That's interesting. I happen to be reading Miller's Church History, I see it reference from time to time so I thought it might be good to look at, and on pg 380 came across a note about a man named Clement who was condemned at the synod of Soissons in March 744. He was condemned because he held to the belief that "no councils, writings, decisions of the church that are contrary to Scripture had authority over Christians".
Here is a case of a man being condemned 800 years before the date you believe Sola Scriptura emerged. The point being that belief in the 5 Solas has always been around, it's just that at various times it conflicted with the goals of the dominant church of the era.
And, even if you could provide a sect as evidence, you must also be able to demonstrate continuity of this doctrine back to the beginning. After all, the Arians were hardly few in number at one point, but they have a discrete point of origin on the Christian timeline. On the basis of their assertions, minus their continuity, would you be willing to assume their unique doctrinal bases were correct? Would your objection be based, in part, at least, on the non-Apostolic origin of their ideas concerning Christ's divinity?
Just so!
good find..
I believe that Arius advanced pretty much the same argument. If you go back to Miller, you may see that each side claimed to represent the original teachings of the Church. Arius was in fact the one introducing novel doctrines but he could not more be convinced of that than Arius. One reason for Luther to oppose a council was that he didn’t want to be, like Arius, outmanned at a council. Instead he hid behind the German princes who opposed the council because they opposed the emperor who wanted the council.
Great catch, William.
The 5 Solas have been Biblical truth from the beginning, mercifully reaffirmed by the grace of God through the Reformation.
Sola Scriptura
Soli Deo Gloria
Solo Christo
Sola Gratia
Sola Fide