and lecturer in historical theology at the Istituto di Formazione Evangelica e Documentazione in Padova, Italy. He earned degrees in History (University of Bologna), Theology (ETCW, Bridgend, Wales) and Bioethics (University of Padova). His PhD is from King’s College (London) and was published as' Evangelical Theological Perspectives on Post-Vatican II Roman Catholicism' (Bern-Oxford: Peter Lang 2003). He directs the Reformanda Initiative, cohosts it's podcast, and is author of several books, including A Christian’s Pocket Guide to the Papacy, Same Words, Different Worlds. Do Roman Catholics and Evangelicals Believe the Same Gospel?, and Engaging with Thomas Aquinas: An Evangelical Approach. He blogs on Vatican and Roman Catholic issues from an evangelical perspective at Vatican Files.

Table of Contents

Foreword
Introduction
1 - Same Words, Same World-yet Questioning Some Common Places
2 - Different Words: Exploring the Doctrinal Field
3 - Different Words: Digging in to Specific terms
4 - A Different World: Connecting it's words, investigating the core of the Roman Catholic world
Conclusion
Appendix 1 - Is the Reformation Over?
Appendix 2 - Nine Key People You Should Know to Understand Vatican II
Appendix 3 - Why Evangelicals Must Engage Roman Catholicism
Bibliography

Editorial Reviews

Leonardo De Chirico's Same Words, Different Worlds is an authoritative, clear, and compelling account. He knows of what he speaks: fluffy-minded evangelicals confused about "contemporary" Roman Catholicism, read and learn.

Dr. Josh Moody (Ph.D. University of Cambridge)

How can I stand next to my Roman Catholic friend and say the words, "We believe in the one holy catholic and apostolic faith" and mean something completely different by the words: "We", "believe", "in", "the one", "holy", Catholic", "Apostolic" and "faith"?
De Chirico, an Italian National and church planter in Rome, is better placed than anyone to act as a bridge between evangelicals and Roman Catholics. This book provides the key to understanding these differences, avoiding pitfalls and communicating more effectively with Roman Catholics.
De Chirico's book is a powerful tool to help us talk about the Jesus whom we love with the people in our lives whom we love who live in a world influenced by Roman Catholicism.

Rev Dr Mark Gilbert

This book is easily the most profound analysis of the Roman Catholic ‘world’ available today. The fact that it is also the most lucid and accessible makes it remarkable. In a measured and eirenic way the author peels back the subtle deceptions through which, over the best part of two millennia, the Papacy has mis-represented the Chistian faith

Ranald Macaulay

In current ecumenical dialogue the emphasis is on agreement, with disputed points either left to one side or treated as secondary. Dr De Chirico takes issue with this approach and argues that the questions that divided the Western Church in the sixteenth century have not gone away and must still be faced. Evangelicals and Catholics hold some things in common, but as this book shows, their differences are important and cannot be overlooked.

Gerald Bray

Just as Luther's own debates with Rome clarified his theology, so this book helps evangelicals think more clearly about the gospel and so helps us be more truly evangelical... this book not only gives us wisdom: it takes us deep into the joy-giving world of the gospel.