Editing Sola scriptura (section)

===Characteristics in the Reformed faith===
''Sola scriptura'' in the Reformed faith possesses the same characteristics to those of Lutheranism: inspiration, authority, clarity, efficacy, and sufficiency.

Article 3 of the [[Belgic Confession]], a Reformed confessional of faith, teaches the divine inspiration of Scripture, "We confess that this Word of God was not sent nor delivered by the will of man, but ''that holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost'', as the apostle Peter saith ({{Bibleref|2 Peter|1:21|KJV}})."<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |title=The Three Forms of Unity |publisher=Canon Press |year=2021 |isbn=9781954887176 |editor-last=Needham |editor-first=Nick |location=Moscow, Idaho |pages=}}</ref>{{RP|page=2}}

Article 7 teaches the sole infallibility or unique authority of Scripture, "Neither do we consider of equal value any writing of men, however holy these men may have been, with those divine Scriptures; nor ought we to consider custom, or the great multitude, or antiquity, or succession of times and persons, or councils, decrees or statutes, as of equal value with the truth of God".<ref name=":1" />{{RP|page=4}}

Chapter 1.7 of [[Westminster Confession of Faith]], another authoritative Reformed confession, speaks of the use of "ordinary means" (such as turning to pastors and teachers) for reaching an understanding of what is contained in scripture and what is necessary to know, while still espousing the doctrine of the clarity or perspicuity of Scripture; "All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all, yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them".<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Of the Holy Scripture - Westminster Confession of 1646 - Study Resources |url=https://www.blueletterbible.org/study/ccc/westminster/Of_The_Holy_Scripture.cfm |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=Blue Letter Bible |language=en}}</ref>

In the same chapter, "efficacy" is ascribed to the doctrine of Scripture.<ref name=":4" />

The sufficiency of Scripture is also taught in Article 7 of the Belgic Confession, "We believe that those Holy Scriptures fully contain the will of God, and that whatsoever man ought to believe unto salvation is sufficiently taught therein."<ref name=":1" />{{RP|page=4}}