Anglicans, in which of the 5 Solas of the Protestant Reformation do you believe?

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Grace & Peace!
I don’t believe in an of them in any sense that divides Protestants from other Christians.

the last three are, on the face of them, impeccably orthodox, though Protestants typically put a sectarian spin on them. Therefore I answered that I believed in them–but I do not interpret them as dogmatic Protestants do. (Solo Christo, for instance, as I understand it, excludes none of the means of grace promoted in Catholicism, since all of these derive from and lead back to Christ.)

The first two are most obviously interpreted in a schismatic and unorthodox sense, so I reject them. But all five are vague slogans that may be interpreted in either orthodox or unorthodox senses. I find the obsession of some Protestants with these sonorous phrases extremely frustrating.

Edwin
What Edwin said. (Sometimes I wish I could give him and GKC an award for Anglican apologetics…does such a thing exist, I wonder?)

Under the Mercy,
Mark

All is Grace and Mercy! Deo Gratias!
 
Thank you Ewin. Very insightful.

Where were you when I was getting pounded over the Sola Scriptura issue on AF? :blackeye: lol

Anna
I was getting pounded on about four other threads:p.

So I thought I’d put off getting involved with that one.

Edwin
 
Grace & Peace!

What Edwin said. (Sometimes I wish I could give him and GKC an award for Anglican apologetics…does such a thing exist, I wonder?)
Where it does, I find it rather ghastly.

Most Anglican apologetics, actually, is directed against other Anglicans:p

Edwin
 
I was getting pounded on about four other threads:p.

So I thought I’d put off getting involved with that one.

Edwin
:rotfl::rotfl: Well, I can’t argue with that. You were, indeed. 😃 And I didn’t help you either. Sola Scriptura took all my energy.

Anna
 
I echo Contarini’s and GKC’s sentiments. I find them rather vague and open to interpretation. After much thought I’ve voted that I do not believe in any of the 5 Solas.
Symphorian,
Thank you so much for weighing in on the 5 Solas.
Englishrose, I too cannot recall the Solas being mentioned in church. I’m a cradle Anglican with around 40 years of church going. Admittedly, I was brought up in a moderately Anglo-Catholic tradition within the CofE. The situation in the more Protestant wing of the CofE may be different but I’ve not had any first hand experience.
My Episcopal Parish is also Anglo Catholic. I rarely hear the Solas mentioned either, and it’s usually not in a positive light.

There are Anglicans who claim Anglicanism is based on the 5 Solas of the Protestant Reformation—a claim with which I disagree.
Will Anna’s next Poll be ‘Which of the 39 Articles do you believe in?’😛
:rotfl: Honestly, I don’t have the energy, but it would be an interesting thread. You could start one. 😃

Thanks so much,
Anna
 
Grace & Peace!

What Edwin said. (Sometimes I wish I could give him and GKC an award for Anglican apologetics…does such a thing exist, I wonder?)

Under the Mercy,
Mark

All is Grace and Mercy! Deo Gratias!
Deo Volente,

I don’t think such an award exists; but you could give them this one: :yeah_me: Of course an acceptance speech would be required. lol

Thanks for voting and commenting. Much appreciated.

Anna
 
Thanks to those who voted, but did not comment:

Usbek de Perse, Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society

Stilldreamn, Lutheran - LCMS

Rabbity, Atheist

Usbek de Perse and Stilldreamn,

Do you have a few minutes to comment on why you voted your choices? I’d love hearing from you.

Rabbity, since your religious designation is “Atheist,” I can understand why you voted no to all 5 Solas. I’m not sure how you made your way to this thread, but I’m glad you did. Please feel free to comment.

Thanks,
Anna
 
I echo Contarini’s and GKC’s sentiments. I find them rather vague and open to interpretation. After much thought I’ve voted that I do not believe in any of the 5 Solas.

Englishrose, I too cannot recall the Solas being mentioned in church. I’m a cradle Anglican with around 40 years of church going. Admittedly, I was brought up in a moderately Anglo-Catholic tradition within the CofE. The situation in the more Protestant wing of the CofE may be different but I’ve not had any first hand experience.

Will Anna’s next Poll be ‘Which of the 39 Articles do you believe in?’😛
I agree and have had a similar experience. In my Episcopal parish, the 5 Solas have never been mentioned, nor were they mentioned during Catechism classes nor the Catechism book that we used.

