Reformation Distinctives Addressed by Scholars

While Pope Francis visited the United States for the first time, leading evangelical scholars defended the "Five Solas," central themes of the Reformation, at the 2015 Theology Conference at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

With the approaching 500th anniversary in 2017 of Martin Luther's nailing of the 95 Theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg, the signature moment of the Protestant Reformation, speakers at the conference emphasized the distinctiveness of the Reformed tradition from the Roman Catholic tradition.

"[A] Reformation understanding of grace sees God's presence to people as mediated through the Word of God -- especially the Word of God preached," said Carl Trueman, professor of historical theology and church history at Westminster Theological Seminary in Glenside, Pa., during the Sept. 24-25 conference. "It's the Word of God -- not the sacraments, as in Medieval Catholicism -- which was the primary means of God dealing graciously with His people." Read more