60-second overview
The broad family of churches that arose from the sixteenth-century Reformation and later related reform movements. It contains many traditions that disagree with one another on baptism, Communion, election, church government, worship, and spiritual gifts.
History and identity
Protestantism is a branch, not one denomination. Historic themes include the supreme authority of Scripture, justification by grace through faith, and reform of church doctrine and practice. Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, Anabaptist, Pentecostal, and many independent churches are Protestant in different senses.
What the group says about itself
What this group teaches and practices
No pope or single worldwide Protestant authority. Confessions and denominational standards vary. Some Protestants are sacramental and liturgical; others are free-church and informal.
Sources for this summary
Core teachings and practices
- No pope or single worldwide Protestant authority.
- Confessions and denominational standards vary.
- Some Protestants are sacramental and liturgical; others are free-church and informal.
Variation across churches
High variation within the groupThis umbrella is too broad for one proximity result; select a narrower Protestant tradition or church body.
What it shares with the Reformed Baptist Base Beliefs
This group is within historic Nicene Christianity, with broad agreement on the Triune God and Jesus Christ’s full deity and humanity. Other important differences may still remain.
Important differences from the Reformed Baptist Base Beliefs
The Reformed Baptist Base Beliefs are Protestant, but Protestantism is an umbrella containing Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, Anabaptist, Pentecostal, and other traditions. Their differences cannot be turned into one distance from the reference beliefs; choose a narrower tradition or church body.
How it relates to historic Nicene Christianity
Inside historic Nicene ChristianityThis group is within historic Nicene Christianity.
Boundary guideSources
The group’s own sources come first, followed by outside context and the guide’s comparison.
- Ligonier Ministries — The Five Solas of the ReformationVerifiedReputable secondary source
- Lausanne Movement — The Lausanne CovenantVerifiedOfficial doctrine
- World Evangelical Alliance — Statement of FaithVerifiedOfficial doctrine
- Pentecostal World Fellowship — Statement of FaithVerifiedOfficial doctrine
- Presbyterian Church in America — Westminster Confession of FaithVerifiedHistoric confession
- BookOfConcord.org / historical Lutheran confessions — The Book of ConcordVerifiedHistoric confession
- The Wesleyan Church — Articles of ReligionVerifiedOfficial doctrine