Wesleyan Quadrilateral
Wesley's Research and Explanatory Notes
===============================
Copyright © 2026, Odilon Massolar Chaves
All rights reserved to the author.
It is allowed to read, copy and share for
free
Article 184 of the Penal Code and Law 96710
of February 19, 1998.
Books published in the Wesleyan Digital
Library: 716
Books published by the author: 763
Cover: John Wesley
Translator: Google
All glory to God!
Odilon Massolar Chaves is a retired Methodist
pastor, with a doctorate in Theology and History from the Methodist University
of São Paulo.
He is married to RoseMary. He has two
daughters: Liliana and Luciana.
His thesis dealt with the Methodist revival
in England in the eighteenth century and its contribution as a paradigm for our
days.
He was editor of the official Methodist
newspaper and coordinator of the Theology Course.
===============================
Wesley "valued the Holy Bible in the extreme, holding it as the
greatest source of knowledge and authority, the only rule of faith and practice
for the Christian"
===============================
Table of
Contents
·
Introduction
·
Highlights
of the book's chapters
· The
Bible
· The
Reason
· The
Experience
· The
Christian Tradition
·
The
origins of the sources of spiritual knowledge
===============================
Introduction
"Wesleyan Quadrilateral" is a 31-page book based on research
and Wesley's Explanatory Notes.
"The Wesleyan Quadrilateral is a
theological method, associated with John Wesley, that uses four sources for
understanding the Christian faith: Scripture, Tradition, Reason, and
Experience, with the Bible as the supreme authority, and the other three
elements serving as guides for the interpretation and application of biblical
truth, being a concept developed and popularized in twentieth-century
Methodism, not created by Wesley, but
reflecting his thought."[1]
The American theologian, pastor, and
Methodist historian Albert Outler (1908-1989) was the one who coined the
terminology "Quadrilateral" in 1964, which he called the
"Wesleyan Fortress." Many have adopted the "Quadrilateral".
It is important to know that Robert Wallace
Burtner also published the "Collection of the Theology of John
Wesley" in 1954, as a co-author, where he defends five sources of
spiritual knowledge including Natural Creation.
Ten years later, in 1964, Albert Outler
published about the "Wesleyan Quadrilateral" excluding Natural
Creation.
For Albert Outler, Wesley had four sources
of spiritual knowledge: the Bible, reason, personal experience, and the
Christian tradition.
A necessary study in our times to maintain balance and be closer to
always arriving at spiritual or theological truth.
The Author
===============================
Highlights of the book's chapters
The Bible
Wesley "valued the Holy Bible in the extreme, holding it as the
greatest source of knowledge and authority, the only rule of faith and practice
for the Christian"
The Reason
Reason, assisted by the Holy
Spirit, enables us to understand the Scriptures, the new birth, holiness
The Christian experience
The experience with Christ opens
the eyes of the understanding to a new reality and the ears to hear the voice
of God
Christian tradition
I revere these Christians with all their faults
because I see so few Christians today; Because I read so little in the writings
of the last times and hear so little of genuine Christianity
Origin of the Sources of Spiritual Knowledge
Therefore, it can be said that, today, it is
recognized that John Wesley recognized and made use of five sources of
theological knowledge, the Bible, tradition, reason, experience and creation
===============================
The Bible
Wesley "valued the Holy Bible in the utmost, holding it to be the
greatest source of knowledge and authority, the only rule of faith and practice
for the Christian
===============================
1 - The Bible:
*
"The
Bible is the only and sufficient rule of faith;
* God, through the scriptures, teaches us the way of Salvation;
*
The
Bible cannot be the invention of good men or angels, for they would not make a
book telling lies and saying, "Thus saith the Lord," when then they
would be the ones saying;
*
The
Bible cannot be an invention of evil men or demons, for they would not make a
book condemning sin;
*
The
Bible, then, was written by divine inspiration" (See: 2 Timothy 3:16; John
5:39; Galatians 3:8; Acts 18:28).[2]
Bible
text related to the Bible
And that from childhood you have known the holy
scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith that is
in Christ Jesus.
All Scripture is God-breathed, and is profitable for
teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for instructing in righteousness;
2
Timothy 3
In the last few days
But know this,
that perilous times will come in the last days.
In the
last days - The time of the gospel dispensation,
beginning at the time of our Lord's death, is peculiarly termed the last days.
Serious - Problematic and dangerous, said Wesley.
