What is the Wesleyan Quadrilateral?

The Wesleyan Quadrilateral is a framework for understanding how United Methodists approach theological questions. While the term was coined by twentieth-century scholar Albert Outler, the method itself reflects John Wesley's own practice of drawing on multiple sources when exploring matters of faith.

The Four Sources

1. Scripture

The Bible is the primary and most authoritative source for United Methodist theology. Wesley was deeply devoted to Scripture and considered himself "a man of one book." However, he recognized that Scripture must be interpreted carefully and in conversation with other sources of insight. United Methodists read the Bible both devotionally and critically, seeking to understand God's revelation in its historical and literary context.

2. Tradition

The Christian tradition encompasses the wisdom of the church through the centuries—the creeds, the writings of the church fathers and mothers, the insights of theologians, and the practices of worship that have sustained the faithful. Wesley valued the early church especially and believed that the historic teachings of Christianity provide important guidance for believers today.

3. Reason

Wesley placed a high value on human reason as a gift from God. He believed that faith and reason are not opposed but complementary. United Methodists are encouraged to think critically about their faith, to ask hard questions, and to integrate the insights of science, philosophy, and other disciplines with their understanding of Scripture and tradition.

4. Experience

Personal and communal experience plays an important role in United Methodist theology. Wesley believed that the Holy Spirit works in our lives in ways we can perceive and reflect upon. Our experience of God's grace, our encounters with suffering and joy, and our life in Christian community all contribute to our understanding of God and God's will for our lives.

How It Works

The Quadrilateral is not a formula that produces automatic answers. Rather, it is a method of reflection that helps us hold multiple perspectives in creative tension. Scripture remains primary, but tradition, reason, and experience help us interpret and apply biblical teaching in our particular time and place. When United Methodists face a difficult theological or ethical question, the Quadrilateral encourages us to consider what Scripture says, how the church has understood the issue, what reason and evidence suggest, and what our experience reveals.