Many of the doctrines that Protestant churches have inherited from the Catholic Church have little or no direct support from the Bible. Below is a list of these doctrines, along with an analysis of whether or not they are supported by Scripture.

1. Sunday Worship (Instead of the 7th-Day Sabbath)

Catholic Claim: The Church changed the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday.

Protestant Practice: Most Protestant churches worship on Sunday instead of the biblical Sabbath (Saturday).

Does the Bible Support It? ❌ NO

Biblical Analysis

• – Exodus 20:8-11 – The Bible clearly identifies the 7th day (Saturday) as the Sabbath, not the 1st day (Sunday).
• – Luke 4:16 – Yahusha (Jesus) kept the Sabbath.
• – Acts 17:2 – Paul kept the Sabbath as his custom, even when teaching Gentiles.

2. The Trinity (Three Distinct Persons in One Godhead)

Catholic Claim: God is a Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit — 3 ‘persons’ in 1 essence).

Protestant Practice: Most Protestants believe in the Trinity.

Does the Bible Support It? ❌ NO

Biblical Analysis

• – Deuteronomy 6:4 – The Bible declares that God is one, not three persons.
• – John 10:30 – Yahusha emphasizes oneness with the Father.
• – 1 Timothy 2:5 – There is one God, and one mediator, the man Christ Jesus.

3. The Immortal Soul (The Soul Lives On After Death)

Catholic Claim: The soul is immortal and lives on after death.

Protestant Practice: Most Protestants believe that at death, the soul goes immediately to heaven, hell, or purgatory.

Does the Bible Support It? ❌ NO

Biblical Analysis

• – Ezekiel 18:4 – The soul that sins, it shall die.
• – Ecclesiastes 9:5 – The dead know nothing.
• – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 – The dead are resurrected when Yahusha returns.

4. Eternal Hellfire (Unending Torment in Hell)

Catholic Claim: Sinners who die in a state of sin will be tormented forever in hell.

Protestant Practice: Most Protestants believe in an eternal hell of torment.

Does the Bible Support It? ❌ NO

Biblical Analysis

• – Romans 6:23 – The wages of sin is death
• – Revelation 20:14-15 – Death and hell are cast into the lake of fire, called the second death.
• – Matthew 13:41-42 (KJV):
  “The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

5. Infant Baptism

Catholic Claim: Infants should be baptized to wash away original sin.

Protestant Practice: Some Protestant denominations (Lutherans, Methodists, etc.) practice infant baptism.

Does the Bible Support It? ❌ NO

Biblical Analysis

• – Acts 2:38 – Repentance precedes baptism, and infants cannot repent.
• – Mark 16:16 – Belief precedes baptism, and infants cannot believe.

6. Christmas and Easter (Pagan Holy Days)

**Catholic Claim:** Christmas (December 25) and Easter (Resurrection Sunday) are Christian holidays.

Protestant Practice: Most Protestants celebrate these holidays.

Does the Bible Support It? ❌ NO

Biblical Analysis

• – Jeremiah 10:2-4 – Describes customs similar to setting up a Christmas tree.
• – Leviticus 23 – Lists God’s holy days, not Christmas or Easter.
• – Mark 7:7-9 – In vain they worship God, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

7. Confession of Sins to a Priest

Catholic Claim: Sins must be confessed to a priest for absolution.

Protestant Practice: Many Protestants confess sins to pastors or spiritual leaders.

Does the Bible Support It? ❌ NO

Biblical Analysis

• – 1 John 1:9 – Confess sins directly to God.
• – Hebrews 4:14-16 – Yahusha is our High Priest, and we can approach God directly.

Conclusion

Many of the doctrines observed by Protestant churches today have their roots in Catholic tradition rather than in direct biblical command. Doctrines such as Sunday worship, the Trinity, the immortal soul, and infant baptism were introduced by Catholic authorities or adopted from pagan traditions. Scripture, however, supports the observance of the 7th-day Sabbath, direct confession to God, and the understanding that the dead are asleep awaiting resurrection. It is important for all believers to test their doctrines and practices against the Word of God and not the traditions of men.

Other Doctrines Not Supported by Scripture

This document lists several doctrines and practices observed by Catholic and Protestant churches that are not supported by the Bible. While many of these teachings have been embraced as standard Christian doctrine, closer examination reveals that they are based on church tradition or human reasoning rather than direct biblical command.

1. Purgatory

Catholic Claim: The Catholic Church teaches that purgatory is a temporary place where souls are cleansed of sin before entering heaven.

Protestant Practice: Most Protestants reject purgatory, but some Protestant concepts of ‘soul sleep’ echo similar themes.

