Simple refutations of the Five Solas

[Eucharisted]

1. Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone): The belief that Scripture is the only inspired and authoritive Word of God, the only source of Christian doctrine, and that it is self-interpreting and accessible to personal interpretation.

Objection: Sola Scriptura is incorrect because the Apostles had no Bible with which to preach; all they had was the life and teachings of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:1-2, 7-12). If Sola Scriptura is correct, than the Apostles are frauds.

2. Solda Fide (Faith Alone): The belief that man is justified by faith alone and saving faith is evidenced by good works.

Objection: Sola Fide is incorrect because Jesus taught that not everyone who believes He is God will make it to Heaven but only those who do His Father’s Will (Luke 7:21-23, 8:19-21). If Sola Fide is correct, than Jesus is a false teacher.

3. Solda Gratia (Grace Alone): The belief that eternal life is a grace and that man cannot “merit” greater graces by cooperating with graces.

Objection: Sola Gratia is incorrect because Mary “merited” her role as Mother of God by cooperating with God: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38, Acts 4:33). If Sola Gratia is correct, than Mary is not the Mother of God.

4. Solo Christo (Christ Alone): The belief that Christ is the sole Mediator, that no one else can act as a mediator, and that salvation comes through Christ.

Objection: Solo Christo is incorrect because people can pray for others, and prayer is a form of meditation (1 Timothy 2:1-2, Hebrews 7:25). If Solo Christo is correct, than no one can pray for others.

5. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone): The belief that God alone is glorified and no saint can be venerated.

Objection: Soli Deo Gloria is incorrect because the Apostle John spoke of martyrs being venerated by being buried under Altars (Revelation 6:9-11, 1 Jn 5:21). If Soli Deo Gloria is correct, than John is an idolter.

 

[North_of_Nod]

Good post, Eucharisted!

 

[workingman]

:clapping::tiphat: very well stated.

 

[Victorious]

Here are some more:

1. Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone): The belief that Scripture is the only inspired and authoritive Word of God, the only source of Christian doctrine, and that it is self-interpreting and accessible to personal interpretation.

Objection: Sola Scriptura is incorrect because the Apostles had no Bible with which to preach; all they had was the life and teachings of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:1-2, 7-12). If Sola Scriptura is correct, than the Apostles are frauds.

Martin Luther, the great exponent of this theory, didn’t even believe in it. Otherwise, he would never have dared to take a blue pencil and a pair of scissors to Scripture and edited it according to his own taste. There is no doubt that the followers of Luther do not have the same Scriptures that were handed down to Luther. And since Luther and his colleagues and successors did change some things and cut others out altogether, that puts the adherents of sola scriptura in a really untenable position, since they are deprived of the entirety of what they consider to be the sole rule of faith.

2. Solda Fide (Faith Alone): The belief that man is justified by faith alone and saving faith is evidenced by good works.

Objection: Sola Fide is incorrect because Jesus taught that not everyone who believes He is God will make it to Heaven but only those who do His Father’s Will (Luke 7:21-23, 8:19-21). If Sola Fide is correct, than Jesus is a false teacher.

Plus, we know from Scripture that of the three theological virtues (faith, hope, charity) the greatest is charity, and charity is the only one that will endure in eternity.

3. Solda Gratia (Grace Alone): The belief that eternal life is a grace and that man cannot “merit” greater graces by cooperating with graces.

Objection: Sola Gratia is incorrect because Mary “merited” her role as Mother of God by cooperating with God: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38, Acts 4:33). If Sola Gratia is correct, than Mary is not the Mother of God.

Plus: Romans 2:6: “For He [God] will render to every man according to his works.”

4. Solo Christo (Christ Alone): The belief that Christ is the sole Mediator, that no one else can act as a mediator, and that salvation comes through Christ.

Objection: Solo Christo is incorrect because people can pray for others, and prayer is a form of meditation (1 Timothy 2:1-2, Hebrews 7:25). If Solo Christo is correct, than no one can pray for others.

Well, we need to be careful here. Christ is the sole Mediator. But that does not rule out secondary mediators, who act in virtue of Christ’s mediatorship. Many who reject the Communion of Saints (even though they recite it every Sunday in the Nicene Creed) nevertheless believe in intercessory prayer, as they are more than willing to ask someone to pray to them, or to offer to pray for others. What doesn’t make sense is why someone who stands before God’s throne, confirmed in His friendship for eternity, should have less clout with the Almighty than one who is still engaged in the struggle on earth.

5. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone): The belief that God alone is glorified and no saint can be venerated.

Objection: Soli Deo Gloria is incorrect because the Apostle John spoke of martyrs being venerated by being buried under Altars (Revelation 6:9-11, 1 Jn 5:21). If Soli Deo Gloria is correct, than John is an idolter.

Here again we have to be careful. Nobody but God is entitled to worship and adoration. I’m not sure about your takes on the Scriptures here cited. I think the objection here is dealt with in the preceding section.

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

Here are some more:

Martin Luther, the great exponent of this theory, didn’t even believe in it. Otherwise, he would never have dared to take a blue pencil and a pair of scissors to Scripture and edited it according to his own taste. There is no doubt that the followers of Luther do not have the same Scriptures that were handed down to Luther. And since Luther and his colleagues and successors did change some things and cut others out altogether, that puts the adherents of sola scriptura in a really untenable position, since they are deprived of the entirety of what they consider to be the sole rule of faith.

His position is not as indefensible as it seems. Far from it.​

Plus, we know from Scripture that of the three theological virtues (faith, hope, charity) the greatest is charity, and charity is the only one that will endure in eternity.

Plus: Romans 2:6: “For He [God] will render to every man according to his works.”

Well, we need to be careful here. Christ is the sole Mediator. But that does not rule out secondary mediators, who act in virtue of Christ’s mediatorship. Many who reject the Communion of Saints (even though they recite it every Sunday in the Nicene Creed) nevertheless believe in intercessory prayer, as they are more than willing to ask someone to pray to them, or to offer to pray for others. What doesn’t make sense is why someone who stands before God’s throne, confirmed in His friendship for eternity, should have less clout with the Almighty than one who is still engaged in the struggle on earth.

It depends not on that last point, but on what one thinks the Blessed in Heaven do. If they don’t intercede, because they are at rest (say - see Hebrews 4), then it’s a reasonable position to reject the notion that they intercede. The OP’s texts don’t say anything about intercession; they are about the vengeance of God on the “opposition”. ​

Here again we have to be careful. Nobody but God is entitled to worship and adoration. I’m not sure about your takes on the Scriptures here cited. I think the objection here is dealt with in the preceding section.

The attempted refutations don’t come to terms what the Reformers actually said, or why. Reformers 5 - Catholics 0​

 

[JonNC]

=Eucharisted;5435250]1. Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone): The belief that Scripture is the only inspired and authoritive Word of God, the only source of Christian doctrine, and that it is self-interpreting and accessible to personal interpretation.

That’s not my understanding of SS. What you describe here is solo scriptura.

It is the only inspired word of God​

It is the final norm by which all other sources of Christian doctrine must comply. The creeds and early councils and the confessions are good sources of doctrine because rightly state the true faith.​

They are self-interpreting in that they are not contradictory​

on personal interpretation: Martin Chemnitz​

This is also certain, that no one should rely on his own wisdom in the interpretation of the Scripture, not even in the clear passages… We also gratefully and reverently use the labors of the fathers who by their commentaries have profitably clarified many passages of the Scripture. And we confess that we are greatly confirmed by the testimonies of the ancient church in the true and sound understanding of the Scripture. Nor do we approve of it if someone invents for himself a meaning which conflicts with all antiquity, and for which there are clearly no testimonies of the church.

Objection: Sola Scriptura is incorrect because the Apostles had no Bible with which to preach; all they had was the life and teachings of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:1-2, 7-12). If Sola Scriptura is correct, than the Apostles are frauds.

SS applies to the post apostolic era. There was no need for it while the apostles and their direct followers were alive.

2. Solda Fide (Faith Alone): The belief that man is justified by faith alone and saving faith is evidenced by good works.

Objection: Sola Fide is incorrect because Jesus taught that not everyone who believes He is God will make it to Heaven but only those who do His Father’s Will (Luke 7:21-23, 8:19-21)

I believe in sola fide and what you say here. They are not in conflict. See my signature.

3. Solda Gratia (Grace Alone): The belief that eternal life is a grace and that man cannot “merit” greater graces by cooperating with graces.

