- Sola scriptura ("by Scripture alone")
- Sola fide ("by faith alone")
- Sola gratia ("by grace alone")
- Solus Christus or Solo Christo ("Christ alone" or "through Christ alone")
- Soli Deo gloria ("glory to God alone")
This ancient list, handed down to us from the holy mountain of the Reformation, has become to Protestant theology the new stone tablets; authoritative, absolute, and beyond the understanding of mere mortals. None may question these firmly established laws, given to us so clearly by men far greater than ourselves five centuries ago.
Except for the minor issue that it was only in the 1900s that this list was formulated. The invention of sliced bread predates this clean organized list of five solas. Granted, concepts similar to these doctrines were taught by most reformers at some point or another, but given the ponderous amount of literature and preaching that came out of the Reformation, there are many other doctrines that they taught that have been lost to the common parishioner. Yet this list, which has been refined only recently, is taught as an ancient teaching that should be revered for its age and origin, rather than doctrine that has been communally agreed upon by a large group of theologians within the last century.
Ironically, those who hold this list as sacred would find that sola scriptura would advocate for them to drop this list, as this list is not found in Scripture; indeed many of these concepts could be and have been challenged by believers with Scripture. Why is it then that so many Christians hold so strongly to the Five Solas?
A large part of the issue here is a desire for an ancient and sure theology that has been upheld by great men of the past. If great and wise leaders have united around this teaching it must be sound, right? Much of our popular Christian religion habits of the twenty-first century are really products of the last century or so, but rebranded as ancient and accepted theology. Things like altar calls and Sunday Schools are much newer than we would assume. Modern pop culture reading of Revelation, thanks to easy to digest fiction works that shall remain nameless, give rise to doctrines that are rather new but implied to be ancient.
This forging of doctrines to look ancient in order to be accepted is an indication of our human tendency to follow the 'broad way' rather than search for truth ourselves. We follow whatever looks popular, or perhaps what is being preached by the loudest and most confidant preachers of our times, and we put our faith in the ancient aspects of the teachings rather than in Christ.
Our faith should not be in how old or commonly accepted a doctrine is, but whether or not Jesus taught it. Wether we hold Sola Scriptura, Nuda Scriptura, or Prima Scriptura our chief focus should always be on Christ, not human doctrines. Holding fast to this list of traditional theology that itself denies the authority of tradition is an ironic proof of our human nature to cling to what is comfortable rather than seek out what is painful, but true. Our calling is not blind obedience to doctrine, but a servant's heart and a willingness to take up our cross to follow Him.
