Protestantism

Definition and Meaning

Protestantism (Korean gaesingyo, 改新敎) is a major branch of Christianity that separated from the Roman Catholic Church through the sixteenth-century Reformation. The Korean term means "the teaching that has been reformed and renewed." Because Roman Catholicism is called the "old religion" (gugyo), Protestantism is also called the "new religion" (singyo). In Korea the word gidokgyo ("Christianity") commonly refers to Protestantism alone. In its broader sense, however, Christianity also includes Roman Catholicism and the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Protestantism is not a single ecclesiastical organization but a collective name for many denominational traditions and denominations. Two principles are commonly cited as shared by these traditions. One is the Five Solas (Scripture alone, grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone, and the glory of God alone). The other is the priesthood of all believers, the teaching that every believer stands directly before God without a mediator.

Historical Background

The beginning of Protestantism is usually dated to the Reformation launched by Martin Luther in 1517. The name "Protestant," meaning "one who protests," arose at the Second Diet of Speyer in 1529. That diet sought to reverse the religious freedom that had been granted in 1526. In response, the princes and city representatives who supported the Reformation submitted a formal protest, and the name derives from this protest. The Lutheran churches, the Reformed and Presbyterian churches, the Anglican Church, and the Anabaptists subsequently emerged. Later came the Methodist, Baptist, Holiness, and Pentecostal churches, among others.

Protestantism in the Korean Church

Two dates are given for the beginning of Protestant missions in Korea. One is September 1884, when Horace N. Allen, a medical missionary of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. (Northern Presbyterian), entered the country. The other is Easter Sunday, April 5, 1885, when Horace G. Underwood (Northern Presbyterian) and Henry G. Appenzeller (Northern Methodist) arrived at Chemulpo. Which date is preferred depends on whether Allen is regarded as a missionary or as a physician.

In the 2015 Population and Housing Census, Protestants numbered approximately 9,676,000 (19.7 percent of the population). For the first time, Protestantism surpassed Buddhism to become the religion with the largest number of adherents. Some have pointed out, however, that this figure also includes members of groups that the major denominations regard as heretical.

The denominations differ in polity and emphasis.

• Presbyterian: The largest denominational tradition. Pastors and elders together form sessions, presbyteries, and general assemblies to govern the church. Because of numerous schisms, it is divided into a large number of denominations.
• Methodist: Its polity centers on bishops and annual conferences.
• Holiness, Baptist, and Full Gospel: The Holiness Church emphasizes holiness (sanctification). Baptists emphasize believer's baptism and the autonomy of the local church. The Full Gospel churches (Assemblies of God) emphasize the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
• Anglican: It maintains an order of bishops and priests and a liturgy (a fixed order of worship). It sometimes describes itself as a tradition that combines Catholic and Protestant characteristics (Anglican Church of Korea).