Theological Glossary
Six Christian traditions define Sola Fide below — each in its own words, paraphrased from its official documents. These are attributed positions, not assertions of fact.
The Catholic Church does not accept sola fide as the Reformers defined it; it teaches that we are justified by grace through faith, but that faith must be living — formed by charity — and completed by hope and love. It holds that the faith that justifies is never alone, but works through love.
Source: CCC 1992; 1814–1815 ↗
The Orthodox Church does not use the formula sola fide; it teaches that faith, hope, and love together unite the believer to Christ, and that faith without works is dead. It holds that salvation is by grace through a living faith expressed in repentance and obedience.
Source: GOARCH — How Are We Saved? ↗
Lutherans confess sola fide — by faith alone — as the heart of the gospel: sinners are justified before God by faith alone, apart from works, when they trust Christ's promise. They hold that this faith is never solitary in the person justified, but always bears the fruit of love and good works.
The Reformed tradition confesses sola fide: faith is the alone instrument of justification, receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness. It holds that faith justifies not because of any worth in believing, but solely as it lays hold of Christ — and that true faith is never without good works.
Source: Westminster Confession 11.2 ↗
Baptists teach that salvation is received through faith alone in Jesus Christ as Lord — that there is no salvation apart from personal faith in him. They hold that this faith is inseparable from repentance and evidences itself in a transformed life.
Source: BFM 2000, IV.B ↗
Methodists teach that we are justified by faith alone — trusting in Christ for pardon — while holding with Wesley that the faith which justifies is a living faith that works by love. They hold that sola fide never means a faith empty of obedience and holiness.
Source: Articles of Religion, Art. IX; UMC What We Believe ↗
See how the traditions compare on related topics: