Are Protestants Evangelical? And are Evangelicals Protestant? 

While Protestantism and Evangelicalism share historical and theological roots, they are not identical. Protestantism emerged from the sixteenth-century Reformation, characterized by the Five Solas—faith, grace, Scripture, Christ, and God’s glory alone—and emphasized the authority of Scripture, justification by faith, and continuity with historic orthodoxy. Evangelicalism later emerged as a movement within Protestantism, centered on Biblicism, Crucicentrism, Conversionism, and Activism. The two overlap in rejecting Roman Catholic dogma and affirming salvation by faith, yet diverge as Evangelicalism often prioritizes personal experience, revivalism, and innovation over historical theology and ecclesial order. Some Protestants reject the Evangelical label due to modern theological drift, while some Evangelicals dismiss the Protestant title as outdated, favoring renewal and cultural adaptability. Evangelicalism is at its healthiest when it is consciously Protestant—rooted in Reformation convictions—while Protestantism remains vital when it is truly Evangelical in its gospel mission.