What is sola scriptura?
"Sola Scriptura" — Scripture alone — is the Reformation conviction that Scripture is the only infallible rule for Christian faith and life. Tradition, councils, and reason are valuable but always tested by the Bible.
It does not mean "me and my Bible alone." Sola Scriptura honors the church, creeds, and confessions — but holds that none of them is above God’s word.
It rests on Jesus’ own treatment of Scripture: "It is written" was his weapon against temptation; "Scripture cannot be broken" was his rule.
Sola Scriptura keeps the church reformable. Doctrines and practices are always testable against the Bible — and where they go wrong, Scripture corrects them.
Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.