Verse
2
Because men will be lovers of themselves
For men
will be lovers of themselves, covetous, boastful, proud, blasphemers,
disobedient to their parents, unthankful, profane,
For men - Even in the church, said Wesley.
The First Root of Evil
It will
be – In great numbers and to a greater
degree than ever before.
Lovers of
themselves - Only, not their neighbours, the first
root of evil.
Money
lovers - The second.
Verse
3
Despisers of the good
Without
natural affection, truce-breakers, slanderers, incontinent, fierce, despisers
of the good,
Wesley
commented:
No
natural affection - To his
own children.
Intemperate,
fierce - Too soft and too hard.
Verse
4
More lovers of
pleasures than friends of God
Traitors,
intoxicating, haughty, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God;
Lovers of
sensual pleasure - Which naturally
extinguishes all love and sense of God, said Wesley.
Verse
5
A
Semblance of Piety
Having a
form of godliness, but denying its power: depart from such as them.
Wesley
commented, "Having a form—A form of godliness, but not respecting, no, even
denying and blaspheming, the power within, and the reality of it. Is this not
eminently fulfilled on this day?
Verse
6
For of this kind are the ones that infiltrate
the houses
For of
this kind are they that creep into houses, and carry captive foolish women
laden with sins, carried away by divers lusts,
Of these - That is, mere formalists, said Wesley.
Verse
7
And never able to come to the knowledge of the
truth
Always
learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Always
learning - new things. But not God's truth, Wesley
said.
Verse
8
Janes and Jambres
Now as
Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so they also resist the truth, corrupt men,
reprobate in the faith.
Chief of the Egyptian Magi
Wesley
commented:
Several
ancient writers speak of Jannes and Jambres as the chief of the Egyptian
magicians.
Men of
corrupt minds - Unclean notions and
perverse inclinations.
Quite ignorant as well as careless
Void of
judgment - Quite ignorant, as well as careless, of
true spiritual religion.
Verse
9
His folly will be manifest to all men
But they
will not go on, for their folly will be made manifest to all men, as theirs
also was.
They
shall not go on - In the conquest of
proselytes, said Wesley.
Verse
12
those
who want to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution
All who want to live godly lives in Christ
Jesus will suffer persecution.
Wesley
commented:
All who
are resolved to live godly - So count
the cost. Are you settled? In Christ - Outside of Christ there is no godliness.
Shall
suffer persecution - Sort of.
There is no exception. Either the truth of the scriptures fails, or those who
think they are religious and are not persecuted in one way or another for that
very reason deceive themselves.
But wicked and seductive men will go from bad
to worse
Verse
13
But evil and seductive men will go from bad to worse,
deceiving and being deceived.
Wesley
commented: Deceiving and being deceived - He who once began to deceive others is less likely
to recover from his own mistake and more ready to embrace the mistakes of other
men.
Verse
14
But stay in the things you have learned
But abide
in the things which you have learned and of which you have been assured,
knowing from whom you have learned them;
Of whom--Even of me a teacher approved of God, said Wesley.
Verse
15
From childhood you have known the sacred
scriptures
And that
from childhood you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you
wise for salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus.
Wesley
commented: From childhood you have known the sacred
scriptures - from the Old Testament. These only
existed when Timothy was a child. who are able to make you wise unto salvation
through faith in the Messiah who was to come. How much more are the Old and New
Testaments together able, in God's hands, to make us more abundantly wise unto
salvation! Even a measure of present salvation that was not known before Jesus
was glorified.
Verse
16
All Scripture is inspired of God
The Spirit of God not only once inspired those
who wrote it, but continually inspires, supernaturally assists, those who read
it with fervent prayer
Wesley
commented:
All
Scripture is God-breathed—The Spirit
of God not only once inspired those who wrote it, but continually inspires,
supernaturally assists, those who read it with fervent prayer. Wherefore it is
so profitable for doctrine, for the instruction of the ignorant, for the rebuke
or conviction of those who are in error or sin, for the correction or amendment
of all that is wrong, and for instructing or educating the children of God in
all righteousness.
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly
equipped for every good work.
Impeccable, and
fully furnished
Wesley
commented:
That man of God - He who is united and approved of God.
It may be perfect - Blameless, and completely furnished - By scripture, whether to teach,
reprove, correct, or train others[3].
