The Five Solas

We hear today of "The Five Solas" which are, Faith alone, Scripture alone, Christ alone, Grace alone and Glory to God alone.  So let us look first at a summary of these five "alones."  Please note, the source I chose clearly holds to an anti-Catholic proposition.

Faith alone (Sola Fide) Justification (that is, becoming right before God) comes through faith only, not good works, though in the classical protestant scheme, saving faith will always be accompanied by good works. This doctrine can be summarized with the formula "Faith yields justification and good works" and is contrasted with the Catholic formula "Faith and good works yield justification." This doctrine is sometimes called the material cause of the Reformation because it was the central doctrinal issue for Martin Luther. Scripture alone (Sola Scriptura) The Bible is the only inspired and authoritative Word of God and is accessible to all (that is, perspicuous and self-interpreting). This doctrine is directly opposed to the teaching of the Catholic Church that Scripture can only be authentically interpreted through Holy Apostolic Tradition by the "Magisterium" (that is, the teaching authority of the Pope and bishops at church councils). This doctrine is sometimes called the formal cause of the Reformation because it was the underlying cause of disagreement over sola fide. Christ alone (Solus Christus) Christ is the exclusive mediator between God and man. Neither Mary, the saints, nor priests (other than Christ himself) can act as mediator in bringing salvation. This doctrine is contrasted with the Catholic doctrines of the intercession of saints and of the mediation of the priests. Grace alone (Sola Gratia) Salvation comes by grace only, not through any merit on the part of the sinner. Thus salvation is an unearned gift. This doctrine is a response to the Catholic synergistic doctrine whereby acts of man become meritorious by cooperating with God's grace. Glory to God alone (Soli Deo Gloria) All the glory is due to God alone, since he did all the work — not only the atonement on the Cross, but even granting the faith which allows men to be saved by that atonement. The Reformers believed that human beings (such as the Catholic saints and popes) and their organizations (the Church) were not worthy of the glory that was bestowed on them. (Source:   http://www.theopedia.com/Five_Solas)

Before I get going let's clarify.  The concept of "five solas" or "five alones" seems quite contradictory, even silly on the surface.  What is really going on here is each of the "solas" speaks to something different.  They are not all about salvation or justification, e.g. soli Deo gloria simply says all glory to God alone.  The "Five Solas" are really about presenting a counter argument (a protest) to the Catholic Church.  No one ever heard of "The Five Solas" until sometime after Luther came on to the scene.  So for over 1500 years of Christendom, these five pillars - or foundations - of Protestantism were unknown, especially as a group of "solas."  Now this being said, not ALL the "solas" are contrary to Catholic theology which I will explain as I go.  Keep in mind, these are only my own summaries - entire books can be (and have been) written on these individual topics.

Sola Fide - Faith Alone

Well literally speaking, this statement is outright denied by Scripture.  James 2:24 explicitly states:  "You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone." (NIV) This verse in Scripture is actually the ONLY PLACE where the words "faith" and "alone" are used together and they are in explicit denial of "faith alone."  However, you will notice the caveat my source above used as do many other Protestants, like R.C. Sproul “justification is by faith alone, it is not by a faith that is alone.” (Sproul, 26, Faith Alone).  Well that caveat pretty much destroys the whole "alone" notion, now doesn't it!  If the faith is not alone, then it's not sola fide, period.  Protestants will go round and round with all sorts of rationalizations about this but in the end, sola fide is a flat out lie and unequivocally denied by Scripture in the ONLY PLACE those words are used by Scripture.  

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone
As for this subject, there are several definitions of sola scriptura and the above quoted and cited source is just one.  Others would include the definition of AOMin.org (James White) which, I believe, is a bit better of a definition than most.  White puts it this way: "The doctrine of sola scriptura, simply stated, is that the Scriptures alone are sufficient to function as the regula fidei, the infallible rule of faith for the Church." (White, 59, The Roman Catholic Controversy).  White also puts it this way: "Sola scriptura  teaches that the Scriptures are the sole infallible rule of faith for the Church." (White, vintage.aomin.org/SS.html).  This second definition seems more concisely worded.  The most obvious challenge to this "regula fide" or RULE of faith - is if sola scriptura were a true and infallible teaching - then it would be taught by Scripture, right?  Well it's not!  Protestants will clamor all over verses which point to sufficiency of Scripture - but sufficiency is not sola!  You can find more articles on this subject by clicking here.


Solus Christus - Christ Alone
On this point Catholics are really in fundamental agreement with Protestants!  Of course Protestants like to paint a picture of other mediators to our salvation - but the reality is the Catholics adhere to the fact that our salvation is due to the mediation of Christ alone.  The fact that we accept the "Communion of Saints" (part of the Apostle's Creed -click here for a non-Catholic source) which is professed by many Protestants!  Of course they don't define the "Communion of Saints" in the same manner Catholics traditionally have, throughout Christendom, but their denial is novel in the overall picture.  Asking others, Saints who have gone before us or saints among us, does not replace Christ as our sole Mediator for our salvation, which is the fundamental definition of solus Christus.

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone
Again, this is a concept with which Catholics do not fundamentally disagree with Protestants.  Catholics do not believe that we can earn our salvation through our own merits.  Salvation is due solely to the grace of Christ on the Cross, and more importantly, His Resurrection and victory over death and Satan.  Anti-Catholics will try to paint a picture of "works-salvation" and force their straw man argumentation upon Catholics - but Catholics do not believe in a "works-salvation" system, regardless of how hard our opponents try to force that square peg into a round hole.  

Soli Deo Gloria - Glory to God Alone
Well, again, without the polemics thrown in - Catholics agree!  To God alone goes the highest glory.  I can hear it now, "Scott added the disclaimer of the 'highest' glory, and the statement is 'glory to God ALONE!'"  We must point out the short-sightedness of such a proposition.  Glory is, afterall, "honor" and Scripture tells us we're to "honor our father and mother," which is a FORM of "glory" given to our parents.  The fact is the English word "glory" is an imprecise word.  Catholics use the more precise Latin terminology to distinguish the glory given to God as "latria."  Latria is only given to God, and is that praise and honor due only to the One who is worthy of our latria.  So while Catholics would agree fundamentally with "soli Deo gratia," the better Latin phrase would be "soli Deo latria."