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The Birth of Classical Protestantism

Repelled as he was by the corruption he saw, Luther’s ideas evolved into a reform of theology rather than the simple reform of abuses attempted by earlier reformers like Erasmus and Lefèvre d’Étaples. Luther’s teachings embodied three main doctrines which served as the cornerstone of classical Protestantism. The first doctrine, sola fide (by faith alone), emphasizes the necessity of faith and rejects any human effort towards salvation through reason or meritorious behaviour. The second doctrine, sola scriptura (by Scripture alone), states that the Word of God is the only truth and is revealed in Scripture, through which God reaches those with whom He has graced with faith. The third doctrine, sola gratia (by grace alone), maintains that God’s grace alone grants man the power, goodness and virtue to oppose all that is wicked and evil in nature, especially man’s nature. This set of doctrines was at the centre of Luther’s attack on the Roman Catholic Church.