The five solas of Reformation theology are five Latin phrases that emerged during the Protestant Reformation to summarize the core theological convictions distinguishing Protestantism from Roman Catholicism. These principles are Sola Scriptura (“Scripture alone”), Sola Fide (“Faith alone”), Sola Gratia (“Grace alone”), Solus Christus (“Christ alone”), and Soli Deo Gloria (“Glory to God alone”).
The Catholic Church responded to the five solas of Reformation theology, notably at the Council of Trent in 1546, by affirming certain principles while rejecting others as misrepresentations or distortions of doctrine. The implication is primacy of the Catholic church over Scripture by the authoritative interpreter, the Magisterium. The protest continues to this day.
If all you had were these principles, could you be saved? In my faith journey, I realized that the answer is yes. And that is why I left the Catholic church that I grew up in, and loved. Soli Deo Gloria.
(Image series from a drawing exercise)