Does the Bible Support It? ❌ NO

Biblical Analysis

• – Hebrews 9:27 – It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this comes judgment.
• – Ecclesiastes 9:5 – The dead know nothing; they are not conscious in a place called purgatory.

2. Praying to Saints and Mary

Catholic Claim: Catholics pray to Mary and the saints as intercessors who can mediate on behalf of the living.

Protestant Practice: Most Protestants reject this, but some still honor saints and Mary.

Does the Bible Support It? ❌ NO

Biblical Analysis

• – 1 Timothy 2:5 – There is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
• – Deuteronomy 18:10-12 – God forbids attempting to contact the dead (necromancy).

3. Use of Holy Water

Catholic Claim: Holy water is used in Catholic rituals for purification and protection.

Protestant Practice: Some Protestant groups use blessed water for similar purposes.

Does the Bible Support It? ❌ NO

Biblical Analysis

• – Numbers 19:9-10 – The water of purification was used in the Old Testament but not in the same way as ‘holy water.’
• – John 4:24 – Worship must be in spirit and truth, not through objects like water.

4. Clergy Titles (Pope, Cardinal, Father, Reverend)

Catholic Claim: The Catholic Church uses titles such as Pope, Cardinal, Father, and Reverend for clergy.

Protestant Practice: Many Protestant denominations use the titles ‘Reverend,’ ‘Pastor,’ and ‘Bishop.’

Does the Bible Support It? ❌ NO

Biblical Analysis

• – Matthew 23:9 – Call no man ‘father’ upon the earth; only God is Father.
• – Psalm 111:9 – Holy and Reverend is God’s name, not man’s.

5. The Rosary

Catholic Claim: The Rosary is a string of beads used for repetitive prayers to Mary.

Protestant Practice: Most Protestants reject the use of the Rosary.

Does the Bible Support It? ❌ NO

Biblical Analysis

• – Matthew 6:7 – Do not use vain repetitions in prayer, as the heathen do.

6. The Sign of the Cross

Catholic Claim: Catholics make the sign of the cross as a gesture of blessing.

Protestant Practice: Some Protestants, such as Lutherans, may use it occasionally.

Does the Bible Support It? ❌ NO

Biblical Analysis

• – Deuteronomy 4:15-19 – God forbids the use of symbols and images in worship.

Conclusion

Many of the doctrines practiced by both Catholic and Protestant churches are not supported by Scripture. Doctrines like purgatory, praying to saints, the use of holy water, and infant baptism are rooted in human tradition, not biblical command. The Bible calls for worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24), repentance before baptism (Acts 2:38), and for confession to be made directly to God (1 John 1:9). It is essential that all believers test their doctrines against Scripture, which is the ultimate authority for faith and practice.

Doctrines Established by the Catholic Church and Adopted by Protestant Churches Tables

This document highlights doctrines and practices observed by Catholic and Protestant churches. It includes doctrines that have been retained from Catholic tradition, as well as those that are not supported by Scripture. The following tables summarize the analysis of these doctrines based on Catholic origin, Protestant practice, and biblical support.

Table 1: Doctrines Established by the Catholic Church and Adopted by Protestant Churches

Doctrine	Catholic Origin	Biblical Support
Sunday Worship	Yes	❌ No
Trinity	Yes (Council of Nicaea)	❌ No
Immortal Soul	Yes	❌ No
Eternal Hellfire	Yes	❌ No
Infant Baptism	Yes	❌ No
Christmas and Easter	Yes	❌ No
Clergy Titles (Pope, Cardinal, Father, Reverend)	Yes	❌ No
The Cross as a Symbol of Christianity	Yes	❌ No
Confession to a Priest	Yes	❌ No

Table 2: Doctrines Not Supported by Scripture

Doctrine	Catholic Origin	Protestant Practice	Biblical Support
Purgatory	Yes	No	❌ No
Praying to Saints and Mary	Yes	No	❌ No
Use of Holy Water	Yes	Some Protestants	❌ No
Clergy Titles (Pope, Cardinal, Father, Reverend)	Yes	Yes	❌ No
Confession to a Priest	Yes	Some Protestants	❌ No
The Rosary	Yes	No	❌ No
The Sign of the Cross	Yes	Some Protestants	❌ No

Conclusion

The analysis of doctrines observed by Catholic and Protestant churches reveals that many of them are rooted in Catholic tradition rather than direct biblical command. Doctrines such as Sunday worship, the Trinity, the immortal soul, and infant baptism were introduced by Catholic authorities or adopted from pagan traditions. Similarly, doctrines like purgatory, praying to saints, and the use of holy water are not found in Scripture. It is essential that all believers test their doctrines and practices against the Word of God, which is the ultimate authority for faith and practice.