I get this question with some frequency, usually around Reformation Day. Here is a preliminary answer:
The ideas were present from the earliest stage of the Reformation, but the actual phrases developed over time. The earliest phrases were sola gratia (by grace alone) and sola fide and sola scriptura. These are easily found in early 16th century protestant texts.
Sola Gratia
Andreas Bodenstein von Karlstadt, before he radicalized, used the expression sola gratia repeatedly in his 1519 disputation.
Martin Bucer used it in his 1536 commentary on the Gospels and again in a 1545 tract. The Italian Reformer, Peter Martyr Vermiligi used it in his 1558 lectures on Romans. Wolfgang Musculus used it in his lectures on Galatians and Ephesians (1561). Caspar Olevianus used it in his lectures on Romans (1579).
Calvin defended the notion and used the phrase, in Institutes 2.3.11—he was arguing against the Roman notion of “cooperating grace” in justification. See also 3.11.5; 3.14.5; 3.24.12.
Sola Fide
Luther used it famously in his translation of Galatians 3. He also used it in his lectures on Galatians. (His defense of inserting “allein” is below). In 1521, Melanchthon used it in his Loci Communes (Common Places, his systematics text) exactly as we do today.
Karlstadt used sola fide also in 1519 in his disputation. The significance of this is that he was certainly reflecting, at this point, what Luther and Melanchthon were saying. The phrase is also found in the work of Francois Lambert (1524); Johannes Oecolampadius (1524, 1534), Martin Bucer (1527, 1534, 1536, 1545), Heinrich Bullinger (1534, 1557), Peter Martyr Vermigli (1549) and in Calvin (Institutes 3.3.1; 3.11.1; 1.11.19; 3.14.17 etc). It is also found, of course, in the Augsburg Confession Art. 6.
The Latin text of the Heidelberg Catechism (1563) uses the expression sola fide in Q. 60 on justification.
Sola Scriptura
Sola Scriptura is certainly a 16th century phrase. The expression itself occurs among the Reformed as early as 1526 and Bucer used it in 1536. Calvin used it in Institutes 3.17.8.
Solo Christo and Soli Deo Gloria
I do not know the original dates for the phrases, solo Christo (i.e. “in Christ alone”) and soli Deo gloria (to God alone be the glory) but my guess is that their origins are probably a little later. Jim Renihan suggested that they might be traceable to Merle D’Aubigne. That seems like a good possibility but one which I’ve not investigated yet.
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September 12, 2008 at 7:09 am
Wes Bredenhof
“Sola fide” is also in Belgic Confession Article 22. In the original French of 1561, “la seule foy.” In later Latin editions, “sola fide.”
September 12, 2008 at 8:50 am
R. Scott Clark
Thanks Wes!
October 25, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Christianity vs Calvinism: What Is Calvinism? (2a of 2) « Th’eternal Promise
[...] Men began to question Rome. They wanted the Church to Reform. Where the Church taught Scripture plus Church tradition, the Reformers believed in Scripture Alone (sola Scriptura). Where Rome taught faith plus works, the Reformers believed in Faith Alone (sola fide). Where Rome taught grace plus merit, the Reformers believed in Grace Alone (sola gratia). Where Rome taught Christ, Mary, and Church identified saints, the Reformers believed in Christ Alone (sola Christus). And, where Rome taught God, Church identified saints, and Church Hierarchy, The Reformers believed in Glory to God Alone (soli Deo gloria) (see Whence the Reformation Solas?) [...]