61%
Confidence
Belief overview
Solus Christus
Christ is the unique and sufficient mediator of salvation.
3
Supportive
1
Contrary
0
Neutral
What it is: The principle of solus Christus emphasizes that Jesus Christ is the unique and sufficient mediator between God and humanity.
How the religion understands it: This emphasis reinforces the centrality of Christ's person and work in salvation and tends to relativize mediations considered excessive or unnecessary. The focus falls on the cross, the resurrection, Christ's intercession, and exclusive trust in him.
Context: It is a formulation especially important in the controversies of the Reformation and continues to shape Protestant identity.
Documentary evidence
Supportive
1 Timothy 2:5
One mediator between God and human beings.
Reference: 1 Timothy 2:5.
Content: The text speaks of one mediator between God and human beings, Christ Jesus.
Use in debate: It is central for the principle of solus Christus and for critiques of additional mediations.
Hebrews 10:10-14
Christ's offering is sufficient and definitive.
Reference: Hebrews 10:10-14.
Content: The text affirms the efficacy of Christ's offering made once for all.
Use in debate: It is widely used for the sufficiency of Christ's work and in sacramental debates.
John 14:6
Christ as the way, the truth, and the life.
Reference: John 14:6.
Content: Jesus states that he is the way, the truth, and the life.
Use in debate: It is a central passage for the exclusivity of Christ's mediation.
Contrary
1 Timothy 2:5
There is one mediator between God and human beings, Jesus Christ.
The passage affirms Christ's unique mediation. In debates about invocation of the saints, it is used to argue that requests for heavenly intercession would compromise the centrality of Jesus. Catholic interpretation responds that subordinate and intercessory mediations do not compete with the unique redemptive mediation of Christ.