What theological issues drove Martin Luther to post his 95 Theses? How can looking at the Reformation from a Catholic perspective be helpful? What is the biblical defense of Catholic doctrine?

Bible Gateway interviewed Matthew Levering about his book, Was the Reformation a Mistake?: Why Catholic Doctrine is Not Unbiblical (Zondervan, 2017).

[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, CNN: A Catholic Reads the Bible]

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Despite the title, you write that you don’t call the Reformation “a mistake.” Please explain.

Matthew Levering: The title was a given—it was part of the book project from the outset. In my introduction, I explain that I don’t consider the Reformation a “mistake” for two reasons.

First, the Catholic church of the 14th and 15th centuries was desperately corrupt. This does not mean that there was no flourishing Catholic faith or flourishing Catholic communities. On the contrary, as Eamon Duffy, Augustine Thompson, and a number of others have shown, there were indeed many flourishing Catholic areas. But the level of corruption in Rome in the 14th and 15th centuries was high, reflecting a corrupt social situation (this despite the successes of the Renaissance). There were also theological exaggerations and serious pastoral problems that needed to be addressed. The dominant theology in many universities around Europe also was not healthy, biblically or otherwise (consider Biel’s Pelagianism, just to give one example). The Catholic church was still reeling from the Avignon papacy, the great Schism, the tumultuous and at times clearly wicked events surrounding the Council of Constance, and the massive social change caused in part by all the wars and plagues, and also brought about by new technological and historiographical advances. The Catholic church had to address all of this, and so some kind of Reformation was needed. My view is therefore that the Reformation cannot be justly labeled a mistake even though I think that the Reformers did make mistakes.

Second, if the Reformation were to be simply labeled a mistake, then this would entail dismissing Protestant Christianity simply as a “mistake.” I think that would be wrong. Among the many great elements of Protestant Christianity, I admire the Reformers’ theocentrism, Christocentrism, focus on Scripture, focus on grace, and many further elements. I think it would be absurd and deeply wrong to imply that these central elements of the Reformation can or should be summed up under the label “mistake.”

What are the nine issues that divide Catholics and Protestants you address in the book and why do you focus on these particular issues?

Matthew Levering: The book is connected with the 500th anniversary of Luther’s 95 theses and the outset of the Reformation. I tried to identify key concerns that Luther raises in his early writings, that are still generally found to be church-dividing today; that is to say, concerns that generally still divide ecumenically minded Catholics and Protestants from full unity with each other. The list of issues that I came up with are the nature of Scripture, Mary, the Eucharist, the seven sacraments, monasticism, justification and merit, purgatory, saints, and the papacy.

What is your goal in presenting biblical reflections for each of the nine issues?

Matthew Levering: The premise of the book is the centrality of Scripture. In my introduction, I argue that there are various biblically warranted modes of biblical reasoning about the realities of divine revelation. My goal in the introduction is to sketch briefly what biblical examples might help us to discern how we should arrive at what counts as sufficient biblical evidence for doctrinal judgments. In the nine chapters (in each of which I engage one disputed issue), I very briefly undertake to exemplify such biblically warranted biblical reasoning about the disputed issues.

What do you mean when you write, “Although I differ from the Reformers with respect to the biblical grounding of the Catholic doctrines they disputed, they were right in seeking reform”?

Matthew Levering: On the nine issues, I believe that the biblical grounding of the Catholic doctrines can be defended in a manner that, while falling short of proof, suffices for biblical faith. In my book, I do not have space to discuss the ways in which Catholic theology and pastoral practice were deficient in the Reformers’ day. The Second Vatican Council tried to make clear what some of those ways were, as recent popes have also done. There’s no question that reform was needed, and indeed the Council of Trent sought extensive pastoral reform and sought to deepen and re-focus Catholic theology.

From a Catholic perspective, how does the Reformers’ view of sola scriptura contrast with the Catholic church’s view of Scripture and its interpretation?

Matthew Levering: It depends on how sola scriptura is defined. So long as it’s assumed that sacred Scripture must be handed on and interpreted in the community of believers, then there’s a good bit of room for various positions. In sum, this question would require a lengthier answer that’s not possible here. I think that the authority of Scripture must be accepted by Catholics and Protestants, and that if our doctrinal judgments are not measured by Scripture, then we’ll be found lacking, since Scripture communicates divine revelation to us.

What do you hope is the biggest take-away for readers of your book?

Matthew Levering: This book is an entire failure if it doesn’t draw Catholics and Protestants closer to each other and closer to divine revelation as set forth in Scripture. If the book simply caused further hurt feelings and doctrinal condemnation on both sides, then it would be a failure. The goal is to show that Catholic doctrine is not unbiblical, and this is very important not only ecumenically but also for Catholics ourselves, since Catholics in our day must above all seek the obedience of faith to the life-giving Word of God.

What is a favorite Bible passage of yours and why?

Matthew Levering: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Gen 1:1) This is such a reassuring thing. The world is in God’s hands; it is his world. We sinners have messed things up and the amount of human division and cruelty is so terrible, but fortunately God is God. Admittedly, I cannot read this passage without also having in mind John 1 and, indeed, the entirety of Scripture.

What are your thoughts about Bible Gateway and the Bible Gateway App?

Matthew Levering: I think that these instruments are wonderful for increasing biblical knowledge.

Is there anything else you’d like to say?

Matthew Levering: I would like to thank Kevin Vanhoozer for his Response, which appears at the end of Was the Reformation a Mistake? and spells out disagreements in an eloquent, friendly, and incisive manner.

Bio: Matthew Levering (PhD, Boston College) is Perry Family Foundation Professor of Theology at Mundelein Seminary, University of Saint Mary of the Lake, in Mundelein, Illinois. He previously taught at the University of Dayton. Levering is the author of numerous books, including Engaging the Doctrine of Creation, Engaging the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit, Engaging the Doctrine of Revelation, Proofs of God, The Theology of Augustine, and Dying and the Virtues, and is the coauthor of Holy People, Holy Land. He serves as coeditor of the journals Nova et Vetera and the International Journal of Systematic Theology and has served as Chair of the Board of the Academy of Catholic Theology since 2007.

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