The Brian Holdsworth Podcast Protestants Don't Really Practice Sola Scriptura
Dec 16, 2025
A conversion story that leads to wrestling with James 2 and apparent clashes with sola fide. A look at how Protestant reinterpretations reshape plain readings of Scripture. An argument that claiming Scripture alone still relies on interpretive traditions. A self-driving car analogy and a historical appeal to apostolic teaching as alternatives.
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Early Conversion Bible Reading Experience
- Brian Holdsworth recounts discovering sola scriptura as a new Christian and reading the New Testament to learn how to follow Jesus.
- He describes comparing theological schools to scripture and initially practicing a naïve form of scripture-alone interpretation while wrestling with the church question.
James 2 Appears To Contradict Faith Alone
- Brian highlights the plain reading of James 2 that seems to contradict sola fide by stating 'a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.'
- He uses examples like Matthew 6:15, Abraham, and Rahab to show the text links works to justification.
Protestant Responses Override Plain Reading
- Brian describes Protestants responding to James 2 by insisting the plain wording is a misinterpretation to defend sola fide.
- He notes his own unfiltered recitation of the verse was dismissed as 'false' because of prior theological commitments.