Wisdom from Ken Hensley

Luther viewed this doctrine of justification by faith alone to be so important that he declared, ‘This is the doctrine by which the Church stands or falls.’ He referred to it as ‘the summary of Christian doctrine’ and ‘the sun which illumines God’s holy Church.’ Luther interpreted all of Scripture in light of justification by faith alone and he was willing to question the divine authority of any book—even books in the Bible—that he felt did not clearly teach it or contradicted it. Luther was willing to toss entire books out of the New Testament that he thought, at least for a time, contradicted sola fide.

—KEN HENSLEY from Luther and Salvation: A Catholic Response