Sola scriptura

Sola scriptura (by scripture alone) is the belief by some Protestant Christian such as Baptists and Presbyterians that the Bible is the sole source and rule of faith. This belief first became widespread in the 16th century during the Protestant Reformation.

This belief is rejected by Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and some Protestant groups who believe that the Bible should be always interpreted in a manner consistent with how the Church has interpreted in the past, as revealed in the Ecumenical Councils, the writings of the Apostles and Church Fathers, and similar sources of Tradition. See Vincentian Canon.

Sola scriptura is the motivation behind much of the Protestant effort to translate the Bible into the native vernacular, whereas Eastern Orthodoxy has been motivated by its incarnational theology to translate not only the Bible but also the prayers and liturgies of the church.

See also: sola fide