Reply to Melanchthon: Justification #1

Last updated on: September 5, 2024 at 12:48 pm By Dave Armstrong

Moral Assurance of Salvation / Examination of Conscience / Bible On Apostasy / Initial Justification & Faith Alone Philip Melanchthon (1497-1560) was the founder of Protestantism: Martin Luther’s best friend, co-reformer, and successor as the leader of Lutheranism. Encyclopaedia Britannica (“Philipp Melanchthon“) states that “Melanchthon . . . in 1521 published the Loci communes rerum theologicarum (‘Theological Commonplaces’), the first systematic treatment of Reformation thought.” It’s considered the initiatory work in the Lutheran scholastic tradition. Modified editions appeared in 1535,... Read more

Bible vs. “Faith Alone”: 120 NT & 30 OT Proofs

Last updated on: February 19, 2026 at 3:54 pm By Dave Armstrong

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. . . from 26 out of 27 NT Books My own biblical citations are from RSV. Protestants believe that we are justified in a one-time occurrence, and that it is imputed (we are declared righteous by God). Catholics agree that initial justification is monergistic: a purely gratuitous act of God alone — wholly by His grace — without any participation or works on our part; but only faith (over against Pelagianism and Semi-Pelagianism, or “works salvation”). Both sides... Read more

Jesus Rebuked Mary at Cana? (vs. Dr. Robert Gagnon)

Last updated on: September 17, 2024 at 11:46 pm By Dave Armstrong

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Dr. Robert A. J. Gagnon (see his Facebook page; public posts) is a Visiting Scholar in Biblical Studies at Wesley Biblical Seminary; formerly Professor of Biblical Studies at Houston Christian University and Associate Professor of New Testament at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He obtained a Master of Theological Studies (MTS): Biblical Studies degree from Harvard Divinity School and a (Ph.D.) in New Testament Studies, magna cum laude, from Princeton Theological Seminary. Dr. Gagnon grew up Catholic, and he wrote on 8-17-24: I didn’t find Christ in Catholicism . . . I... Read more

Mariolatry in Ubi Primum (1849)? (vs. Dr. Robert Gagnon)

Last updated on: September 17, 2024 at 11:47 pm By Dave Armstrong

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Mary’s Assumption: Reply to Gavin Ortlund

Last updated on: August 23, 2024 at 12:55 pm By Dave Armstrong

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Its “Late” Development / Two 4th Century Witnesses / Protestant Commentators on Revelation 12 / Biblical Arguments Dr. Gavin Ortlund is a Reformed Baptist author, speaker, pastor, scholar, and apologist for the Christian faith. He has a Ph.D. from Fuller Theological Seminary in historical theology, and an M.Div from Covenant Theological Seminary. Gavin is the author of seven books as well as numerous academic and popular articles. For a list of publications, see his CV. He runs the very popular YouTube channel Truth Unites,... Read more

Immaculate Conception: Reply to Gavin Ortlund

Last updated on: August 25, 2024 at 6:51 pm By Dave Armstrong

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Including Analysis of Catholic Anathemas in Dogmatic Statements / Development of Doctrine and Mary Dr. Gavin Ortlund is a Reformed Baptist author, speaker, pastor, scholar, and apologist for the Christian faith. He has a Ph.D. from Fuller Theological Seminary in historical theology, and an M.Div from Covenant Theological Seminary. Gavin is the author of seven books as well as numerous academic and popular articles. For a list of publications, see his CV. He runs the very popular YouTube channel Truth Unites, which seeks to... Read more

Reply to a Protestant: Misc. Protestant Errors

Last updated on: August 17, 2024 at 6:25 pm By Dave Armstrong

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Includes Biblical Arguments for the Catholic Priesthood This discussion and dispute began with a meme that I put up. It stated (numbers added): Protestantism: [1] Where everyone is a priest except priests, [2] Where everyone can bind and loose except bishops, [3] Where you can command angels but not ask their help, [4] Where you can talk to the devil but not to saints, [5] Where everyone gets a crown except the Virgin Mary, [6] Where everyone can interpret Scripture... Read more

Meaning of “Live by Faith” (Hab 2:4, Rom 1:17, etc.)

Last updated on: August 17, 2024 at 10:19 am By Dave Armstrong

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I will be interacting with an excellent, ecumenical, and thought-provoking article, entitled “Interpreting Faith in the Reformation: Catholic and Protestant Interpretations of Habakkuk 2:4b and Its New Testament Quotations” (Mario M. C. Melendez, Themelios, Vol. 45, Issue 2, August 2020). Mario M. C. Melendez is Auguie Henry Chair of Bible and assistant professor of Old Testament and biblical studies at Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Oklahoma. His words will be in blue, Martin Luther’s in green, and John Calvin’s in... Read more

Various Protestant Errors (vs. Steve Gregg)

Last updated on: August 17, 2024 at 2:31 pm By Dave Armstrong

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***** Protestant Steve Gregg’s words will be in blue. See his online biography. ***** This began with a thread on my Facebook page where I posted a meme. It read as follows (numbers added for the sake of reference): Protestantism: [1] Where everyone is a priest except priests, [2] Where everyone can bind and loose except bishops, [3] Where you can command angels but not ask their help, [4] Where you can talk to the devil but not to saints,... Read more

Reply to Luther’s “On the Councils & the Church”

Last updated on: August 14, 2024 at 11:55 pm By Dave Armstrong

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Martin Luther completed his treatise, On the Councils and the Church in March 1539. In Luther’s Works (Vol. 41) it takes up 170 pages (9-178; translated in 1966). In the Introduction included in that volume, the editors observe: Luther’s On the Councils and the Church represents his final judgment concerning the medieval church as well as the first broad foundation for a new doctrine of the church within nascent Lutheranism. . . . Luther concludes from his analysis that although councils... Read more

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