What was the Protestant Reformation?
The Protestant Reformation (1517 onward) was a movement to renew the church by returning to Scripture as supreme authority and salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Sparked by Martin Luther’s 95 Theses, it reshaped Western Christianity.
Catalysts: indulgences, the recovery of the Greek New Testament, and Luther’s discovery that "the righteous shall live by faith."
Five "solas" emerged: Scripture alone, faith alone, grace alone, Christ alone, to God’s glory alone — boundary markers of Reformation faith.
The Reformation gave us many of the doctrines and Bible-translation traditions Protestants still treasure today, while also fracturing visible church unity.
Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.