Sola Scriptura

Sola Scriptura is probably the most misunderstood of the Reformation doctrines. One one side you have the papists, who denounce this doctrine with disdain, putting Tradition on a level above Scripture. On the other hand, there are the modern evanjelly churches, who have twisted this doctrine to such an extent that it is unrecognizable. In effect, the modern view of Sola Scriptura, on both sides of the argument, is that the doctrine allows each person to formulate his own views. This is one of the main reasons why there are so many sects today.

This is not, however, the classic understanding, and it is not what the Reformers promoted. The witness and authority of Scripture is to be placed above all other sources, but it is not to be interpreted by each man individually. Scripture is to be interpreted by the collective witness of the Church and the Traditional doctrines passed down through the Fathers and Ecumenical Councils. To do otherwise is to abandon all tradition, which is sadly becoming more common today. Relevance can go to hell. Scripture and the traditional understanding of it must be upheld.