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Sola Scriptura

"Scriptura Mensura"

The Scriptures are the only and all–sufficient rule of both faith and practice. This stands in contrast to other historic criteria such as religious tradition, ecclesiastical authority, creeds, church councils, rationalism, and modern religious irrationalism which often stresses experience and emotionalism above the Word of God inscripturated.

The Latin "Sola Scriptura" means "Scripture Only," or "Scripture alone." This was one of the distinctive features of the Protestant Reformation and signaled the Reformed departure from alleged Papal infallibility and the authority of Romish tradition contained in the writings of the Church Fathers and oral tradition. Both Reformed and Baptist theology claim the principle of Sola Scriptura or the all-sufficiency of Scripture as the only rule of both faith and practice. Scriptura Mensura is an elliptic statement, meaning "Scripture is [the] measure [of all things]."

The "catholicity" of American Baptists

by Sam Hughey

To the average Baptist today, separated from several hundred years of church history and sound biblical doctrine, "Sola Scriptura" has been all but removed from churches, pulpits and classrooms. Baptists have become what they claim not to be, "catholic" in their biblical doctrine. I do not refer to the Roman Catholic religion but, rather, to the "catholic" or "universal" assumption, among Baptists, that scripture can mean whatever best fits the circumstances at hand. Scripture seemingly has no concrete foundational truth. We have moved into the "what does it mean to you" generation of American Baptists. Our Lord condemned the "traditions of the Elders" because they, as religious leaders, had replaced "Sola Scriptura" with a mixture of scripture and man-made traditions that have neither basis nor purpose in holy scripture. It is startling to discover how many Christians today are biblically illiterate, yet are seemingly knowledgeable in "religious" matters.

Sola Scriptura does not mean that we cannot use other sources. It simply means that "all other sources" must submit to the sovereign truth found only in holy scripture. No man, no belief system, no personal view should be allowed in our churches, pulpits and classrooms that do not stand up to a close, in depth and arduous challenge to "Scripture Alone" as being the final source of truth!

"Sola Scriptura, the formal principle of the Reformation, is essential to genuine Christianity. Yet this doctrine is under attack like never before. Christians who want to defend their faith must have a basic understanding of this doctrine, know how to support it with Scripture proofs, and be able to discern the enemy's attacks against it. This book assembles the most helpful information on the doctrine of Sola Scriptura I've ever seen in one package." -- John MacArthur

Sola Scriptura includes topics covered by today's leading authorities on the subject:

   • What Do We Mean by Sola Scriptura? by Robert Godfrey
   • Sola Scriptura and the Early Church by James White
   • The Establishment of Scripture by R.C. Sproul
   • The Authority of Scripture by John Armstrong
   • The Sufficiency of the Written Word by John MacArthur
   • Scripture and Tradition by Sinclair Ferguson
   • The Transforming Power of Scripture by Joel Beeke and Ray Lanning

The Necessity of Reforming the Church: a Humble Exhortation
by John Calvin

According to Dr. W. Robert Godfrey (President & Professor of Church History-Westminster Seminary in CA), "Martin Bucer, the great reformer of Strassburg, appealed to Calvin to draft a statement of the doctrines of and necessity for the Reformation. The result was remarkable. Theodore Beza, Calvin's friend and successor in Geneva, called it the most powerful work of his time...Calvin organizes the work into three large sections. The first section is devoted to the evils in the church that required reformation. The second details the particular remedies to those evils adopted by the reformers. The third shows why reform could not be delayed, but rather how the situation demanded `instant amendment' In each of these three sections Calvin focuses on four topics, which he calls the soul and body of the church. The soul of the church is worship and salvation. The body is sacraments and church government. The great cause of reform for Calvin centers in these topics." In an older edition of Calvin's writings, Henry Beveridge makes an observation worth noting, "The Treatise...embraces the great questions by which the Church is agitated at the present day. Indeed, in reading it, one is often led insensibly into the belief, that, instead of being the production of three centuries ago, it is a powerful protest written by some modern hand against the prevailing errors and threatened dangers of our own times." Whether Minister, Layman, Professor, Student, Elder, or Deacon, this Treatise is must reading for those who long for a return to the Old Paths of Truth from the Scriptures in their church.

Read this book on-line at:
"The Reformed Reader"

The Necessity of Reforming the Church:
A Humble Exhortation

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