Sola Scriptura - Scripture alone ...
a much used verse during the early years of the Reformation
--- a little background, the reformers (like Martin Luther) when
they first used this, its not about challenging Church doctrine or
Traditions, its about reforming the Church from its corrupted
practices, traditions and teachings (example: the selling and
buying of indulgence, Pope Leo X)
THE RULE OF FAITH & PRACTICE.
The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, Having Been Given By
Inspiration of God, Are the All-Sufficient and Only Rule of Faith
and Practice, and Judge of Controversies.
What is meant by saying that the Scriptures are the only infallible
rule of faith and practice?
Whatever God teaches or commands is of sovereign authority.
Whatever conveys to us an infallible knowledge of his teachings and
commands is an infallible rule. The Scriptures of the Old and New
Testaments are the only organs through which, during the present
dispensation, God conveys to us a knowledge of his will about what
we are to believe concerning himself, and what duties he requires
of us.
In what sense do Protestants affirm the perspicuity of
Scripture?
Protestants do not affirm that the doctrines revealed in the
Scriptures are level to man's powers of understanding. Many of them
are confessedly beyond all understanding. Nor do they affirm that
every part of Scripture can be certainly and perspicuously
expounded, many of the prophesies being perfectly obscure until
explained by the event. But they do affirm that every essential
article of faith and rule of practice is clearly revealed in
Scripture, or may certainly be deduced therefrom. This much the
least instructed Christian may learn at once; while, on the other
hand, it is true, that with the advance of historical and critical
knowledge, and by means of controversies, the Christian church is
constantly making progress in the accurate interpretation of
Scripture, and in the comprehension in its integrity of the system
therein taught.
~taken from Sola Scriptura by
A.A. Hodge (1823-1886)
To add my own opinion
Sola Scriptura to me is that every essential article of faith and
rule of practice is clearly revealed in Scripture, or may certainly
be deduced.
It does not means everything is contained in the Bible, it just
means the essential article of faith and rule of practice are and
can be found in the Bible.
It does means that it is simple enough that the least instructed
Christian may learn at once the foundational truths of our
salvation, yet on the other hand the Christian church is constantly
making progress in the accurate interpretation of Scripture with
the advance of historical and critical knowledge, and by means of
controversies.