Five Solae

The five solae (from Latin, sola, means "alone"; occasionally Anglicized to five solas) of the Protestant Reformation are a foundational set of Biblical principles held by theologians and clergy to be central to the doctrine of salvation as taught by the Lutheran and Reformed branches of Protestantism.  Each sola represents a key belief in the Lutheran and Reformed traditions in contradistinction to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church.

Sola Scriptura

Sola Scriptura asserts that the Bible can and is to be interpreted through itself, with one area of Scripture being useful for interpreting others. That scripture can interpret itself is a means by which to show the unity of Scripture as a whole. As all doctrines are formed via scriptural understandings, all doctrines must be found to align with Scripture and as such are then subject to scripture before the believer can begin to apply them.

Sola fide

Sola fide, or "faith alone", asserts that good works are not a means or requisite for salvation. Sola fide is the teaching that justification is received by faith alone, without any need for good works on the part of the individual.

Sola gratia

Sola gratia, or "only grace", specifically excludes the merit done by a person as part of achieving salvation. Sola gratia is the teaching that salvation comes by divine grace or "unmerited favor" only, not as something merited by the sinner. This means that salvation is an unearned gift from God for Jesus's sake.

Solus Christus

Solus Christus, or "only Christ", excludes the priestly class as necessary for sacraments. Solus Christus is the teaching that Christ is the only mediator between God and man, and that there is salvation through no other

Soli Deo gloria

Soli Deo gloria is the teaching that all glory is to be due to God alone, since salvation is accomplished solely through His will and action – not only the gift of the all-sufficient atonement of Jesus on the cross but also the gift of faith in that atonement, created in the heart of the believer by the Holy Spirit.

Five Solae 五个“唯独”

五个“唯独” ( Five solas ) 清楚说明了宗教改革 ( Protestant Reformation  1517-1648 ) 的五个基本信仰原则，教改家们相信这是基督教生活与实践中要旨的基石。这五个唯独都毫无保留地拒绝与反驳了当时占主导地位的天主教教义，教改家们认为罗马天主教劫持神的神圣属性到自己教会及其圣统阶层之中。

Sola scriptura  唯独圣经

只有圣经才是神默示并有权威的话语，是基督教教义的唯一来源，并且所有人都应可得到的--那就是说它明白易懂 ( perspicuous ) 且自我诠释 ( self-interpreting ) 。

圣经不需要它之外的任何阐释，这是与一些教会 ( 如东正教Eastern Orthodox、东方正统教会Oriental Orthodox、亚历山大科普特正教会Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria、英国国教高派教会Anglo-Catholic 和罗马天主教Roman Catholic ) 传统完全相反的教义，那些教会的教义认为只有圣传 ( sacred tradition ) 才能正确地诠释圣经。

Sola fide   唯独信心

基督的义唯独透过信心归算给我们，这并不是要否定美德或说善工，而是说，信心也是上帝的恩典。

信心是其它一切美德的基础，“称义单单靠信心，但信心从不单独出现”。威斯敏斯德信条 ( Westminster Confession of Faith ) 第11章第2节说：“这样领受着基督和他的义，并在其中安息的信仰，是称义的惟一工具；然而它在被称为义的人里面并不是单独存在的，而是常有其他施拯救的恩典相伴的，并且不是死信，而是以爱运行的信。

 

Sola gratia  唯独恩典

唯独靠恩典得救是改教的核心口号，与此有机相连，密不可分的是全然败坏 ( total depravity )、无条件拣选 ( unconditional election ) 、有限救赎 ( limited Atonement )和圣徒永蒙保守 ( perseverance of the saints ) 的教义。罗马教会教导，弥撒是基督的真实献祭，借此上帝将义注入 ( infused ) 到人的里面，既是上帝的恩典，也是人自己的功德。这就成了半伯拉纠主义 ( semi-Pelagianism )。

改教家称，我们在神面前的义是因为主耶稣基督的工作白白归算 ( imputed ) 给我们的，人没有任何功德，完全是恩典。

Solus Christus  唯独基督

强调得救唯独借着基督的工作全然成就，而罗马教会则宣扬炼狱和圣人中保代祷的教义，在中世纪后期的教会中，崇拜圣人和收集圣遗物非常流行。

Soli Deo Gloria  唯独神的荣耀

既然神对人的救恩是神借着自己的意志和行为独自完成的，那么“一切荣耀归于上帝”就是教导将所有荣耀都单单归因于上帝；不仅仅是因为耶稣基督钉于十字架上的完全的救赎恩赐，而且是因为这种救恩带来的信心恩赐，这种信心是由圣灵缔造于信徒心中的。教改家们认为：人，即使是由罗马教廷、教皇或教会圣统阶层封圣的人，他们也不是配得荣耀的。那就是说，不能因为人的好做工而颂扬他们，而应该赞扬上帝并将荣耀归于他，因为是他才使那些人得胜并有着好做工的。