Presbyterian
Presbyterianism is the Scottish and Anglo-American branch of the broader Calvinist-Reformed tradition, distinguished primarily by its form of church governance and its confession of faith. Presbyterian churches are governed by ruling and teaching elders (presbyters) organized into sessions (local), presbyteries (regional), synods, and general assemblies — a democratic, non-hierarchical polity without bishops. The confessional standard of the Presbyterian tradition is the Westminster Confession of Faith (1647) and the Westminster Shorter and Larger Catechisms, produced by the Westminster Assembly convened by the English Parliament during the Civil War. Presbyterian theology shares the classic Reformed doctrines of TULIP, covenant theology, the sovereignty of God, double predestination, and sola Scriptura, while placing particular emphasis on the moral law and explicit Sabbatarianism. Major Presbyterian bodies include the Church of Scotland, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Presbyterian Church in America, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, and numerous churches in Korea, Nigeria, and Australia.
Theology
Christology
Soteriology
Salvation
Affirms
Sovereign grace alone; justification by faith, covenant theology
Atonement & Ransom
Nuanced
Definite atonement: Christ effectively redeemed the elect specifically
Predestination
Affirms
Double predestination: election and reprobation both sovereignly decreed
Original Sin
Affirms
Total depravity inherited; Adam's guilt and corruption imputed to all
Eschatology
Soul & Afterlife
Affirms
Souls consciously survive death; resurrection at the Last Day
Hell
Affirms
Eternal conscious punishment for the reprobate; affirmed in the Standards
Heaven
Affirms
Eternal blessedness with God; bodily resurrection assured for the elect
Second Coming
Affirms
Personal return of Christ; universal resurrection and judgment certain
Millennium
Nuanced
Westminster silent on millennium; amillennial and postmillennial both present
Ecclesiology
Scripture
Scripture Interpretation
John 1:1 — "The Word Was God"
Affirms
John 1:1 affirms Christ's eternal deity; classical Trinitarian reading
Isaiah 7:14 — "Virgin or Young Woman"
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 prophesies virgin birth; messianic prophecy fulfilled in Matthew
Matthew 16:18 — "Upon This Rock"
Nuanced
Rock is Christ; no papal primacy; Peter's confession and faith affirmed
Romans 9:18-21 — "God's Sovereign Choice"
Affirms
God's absolute sovereignty and unconditional election affirmed
James 2:24 — "Justified by Works"
Nuanced
Works vindicate faith before world; James and Paul complementary
Matthew 28:19 — "Baptize in the Name"
Affirms
Trinitarian baptismal formula; Father, Son, Holy Spirit explicitly required
Hebrews 1:8 — "Your Throne, O God"
Affirms
Son addressed as 'God'; affirms Christ's full and eternal deity
Revelation 20:1-6 — "The Thousand Years"
Nuanced
Amillennial view predominant; thousand years is symbolic of Christ's reign
Genesis 1:1-2 — "In the Beginning"
Nuanced
God is Creator; allows scholarly diversity on age and mechanism
Mark 16:9-20 — "The Longer Ending"
Nuanced
Textually uncertain; scholarship acknowledged; often included in preaching
John 7:53–8:11 — "The Woman Caught in Adultery"
Nuanced
Textually uncertain but theologically valuable; included in teaching
1 John 5:7-8 — "The Comma Johanneum"
Nuanced
Late addition but Trinitarian content affirmed; not relied upon as proof
Deuterocanonical Books — "Tobit, Wisdom, Sirach, Maccabees"
Denies
Deuterocanonical books apocryphal; 66-book Protestant canon affirmed
Shepherd of Hermas — "Early Christian Text"
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not canonical; post-apostolic writing, not Scripture
Ethics & Practice
Sabbath
Affirms
Christian Sabbath (Sunday) morally binding; Fourth Commandment perpetual
Blood Transfusions
Affirms
No restriction; blood transfusions are morally permissible
Military Service
Affirms
Military service legitimate; civil government may wage just wars
Holidays
Nuanced
Regulative principle discourages holy days; practice varies widely today