What does 'sola scriptura' mean in Protestant theology?

• A. Scripture alone is the ultimate authority for faith and practice
• B. Tradition guides faith and practice
• C. The pope is infallible
• D. Personal experience guides doctrine

Answer: (A)

Scripture alone carries the ultimate authority for faith and practice. This phrase, sola scriptura, states that the Bible is the final norm by which all beliefs and how Christians live must be judged. It emerged during the Protestant Reformation as a push against the idea that church traditions or authorities carry binding power above Scripture. The point is that any teaching or practice should be measured against what the Bible plainly says; if there’s a disagreement, Scripture takes precedence. This doesn’t deny that the church can help interpret Scripture, but it holds that no church authority or tradition can override what the Bible teaches. In this view, personal experience or human reason can inform understanding, but they do not set doctrine on their own; they must be aligned with Scripture.