Opus 2026-066: Prima, not Sola

One of the common concepts I am trying to deal with is the five Solas.  I believe it is a teaching in Calvinism.  The five Solas are faith, grace, scripture, Christ and the glory of God.

Logic alone tells us that the literal understanding of five different points that are “only” does not make sense.  If it is “faith alone” then why do you need grace and so forth.  I am sure that in the defining of the terms there is a lot of qualifying and back peddling.

I would suggest that a better approach would be to speak of the five Primas rather than the five Solas.  Even that would require some explanation.  You can’t have five things that are first.  The reasoning is that they are first in different catagories.

Take faith as an example.  “Faith alone” in regard to salvation, which is how this phrase is used, is not only nonsense but is the opposite of what the Bible actually says.  Even Paul, who emphasizes faith, goes on to describe behaviors that will keep you out of eternal life.  At the same time faith seems to be the universal requirement for entering into a saving relationship with Jesus.  There is no question about that but I would say scripture is consistent in expecting obedience after the fact, thus “prima” or first faith.

The Bible is clear from Genesis to Revelation that following rules, laws or ritual can never earn God’s forgiveness.  Salvation comes down to trusting in God and His action in response to that trusting.  We can do one and He will do the other.

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