On a side note, I searched the official site of the Episcopal Church and found nothing that mentioned the 5 Solas.
 
I agree and have had a similar experience. In my Episcopal parish, the 5 Solas have never been mentioned, nor were they mentioned during Catechism classes nor the Catechism book that we used.

On a side note, I searched the official site of the Episcopal Church and found nothing that mentioned the 5 Solas.
👍

I’ve done the same kind of searches. The “Sola” phraseology/terminology does not appear in Anglican Documents.

Thanks so much for voting. 🙂

Anna
 
I echo Contarini’s and GKC’s sentiments. I find them rather vague and open to interpretation. After much thought I’ve voted that I do not believe in any of the 5 Solas.

Englishrose, I too cannot recall the Solas being mentioned in church. I’m a cradle Anglican with around 40 years of church going. Admittedly, I was brought up in a moderately Anglo-Catholic tradition within the CofE. The situation in the more Protestant wing of the CofE may be different but I’ve not had any first hand experience.

Will Anna’s next Poll be ‘Which of the 39 Articles do you believe in?’😛
👍😊:eek:👍 and yeh I have no idea what the articles are and yes I do know they exist but they don’t ‘control’ my faith. I go to church and listen to the priest and others. My faith is that ‘simple’ and don’t need all the ins and the outs of what to’s etc beyond what priests tell us etc Its easier for me that way 😊👍.
 
👍😊:eek:👍 and yeh I have no idea what the articles are and yes I do know they exist but they don’t ‘control’ my faith. I go to church and listen to the priest and others. My faith is that ‘simple’ and don’t need all the ins and the outs of what to’s etc beyond what priests tell us etc Its easier for me that way 😊👍.
Here are the 39 Articles online from an Anglican web site.

anglicansonline.org/basics/thirty-nine_articles.html
 
Anglicans, in which of the 5 Solas of the Protestant Reformation do you believe?

If you would, please take the poll and then explain your answers. 🙂
  1. Sola fide (“by faith alone”)
  2. Sola scriptura (“by Scripture alone”)
  3. Solus Christus or Solo Christo (“Christ alone” or “through Christ alone”)
    4 Sola gratia (“by grace alone”)
  4. Soli Deo gloria (“glory to God alone”)
While all are welcome to post on this thread, please only answer the Poll if you are Anglican. I’m really interested in what my fellow Anglicans believe.

Thank you so much! I look forward to your comments.

Anna
Hi Anna,
I didn’t vote because I’m not Anglican, but just a comment or two.

I agree with what Edwin said about them to a good degree, but just this about “sola”. First let me, if you will, place sola scriptura in a different category. It seems to me that, in many ways. the “sola” is sort of a redundancy. We are saved by grace, for example. I don’t believe there are many Christians who believe there is another option. Similarly, through Christ. On sola fide, the sola here, again my view, has been misconstrued by some into a belief that one need do anything else, that one isn’t expected to follow Christ’s commands. So, I’m happy to say we are justified by grace through faith in Christ, a faith that works through love.

Jon
 
There are Anglicans who claim Anglicanism is based on the 5 Solas of the Protestant Reformation—a claim with which I disagree.
I think there is good support to say that. The thirty-nine articles reflect the historical context of the reformation. I personally consider true anglicanism as essentially Protestant in the thirty-nine articles. This involves the historical context of when they were written. I consider the articles well balanced. On the one hand it shows the clear doctrinal position they hold to in contrast to Roman Catholicism and yet it also condemns some things of the extreme wing of Protestantism. I voted for embracing all the 5 Solas. I agree with almost all of the thirty-nine articles. I do have intresting discussions with my Anglican minister friends who are broad church and high church strain of Anglicanism. We always have respect for one another. 🙂 I consider myself theologically related to Anglicanism ( W.H. Griffith Thomas, E.A. Litton and William Whitaker ) and Presbyterianism ( John Calvin, B.B. Warfield, Charles Hodge and Lewis Sperry Chafer ) as I read the writings of theologians from both of them. 🙂
 
I don’t think sola fides ever meant what it means today. True saving faith in the Reformation era was always seen as a living faith that followed and loved Jesus and led to true holy living. NOT just saying “the sinners prayer”. What our Lutheran friend above said about faith working through love.
 
