Sola Scriptura in Nigerian Pentecostal Theology: Continuity and Divergence from Classical Reformation Theology

Sola scriptura is a doctrine that affirms that the scripture alone is the supreme authority in matters of faith and practices. The doctrine of sola scriptura stands as a foundational principle of the Protestant Reformation. From the memory lane, within the sixteenth-century European ecclesia context, sola scriptura has been received, reinterpreted, and sometimes contested in contemporary Christianity. The thrust of this paper, therefore, is to examine how sola scriptura is understood and practiced within Nigerian Pentecostal theology. The paper argues that Nigerian Pentecostalism demonstrates both continuity with classical reformation theology through its high regard for the Bible and significant divergence through its strong emphasis on prophetic revelation, charismatic experience, and authoritative leadership. The paper adopts a historical-theological and contextual approach to unearth the historical roots of sola scriptura, outlining its classical Reformation meaning and dissecting its reinterpretation within Nigerian Pentecostal movements. The paper concludes by suggesting a formative structure for re-articulating sola scriptura in Nigerian Pentecostal theology in a way that affirms scripture’s competency while critically engaging charismatic experience.