Objection: Sola Gratia is incorrect because Mary “merited” her role as Mother of God by cooperating with God: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38, Acts 4:33). If Sola Gratia is correct, than Mary is not the Mother of God.

I am somewhat surprised by your contention here that our salvation is not by God’s grace alone. As the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification says:

Together we confess: By grace alone, in faith in Christ’s saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping and calling us to good works

Mary is the Theotokos *because *of Grace Alone. Without denying her free will to not cooperate, her ability to cooperate is because of God’s Grace.

4. Solo Christo (Christ Alone): The belief that Christ is the sole Mediator, that no one else can act as a mediator, and that salvation comes through Christ.

Objection: Solo Christo is incorrect because people can pray for others, and prayer is a form of meditation (1 Timothy 2:1-2, Hebrews 7:25). If Solo Christo is correct, than no one can pray for others.

Mediation is not the same as meditation.

This too, surprises me. It has been my understanding that one of the things we share is the acknowledgement of Christ as the one mediator. Prayers for others (intercessory prayer) are requests to Christ, the one mediator. Once again, The Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification:

18.Therefore the doctrine of justification, which takes up this message and explicates it, is more than just one part of Christian doctrine. It stands in an essential relation to all truths of faith, which are to be seen as internally related to each other. It is an indispensable criterion which constantly serves to orient all the teaching and practice of our churches to Christ. When Lutherans emphasize the unique significance of this criterion, they do not deny the interrelation and significance of all truths of faith. When Catholics see themselves as bound by several criteria, they do not deny the special function of the message of justification. Lutherans and Catholics share the goal of confessing Christ in all things, who alone is to be trusted above all things as the one Mediator (1 Tim 2:5f) through whom God in the Holy Spirit gives himself and pours out his renewing gifts.

Jon

 

[Tomster]

1. Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone): The belief that Scripture is the only inspired and authoritive Word of God, the only source of Christian doctrine, and that it is self-interpreting and accessible to personal interpretation.

Objection: Sola Scriptura is incorrect because the Apostles had no Bible with which to preach; all they had was the life and teachings of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:1-2, 7-12). If Sola Scriptura is correct, than the Apostles are frauds.

2. Solda Fide (Faith Alone): The belief that man is justified by faith alone and saving faith is evidenced by good works.

Objection: Sola Fide is incorrect because Jesus taught that not everyone who believes He is God will make it to Heaven but only those who do His Father’s Will (Luke 7:21-23, 8:19-21). If Sola Fide is correct, than Jesus is a false teacher.

3. Solda Gratia (Grace Alone): The belief that eternal life is a grace and that man cannot “merit” greater graces by cooperating with graces.

Objection: Sola Gratia is incorrect because Mary “merited” her role as Mother of God by cooperating with God: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38, Acts 4:33). If Sola Gratia is correct, than Mary is not the Mother of God.

4. Solo Christo (Christ Alone): The belief that Christ is the sole Mediator, that no one else can act as a mediator, and that salvation comes through Christ.

Objection: Solo Christo is incorrect because people can pray for others, and prayer is a form of meditation (1 Timothy 2:1-2, Hebrews 7:25). If Solo Christo is correct, than no one can pray for others.

5. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone): The belief that God alone is glorified and no saint can be venerated.

Objection: Soli Deo Gloria is incorrect because the Apostle John spoke of martyrs being venerated by being buried under Altars (Revelation 6:9-11, 1 Jn 5:21). If Soli Deo Gloria is correct, than John is an idolter.

Good job! Thank you.

 

[O.S.Luke]

I’m from the Anglican/Methodist perspective, so the solas don’t come into play too often - but I think someone here needs to draw the distinction between sola scriptura, and solo or prima scriptura before they start refuting it. They are not interchangable terms - and as such, the refutations above become moot.

And what is solda gratia and solda fide? Gracious land and faithful land?

 

[JonNC]

I’m from the Anglican/Methodist perspective, so the solas don’t come into play too often - but I think someone here needs to draw the distinction between sola scriptura, and solo or prima scriptura before they start refuting it. They are not interchangable terms - and as such, the refutations above become moot.

And what is solda gratia and solda fide? Gracious land and faithful land?

Yeah, the OP meant sola gratia and sola fide.

On sola scriptura, I like this.

modernreformation.org/default.php?page=printfriendly&var1=Print&var2=19

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