What does "sola scriptura" mean?

from the old testament

• The term sola scriptura is from the Latin language meaning "only Scripture" or "Scripture alone." It consists of the words sola, meaning "only," and scriptura, referring to the Bible. While the phrase sola scriptura (“Scripture alone”) is a Reformation term, the Old Testament demonstrates the authority and sufficiency of God’s Word.
• God gave His people the Law and the prophets as the standard for life, worship, and covenant faithfulness. Deuteronomy 4:2 shows this sufficiency and authority as God commands that nothing be added to or subtracted from His Word.
• God’s commands are to be memorized, taught, and lived out, highlighting the central role of Scripture in a believer’s life (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).
• In Isaiah 8:20, God instructs the people to test all teachings against His Word: “To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because there is no dawn for them.”

from the new testament

• Jesus and the apostles affirmed the authority of God’s Word and modeled reliance on it over human tradition or opinion. In Matthew 4:4, Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God,” showing that Scripture sustains and guides life.
• Paul declared that all Scripture is God-breathed, useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, fully equipping believers for good works (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
• In Acts 17:11, the Bereans are commended for examining the Scriptures daily to see if Paul’s teaching aligned with God’s Word. God’s Word, not anything else, is the standard for determining truth.

implications for today

Sola scriptura is not a belief that stands against all tradition, only those traditions that promote teachings that oppose or attempt to replace biblical teachings. The Bible's readers are not called to reinvent the Bible; they are called to embrace it. Scripture is clear regarding its essential teachings. Tradition must take a lesser role.

The Bible is the one and only authority for the Christian faith. Traditions that contradict its teachings are to be rejected. Sola scriptura was the movement of early Protestants to remove anti-biblical traditions from the Church. It ultimately resulted in new churches based on biblical principles apart from Catholic traditions and leadership.

On a personal level, sola scriptura is an important concept for Christians today. If a tradition or practice in our lives contradicts the clear teachings of the Bible, our goal must be to change the tradition to match the Bible's teachings rather than the other way around. As the apostle Paul wrote, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).

Sola scriptura points us back to what God has revealed to us in His Word. Traditions can be helpful, but practices that contradict Scripture must be rejected. Sola scriptura ultimately points us back to the God who always speaks the truth, never contradicts Himself, and always proves Himself faithful.