Gregg Allison - The Unfinished Reformation: What Unites and Divides Catholics and Protestants After 500 Years

What Gregg Allison and Chris Castaldo have done in this important book is unique: they carefully explore the many areas where Protestants and Catholics agree but also disagree. Ive seen exhortations to unity, and Ive seen polemics for division, but Ive never seen one volume deal so well with both commonality and also disagreement. Knowing their personal ministry, though, Im not surprised that Allison and Castaldo exhibit such grace alongside truth.

Collin Hansen, editorial director, the Gospel Coalition,
and author, Blind Spots: Becoming a Courageous,
Compassionate, and Commissioned Church

This book is a model of gracious and principled dialogue, as much for its tone as its content. I heartily recommended it for all who care about theology and the particular conversation between evangelical Protestants and Roman Catholics.

Gerald Hiestand, Executive Director,
the Center for Pastor Theologians

This book blows a welcome breeze into the stifling and oppressive debates between Protestants and Catholics. Too often each side labels the other a false church and refuses to see the good the other tradition offers. Allison and Castaldo refuse to be this simplisticnot to mention uncharitablein their approach. Congenial in their tolerance while never obscuring real differences, the authors lay out the main points of disagreement between these two Christian traditions. If you are a Protestant with a Catholic in your life, or vice versa, you need this book in your library.

Bryan Litfin, Professor of Theology, Moody Bible Institute

The Unfinished Reformation is an accessible, well-written explanation of Catholic beliefs, Protestant beliefs, and how the two relate. The layperson can read this book and feel equipped to have well-rounded conversations about faith with his Catholic or Protestant neighbor.

Ed Stetzer, Billy Graham Distinguished Chair, Wheaton College

Many Christians are aware that there are fundamental differences between Protestants and Roman Catholics but are unsure exactly what these differences are or how much they really matter. Some may regard them as trivial, while others may struggle to see how there can be Christians in both groups. The Unfinished Reformation sets out clearly and simply where the differences lie. The differences are not minimized, nor are they magnified. Where Protestants have often misrepresented Roman Catholicsthis is pointed out. At the same time there is no pretense that no differences exist. This book is to be warmly commended to those wishing to understand these issues better.

Tony Lane, Professor of Historical Theology,
London School of Theology

This is the best treatment I have read on understanding what continues to unite and divide Catholics and Protestants. While considering the historic roots of the Reformation in the sixteenth century, Gregg Allison and Chris Castaldo also remain sensitive to the significant doctrinal shifts of the twentieth century and our contemporary context. They are informed but not pedantic, accessible but not simplistic. Both scholar and layperson will benefit. I heartily recommend this book to Catholics and Protestants alike who desire an honest and thoughtful way to approach the other side of the divided family.

Rev. Dr. Camden M. Bucey, President, Reformed Forum; Pastor,
Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Grayslake, Illinois

Allison and Castaldo have provided a book that is both timely and thoughtfula book that at the same time looks fondly on the Reformation yet asks the important question of these reforms for today. Their approach is especially sensitive to the realities of divided families, one Catholic and one Protestant, yet aware of how Catholics and Protestants find themselves united on struggles to end abortion. This is a book that will educate the novice and provoke thought in the expert.

Ryan M. Reeves, Associate Professor of Historical Theology and Dean
of Jacksonville Campus of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

GREGG R. ALLISON

The Baker Compact Dictionary of Theological Terms

Roman Catholic Theology and Practice: An Evangelical Assessment

Sojourners and Strangers: The Doctrine of the Church

Historical Theology: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine

CHRIS CASTALDO

The Grammar of Justification: The Doctrines of Peter Martyr Vermigli and John Henry Newman and Their Ecumenical Implications

Talking with Catholics about the Gospel: A Guide for Evangelicals

Una Fe Renovada: Historia, doctrina, experiencia

y el peregrinar del catlico y el evanglico

Holy Ground: Walking with Jesus as a Former Catholic

ZONDERVAN

The Unfinished Reformation

Copyright 2016 by Gregg Allison and Chris Castaldo

ePub Edition August 2016: ISBN 978-0-3105-2794-7

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Allison, Gregg R., author.

Title: The unfinished Reformation : why Catholics and Protestants are still divided 500 years later / Gregg Allison and Chris Castaldo.

Description: Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 2016.

Identifiers: LCCN 2016019024 | ISBN 9780310527930 (softcover)

Subjects: LCSH: Protestant churches--Relations--Catholic Church. | Catholic Church--Relations--Protestant churches.

Classification: LCC BX4818.3 .A45 2016 | DDC 280/.042--dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016019024

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version). Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.Zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

The authors wish to thank Baker Book House for their permission to quote from Gregg R. Allisons Baker Compact Dictionary of Theological Terms (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2016).

Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Cover design: John Hamilton

Interior design: Kait Lamphere

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We dedicate this book to our siblings:

Terry Allison,

who as a husband, father, grandfather,

and pastor to hundreds and hundreds of children,

is a stellar example of faithfulness, perseverance,

and fruitfulness in ministry.

Jeanette Castaldo,

your vibrant witness for Christ

your kindness, strength, generosity, and love

bears testimony to the beauty of the gospel.

We rise up and call you blessed.

The dove descending breaks the air