Sola scriptura
“By Scripture alone.”
Protestant Reformation
What does “Sola scriptura” mean?
Sola scriptura translates as “By Scripture alone.”
The belief that the Bible is the final authority in matters of faith, above church tradition.
“Sola scriptura” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Sola | alone, only | feminine nominative singular of the adjective solus, “alone”; agrees with scriptura (in the classical case system it would be ablative, sola, with the same spelling) |
| scriptura | by Scripture, by writing | ablative singular of scriptura, “writing, a written text”; in Christian Latin, the Scriptures. Ablative of means: “by means of” |
How to pronounce “Sola scriptura”
Both pronunciations sound the same here, because there is no c or g before e or i and no v. Stress the first syllable of sola and the second-to-last syllable (TOO) of scriptura.
The story behind it
Word for word the phrase says “by Scripture alone”. Sola is an adjective that agrees with scriptura and means “alone”, so the sense is “Scripture and nothing else”.
The phrase belongs to the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. It sums up the conviction of Martin Luther and other reformers that the Bible, not the pope or church tradition, is the final authority in matters of faith.
It is traditionally listed as the first of the five solas, short Latin slogans that summarize Reformation theology, and it is often called the formal principle of the Reformation. The wording is a later summary slogan, not a line from an ancient or biblical text. Today it is still a familiar motto in Protestant churches and in debates about biblical authority.
How to use “Sola scriptura”
It suits a Christian tattoo, a confirmation or ordination card, a church banner or a wall print, and it is a natural title or quote for an essay on the Reformation. Keep in mind that it carries a specific Protestant claim, so it may read as a statement of denominational belief.
- Latin
- Sola scriptura
- English
- By Scripture alone.
- Source
- Protestant Reformation
- Era
- Early Modern
- Theme
- Faith
Common mistakes
- It does not mean “only the Bible is worth reading”. It is a claim about final authority in matters of faith, not a ban on other books or on tradition as a guide.
- Sola is the ablative form here and agrees with scriptura. Do not swap in solus or solum, which would be grammatically wrong and change the form.
- It is not a quotation from the Bible or from an ancient Latin author. It is a later slogan that summarizes Reformation teaching.
- Sola scriptura is one of five solas. The others (sola fide, sola gratia, solus Christus, soli Deo gloria) are separate phrases with separate meanings.
Questions about “Sola scriptura”
What does “Sola scriptura” mean literally?
“By Scripture alone”. Sola means “alone” and scriptura means “writing” or “Scripture”, here in the ablative case, expressing means.
Who said “Sola scriptura”?
No single author is credited with the exact phrase. It is a slogan of the Protestant Reformation that sums up ideas associated with Martin Luther and other reformers.
How do you pronounce “Sola scriptura”?
Say “SOH-lah skreep-TOO-rah”. Classical and church pronunciation sound the same for this phrase.
Is “Sola scriptura” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes. It is a correct and well-established phrase. Be aware that it expresses a specific Protestant theological position.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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