Sola Scriptura as Prima Scriptura

This paper offers a critical evangelical response to Salvador G. Agualada Jr.’s analysis of the Protestant principle of sola Scriptura, particularly his engagement with Roman Catholic critiques grounded in Yves Congar’s arguments concerning the temporal precedence of tradition and the alleged formal insufficiency of Scripture. While acknowledging the historical development of Protestant reflection on Scripture and tradition, this study argues that sola Scriptura is best understood not as the exclusion of tradition but as the affirmation of Scripture’s normative and final authority within the life of the church. Drawing on contemporary evangelical theology, the paper proposes that this principle may be more precisely articulated as prima Scriptura, wherein Scripture functions as the supreme and governing authority, while tradition, reason, 236 Hallig and experience such as ecclesial practices serve secondary and ministerial roles. By reframing the Protestant position in this way, the study seeks to clarify persistent misunderstandings surrounding sola Scriptura and to demonstrate how the doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture may be upheld without dismissing the historical and theological significance of the church’s interpretive tradition.