sb. and a. Theol. Also 7 solyfidian, solifidean. [f. L. sōli-, combining form of sōl-us alone + fidēs faith.]
A. sb. One who holds that faith alone, without works, is sufficient for justification.
The doctrine is based on Rom. iii. 28, where Luther rendered πίστει by ‘allein durch den Glauben.’
1596. Bell, Surv. Popery, III. ix. 394. Good works, which you and your solifidians cannot abide.
1638. Chillingw., Relig. Prot., I. vii. § 33. 406. I never knew any Protestant such a soli-fidian, but that he did believe these divine truths.
1660. H. More, Myst. Godl., To Rdr. 25. That all of the Reformed Churches are not Solifidians.
1742–3. Observ. Methodists, 3. Very Civil indeed, O ye Solifidians.
1812–29. Coleridge, in Lit. Rem. (1838), III. 122. The heroic Solifidian, Martin Luther himself.
1882. Farrar, Early Chr., II. 53. The Solifidian—the believer in the possibility of an abstract faith which can show no works as an evidence of its existence.
B. adj. 1. Consisting of, pertaining to, the doctrine of justification by faith alone.
1605. A. Wotton, Answ. late Popish Articles, 108. The which solifidian portion ouerthroweth flatly true repentance.
1670. C. Gataker, Harmony Truth, 63. Who … have by Tongue and by Pen asserted the Solifidian and Fiduciary way of Justification.
1716. M. Davies, Athen. Brit., II. 220. The same execrable Hypothesis … took in also the Solifidian Adiophorism of all Actions, good or bad.
a. 1773. Alban Butler, Moveable Feasts & F. (1852), II. 223. He attacked the Solifidian and Antinomian doctrines.
1884. Sat. Rev., 3 March, 579. More seeking is needed to discover that theory within the sacred records than the solifidian one.
2. Of persons, etc.: Accepting or maintaining this doctrine.
1628. Feltham, Resolves, II. xlvii. (1677), 253. A Solifidean-Christian is a Nullifidean-Pagan, and confutes his tongue with his hand.
1871. J. Martineau, Ess. & Addr. (1891), IV. 152. We cannot join a Solifidian church.
