Alan and Anita Walter

How does tradition, reason, and experience help a Wesleyan theologian interpret Scripture and come to sound theological conclusions?

The only way to do this is by the proper use of reason, tradition, and experience. These are not equal with Scripture, but they are important resources in the proper interpretation of Scripture. There are times when we are faced with more obscure or difficult passages or concepts. The use of these can be a great help. The Holy Spirit can enlighten us to an understanding of the Scriptures. Sometimes we wish he would just whisper truth in our ears. But that is not always the case, so the Spirit uses our efforts to open the Scriptures to our eyes and hearts. Of course, there can be no right understanding of Scripture without the work of the Holy Spirit in revealing the truth to us. Now, dependence on inward revelation can be abused. Inspiration does not eliminate the need for tradition, reason, and experience in the work of interpretation.

Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience combine in helping us to determine proper interpretation and use of Scripture. In the “Wesleyan Quadrilateral,” all four elements have legitimate claims to authority, but it is important to remember they are not equal elements. Tradition, reason, and experience are aids in evaluating truth, but never of equal authority with Scripture. Scripture is the primary authority. Allan Coppedge tells us that “Wesley did not see Scripture as only the first in a line of several equal or coordinate criteria for doing theology, but rather as the final authority in all matters.”^{^[1]} The Wesleyan theologian will greatly benefit by discovering what Wesley taught about tradition, reason, and experience.

The benefit of tradition.

It is important to recognize the priority of Scripture over church tradition, but at the same time it would be foolish to attempt to do Biblical interpretation as though it never had been done before. Coppedge says, “Tradition was a history of (1) the church’s understanding of Scripture, (2) its use of reason in formulating doctrine, and (3) its models for the application of truth in experience.”^{^[2]} Those voices of the past are still valuable to us today. We can know the will of God revealed in Scripture by studying for ourselves, but we must never forget that the questions we ask have likely been asked before. As Wesley advised, “The esteeming of the writings of the first three centuries not equally, but next to the Scriptures, never carried any man yet into dangerous errors, nor probably ever will. But it has brought many out of dangerous errors.”^{^[3]}

The benefit of reason.

The Wesleyan theologian must interpret the Bible. Correct interpretation requires the use of reason. In 1768, Wesley wrote this in a letter to Dr. Rutherford, “It is a fundamental principle with us (the Methodists), that to renounce reason is to renounce religion, that religion and reason go hand in hand, and that all irrational religion is false religion.”^{^[4]} God has given us the gift of reasoning, and even though it was tainted by the fall of Adam, it is still something we desperately need to use. It provides another source of revelation that will help us interpret Scripture more accurately. Through it we can make a rational connection between Scripture and experience.

There is no question, however, that reason has severe limitations and cannot be trusted alone. Wesley advised, “Let reason do all that reason can: employ it as far as it will go. But at the same time acknowledge it is utterly incapable of giving either faith, or hope or love: and consequently, of producing either real virtue or substantial happiness. Expect these from a higher source, even from the Father of the spirits of all flesh.”^{^[5]} Though it is never superseded by the Scriptures themselves, reason has an important place in the Wesleyan theologian’s study.

The benefit of experience.

Coppedge states, “To this Anglican use of Scripture, tradition, and reason Wesley adds the component of experience.”^{^[6]} Experience needs to drive us back to the Scripture to see if we have understood it correctly. Experience can clarify and confirm Scripture, but it must always be in alignment with Scripture. It is one thing to have knowledge and an opinion. It is quite another thing to have a vibrant experience with God that confirms the Scriptures. The Scriptures are never wrong, but the experience might be lacking and misleading. We can be sure that the Spirit of God will never lead us in a way that is contrary to the principles of the Scriptures. Thank God, we can know him through Scripture and experience. That personal experience with God makes the Scriptures real to us and keeps our Bible study from simply being an academic exercise.

Conclusion

The Wesleyan theologian is blessed to have Wesley’s well-thought-out plan for interpreting Scripture and coming to sound theological conclusions. Let us keep Scripture the central focus, and then use reason, tradition, and experience as a means of understanding it better.

^{^[1]} Coppedge, How Wesleyans do Theology, 270.

^{^[2]} Ibid., 275.

^{^[3]} Telford, Letters, vol. 2, 325. (Weeter, Mark L. 2009. Reason, Tradition, and Experience in Bible Interpretation. Joseph Coleson, ed., Wesleyan Theological Perspectives. Indianapolis, IN: WPH) Logos.

^{^[4]} Davies, ed., The Works of John Wesley, Flexon Library Ref 252.07 W264w vol. 9, 282.

^{^[5]} Outler, ed., The Works of John Wesley, Flexon Library Ref 252.07 W264w vol. 2, 588.

^{^[6]} Coppedge, How Wesleyans do Theology, 276.

Outline

How should your pastor be interpreting Scripture and teaching sound theology?

There have been those who have erred in teaching and preaching the truths of God's Word. This pastor does not desire to go down that road. I have an obligation to preach and teach the truth to you. How do I arrive at that goal?

I. I must compare Scriptures with Scriptures.

A. The whole counsel of God's Word must be studied.

B. The leadership of the Holy Spirit must be sought.

II. I must gain insights from the traditions of our history.

A. Many have gone before me who have articulated well what the Scriptures teach and how we should conduct our lives.

B. Those traditions which are taught as truth must align themselves to the Word of God.

III. I must utilize the gift of reason which God gives to us.

A. It is important that I strive to make a rational connection between Scripture and experience.

B. Reason has an important place in our Wesleyan theology, but it must always be subject to the Scriptures.

IV. I must preach and teach what I have experienced.

A. There must be a time of waiting on God for the experience to be confirmed by the Scriptures and Divine approval.

B. There must be a confirmation and clarity of Divine truth which resonates deep within my being.

Conclusion

I have given you four points which are known as the "Wesleyan Quadrilateral." These are four anchor-points for Divine authority in ministry. They are not equal in authority, for Scripture supersedes all else. But when the Holy Spirit enables one to give accurate insights from the Scriptures, traditions, reason, and experience, it can make good applications for holy living in our present day.