I don’t think sola fides ever meant what it means today. True saving faith in the Reformation era was always seen as a living faith that followed and loved Jesus and led to true holy living. NOT just saying “the sinners prayer”. What our Lutheran friend above said about faith working through love.
Not sola fides, sola fide.

The ablative (by faith alone) is important for the reason you give.

Catholics are the ones who believe in sola fides–and of course they think it’s not salvific.

I disbelieve in the classical doctrine of sola fide not because I think it leads to immorality but because I think it’s unnecessary and schismatic, and because I think the bifurcation it introduces into the Christian life is unhealthy in a bunch of different ways. In some ways, it actually fosters legalism, because it makes “works” very “worky,” separating them from grace. The traditional Augustinian Catholic view that truly good works are the fruit of grace and contribute to our final salvation for that reason is much healthier.

Edwin
 
Hi Anna,
I didn’t vote because I’m not Anglican, but just a comment or two.
I wouldn’t have complained if you voted. Lutherans are Received into the Episcopal Church, rather than Confirmed. Though not sure if many Lutherans would want to enter TEC right now. 😉 I know LCMS and the Anglican Church in North America having been working on some very important issues. Guess I’m entering a sidebar. . .
I agree with what Edwin said about them to a good degree, but just this about “sola”. First let me, if you will, place sola scriptura in a different category. It seems to me that, in many ways. the “sola” is sort of a redundancy. We are saved by grace, for example. I don’t believe there are many Christians who believe there is another option. Similarly, through Christ. On sola fide, the sola here, again my view, has been misconstrued by some into a belief that one need do anything else, that one isn’t expected to follow Christ’s commands. So, I’m happy to say we are justified by grace through faith in Christ, a faith that works through love.

Jon
Jon,
Very insightful comments, as always. Thank you. 🙂

Personally, I think the “Sola” terminology is confusing and is understood in so many different ways. So, I’m interested in how others view and define the 5 Solas.

Peace,
Anna
 
I think there is good support to say that. The thirty-nine articles reflect the historical context of the reformation. I personally consider true anglicanism as essentially Protestant in the thirty-nine articles. This involves the historical context of when they were written. I consider the articles well balanced. On the one hand it shows the clear doctrinal position they hold to in contrast to Roman Catholicism and yet it also condemns some things of the extreme wing of Protestantism. I voted for embracing all the 5 Solas. I agree with almost all of the thirty-nine articles. I do have intresting discussions with my Anglican minister friends who are broad church and high church strain of Anglicanism. We always have respect for one another. 🙂 I consider myself theologically related to Anglicanism ( W.H. Griffith Thomas, E.A. Litton and William Whitaker ) and Presbyterianism ( John Calvin, B.B. Warfield, Charles Hodge and Lewis Sperry Chafer ) as I read the writings of theologians from both of them. 🙂
Chafer DTS,

Interesting that you consider yourself theologically related to Anglicanism. Always nice to hear. 😃

I think you touched on the key point of always respecting one another in discussions. I have to remind myself of this often, especially in light of the diversity even within Anglicanism.

The 39 Articles definitely reflect “the times” in which they were written.

Thanks for joining the discussion,
Anna
 
I don’t think sola fides ever meant what it means today. True saving faith in the Reformation era was always seen as a living faith that followed and loved Jesus and led to true holy living. NOT just saying “the sinners prayer”. What our Lutheran friend above said about faith working through love.
cajunhillbilly,

Probably so. The “Sinner’s Prayer” is a fairly recent development. I’ve participated on a few threads in the past on the topic.

It is interesting to consider the “Sinner’s Prayer” in the context of the 5 Solas. Maybe a thought for a future thread.

Thanks so much for commenting, 🙂
Anna
 
👍😊:eek:👍 and yeh I have no idea what the articles are and yes I do know they exist but they don’t ‘control’ my faith. I go to church and listen to the priest and others. My faith is that ‘simple’ and don’t need all the ins and the outs of what to’s etc beyond what priests tell us etc Its easier for me that way 😊👍.
englishredrose,
Well, you probably sleep better at night. 😉 Some of these issues keep me up at night. 😊

Peace,
Anna
 
Hoping more Anglicans will take the poll and comment. 👋

Anna
Well, I belong to the Anglican Church of North America and I would say that I believe in 4 out of the 5 solas which would exclude sola scriptura. Prima Scriptura yes, but not Sola Scriptura as most all other Protestants would identify with.
 
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