--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The essential unity of the formal and…" description: "\"“The essential unity of the formal and material principles of the Reformation lies in the fact that to affirm that Christianity was, formally and mater..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/459/alister-e-mcgrath-11214_bible_the-essential-unity-of-the-formal-and-ma_2715872.jpg" --- # The essential unity of the formal and material principles… ![“The essential unity of the formal and material principles of the Reformation lies in the fact that to affirm that Christianity was, formally and materially, solus Christus was perceived by the Reformers ultimately to depend upon the concurrent affirmation that Christ and his benefits could be…” quote by Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/459/alister-e-mcgrath-11214_bible_the-essential-unity-of-the-formal-and-ma_2715872.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/459/alister-e-mcgrath-11214_bible_the-essential-unity-of-the-formal-and-ma_2715872.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/459/alister-e-mcgrath-11214_bible_the-essential-unity-of-the-formal-and-ma_2715872.jpg) > ““The essential unity of the formal and material principles of the Reformation lies in the fact that to affirm that Christianity was, formally and materially, solus Christus was perceived by the Reformers ultimately to depend upon the concurrent affirmation that Christ and his benefits could be known sola scriptura.”” [Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Reformation linked the doctrine of Christ alone with the principle that Scripture alone reveals Christ’s benefits. **In simple terms:** Reformation tied Christ alone with Scripture alone. Key Takeaway Understand theological foundations. Themes theology reformation scripture Mood scholarly reflective Type theological educational When to use this quote - church history - academic study - faith practice - null Key Concepts doctrinal unity historical context Questions to Reflect On - How does sola Christus relate to sola scriptura? - Why is doctrinal unity important? A Different Perspective Complex theological language may obscure meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Protestantism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protestantism/) [Reformation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reformation/) ## Related quotes > [“The crux of Bible-Onlyism is that the Word became ink and dwelt among us, and we have only read about His glory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atom-tate/the-crux-of-bible-onlyism-is-that-the-word-became-ink-and-dwelt-among/) [Atom Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atom-tate/) > [“From the outset, Protestantism rejected the critical medieval distinction between the 'sacred' and 'secular' orders. While this position can easily be interpreted as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-e-mcgrath/from-the-outset-protestantism-rejected-the-critical-medieval/) [Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) > [The idea that Christianity is basically a religion of moral improvement... has its roots in the liberal Protestantism of the late nineteenth century and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-e-mcgrath/the-idea-that-christianity-is-basically-a-religion-of-moral/) [Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) > [“It is as if Protestantism by clinging to the Scripture wished to preserve the last faint echoes of God’s Word in a world that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-broch/it-is-as-if-protestantism-by-clinging-to-the-scripture-wished-to/) [Hermann Broch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-broch/) > [“It is widely unknown, but nonetheless true that Catholicism fervently promotes the 'spiritual disciplines' whereas Protestantism has largely neglected them altogether. 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One is, Preach the Gospel; and the other is--Put down enthusiasm!The Church of England in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-augusta-ward/place-before-your-eyes-two-precepts-and-two-only-one-is-preach-the/) [Mary Augusta Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-augusta-ward/) > [“I bear within me the seed, the rudiments, the possibility of life's capacities and endeavors. Where might I be, if I were not here?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mann/i-bear-within-me-the-seed-the-rudiments-the-possibility-of-life-s/) [Thomas Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mann/) > [I used to think that prayer should have the first place and teaching the second. I now feel it would be truer to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-fraser/i-used-to-think-that-prayer-should-have-the-first-place-and-teaching/) [James O. Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-fraser/) > [When Catholicism goes bad it becomes the world-old, world-wide religio of amulets and holy places and priestcraft. Protestantism,in its corresponding decay, becomes a vague…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/when-catholicism-goes-bad-it-becomes-the-world-old-world-wide-religio/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Some have said that the clash between Catholicism and Protestantism illustrates the old maxim that religious freedom is the product of two equally pernicious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fareed-zakaria/some-have-said-that-the-clash-between-catholicism-and-protestantism/) [Fareed Zakaria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fareed-zakaria/) > [“The distinction between the church invisible and the church visible lies at the heart of the conflict between Protestantism and Roman Catholicism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-m-mcgraw/the-distinction-between-the-church-invisible-and-the-church-visible/) [Ryan M. McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-m-mcgraw/) > [Take the very hardest thing in your life - the place of difficulty, outward or inward, and expect God to triumph gloriously in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilias-trotter/take-the-very-hardest-thing-in-your-life-the-place-of-difficulty/) [Lilias Trotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilias-trotter/) > [Like the early Christians, we must move into a sometime hostile world armed with the revolutionary gospel of Jesus Christ. With this powerful gospel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/like-the-early-christians-we-must-move-into-a-sometime-hostile-world/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) ## More by Alister E. McGrath > [The success of the Inklings also helps us to see criticism in a positive light. There are, unfortunately, people who boost their own sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-e-mcgrath/the-success-of-the-inklings-also-helps-us-to-see-criticism-in-a/) [Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) > [“The medieval period based its scriptural exegesis upon the Vulgate translation of the Bible. There was no authorized version of this text, despite the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-e-mcgrath/the-medieval-period-based-its-scriptural-exegesis-upon-the-vulgate/) [Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) > [“Lewis's mental map of reality had difficulty accommodating the trauma of the Great War. Like so many, he found the settled way of looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-e-mcgrath/lewis-s-mental-map-of-reality-had-difficulty-accommodating-the-trauma/) [Alister E. 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McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) > [“We are doomed to remain incomplete in our present existence. Our hopes and deepest longings will remain nothing but just that; Our hopes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-e-mcgrath/we-are-doomed-to-remain-incomplete-in-our-present-existence-our-hopes/) [Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) > [We must not think that religious concerns swamped all other social activities. They simply provided a focal point for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-e-mcgrath/we-must-not-think-that-religious-concerns-swamped-all-other-social/) [Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) > [To reenchant nature is not merely to gain a new perspective for its integrity and well-being; it is to throw open the doors to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-e-mcgrath/to-reenchant-nature-is-not-merely-to-gain-a-new-perspective-for-its/) [Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) > [“For Lewis, Christianity doesn’t just make sense of things. It changes our stories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-e-mcgrath/for-lewis-christianity-doesn-t-just-make-sense-of-things-it-changes/) [Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) > [Hope is rooted in the trustworthiness of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-e-mcgrath/hope-is-rooted-in-the-trustworthiness-of-god/) [Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) > [Suffering does not call into question the "big picture" of the Christian faith. It reminds us that we do not see the whole picture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-e-mcgrath/suffering-does-not-call-into-question-the-big-picture-of-the/) [Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) [Explore all 61 Alister E. McGrath quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) ## More Bible quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. 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