Sola Scriptura: The Road to Reformation

A history of the doctrine of sola scriptura in the years leading up to the Protestant Reformation.

Sola Scriptura is a Latin phrase that means “only Scripture” or “Scripture alone.” It was one of the rallying cries of the Reformation.

But what is the significance of this phrase?

Sola Scriptura declares that only Scripture is our inerrant, sufficient, and final authority for the church, because it is God breathed and divinely inspired (2 Timothy 3:16).

In the sixteenth century, this directly contradicted the teachings of the Catholic Church, which elevated tradition and the Pope and magisterium’s authority to the level of Scripture itself.

[owenkelly]

Please forgive me for what might seem an overly-critical comment. But when one claims, as Luther did, that ecumenical councils can err, then one becomes his own pope, in essence claiming: "My, and only my, interpretation is authoritative, not the interpretation of the Church." The doctrine of Sola Scriptura has since created a vast army of protestant popes - a multitude who cannot agree among themselves except regarding the barest of Christian essentials. Again, forgive me, but I say this in love. For unity's sake, please stop teaching this doctrine.

[DrJoeyBean]

hmmmm...
The abuse of indulgences by clergy is not a reason to abandon catholic church tradition in favour of sole reliance upon scripture. 
The clergy have always failed, since Peter himself denied Christ before he had even risen, and always probably will fail. 
And so while there may be some validity to Luther's criticism of the implementation of indulgences by Tetzel specifically, I do not see the rationale for forming a new faith.