For Wesley, "All Scripture is inspired of
God."[4]
Wesley "valued the Holy Bible in the
extreme, holding it as the greatest source of knowledge and authority, the only
rule of faith and practice for the Christian. He declared himself a "man
of one book". He read God's Word regularly and preached almost the entire
biblical canon, including extensive Old Testament preaching. He read the
Scriptures because he was the guide to the Christian faith, the guide to
Christian behavior, and hope and sustenance for the believer."[5]
===============================
The Reason
Reason, assisted by the Holy
Spirit, enables us to understand the Scriptures, the new birth, holiness
===============================
2 - The Reason:
*
"Reason is a gift of God for the
investigation of truth;
* Reason cannot give faith, hope, love, virtue, Salvation;
* Reason, assisted by the Holy Spirit, enables us
to understand the Scriptures, the new birth, holiness;
* Religion that does not use reason is false" (See: Rom 12:1-3; 1 Corinthians 11:28; Acts 17:11.). [6]
Biblical text related to reason
What is his reasonable service - The worship of the heathen was utterly
unreasonable, Romans 1:18, etc.; so was the glory of the Jews, Romans 2:3, etc. But the Christian acts in all things by the
highest reason, by the mercy of God, inferring his own duty
Romans 12
Verse 1
which is your rational worship
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of
God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God,
which is your reasonable service.
Wesley
commented:
I exhort thee - St. Paul uses to suit his exhortations to the doctrines which he has
imparted. Therefore here the general use of the whole is contained in the first
and second verses. The particular usages follow, from the third verse to the
end of the Epistle.
By the tender mercies of God - The whole feeling is derived from Romans 1:-v. The
expression itself is particularly opposed to the wrath of God, Romans 1:18. It has a reference here to the whole gospel, to the
whole economy of grace or mercy, delivering us from the wrath of God, and
stirring us up to all duty.
Present -
Thus, Romans 6:13; Romans 16:19; now, indeed, to exhibit before God.
That is, yourselves
Wesley
commented:
Your bodies - That is, yourselves; a part is placed for the whole; instead, as in
the ancient animal sacrifices, the body was the whole. These are also
particularly named in opposition to the vile abuse of their bodies mentioned, Romans 1:24. The following are several expressions, which also
have a direct reference to other expressions in the same chapter.
Wesley commented:
A sacrifice—Dead to sin, and alive—For that life which
is mentioned, Romans 1:17; Romans 6:4, etc.
Holy–As the holy law requires, Romans 7:12.
Acceptable - Romans 8:8.
What is their reasonable service - The
worship of the heathen was utterly unreasonable, Romans 1:18, etc.; so was the glory of the Jews, Romans 2:3, etc. But the Christian acts in all
things by the highest reason, by the mercy of God, inferring his own duty.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind
And do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good
and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Wesley
commented:
And conform not - Neither in judgment, spirit, nor behavior.
To this world - Which, neglecting the will of God, follows entirely its own.
That ye may prove - Know ye by sure judgment; which is easily done by him that thus
presented himself unto God.
What is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God—The will of God is to be understood here of the whole
preceptive part of Christianity, which is in itself so excellently good, so
acceptable to God, and so perfect of our natures.
do not think of yourself more than you ought; but think soberly
For I say, by the grace that has been given to me, to
every man that is among you, that he think not of himself more than he ought;
but think soberly, as God has apportioned to every man the measure of faith.
Wesley
commented:
And I say -
He now proceeds to show what the will of God is.
Through the grace given me - He modestly adds this, that he may not seem to forget his own
direction.
To all who are among you - believers in Rome. Happy, if they always remembered that! The measure
of faith - Treated in the first chapter and the following chapters, from which
flow all other gifts and graces.[7]
For Wesley, religion and reason must go together,[8] but for him, reason cannot give faith, hope, love, or produce virtues.[9] "He alone can give that faith which is the 'evidence' and conviction 'of things not seen.' He alone can make us enjoy the living hope of an eternal inheritance in heaven, and he alone can "pour out his love in your hearts by the Holy Spirit who is given you."[10]
On the importance of reason, he says: "The Son of God begins his works in man by enabling us to believe in him. He opens and illuminates the eyes of our understanding."[11]
For Wesley, reason was important for religious knowledge and theological
practice, but according to him, revelation overrides reason. It is rational to
understand that revelation transcends "all human certainty,"
"Reason, knowing that divine information or revelation is in fact divine,
is already convinced that it exceeds all human certainty. The only thing,
therefore, of which one must be convinced in this sense is that the revelation
is divine or that the Scripture is of divine authority."[12]
===============================
The Christian experience
The experience with Christ opens
the eyes of the understanding to a new reality and the ears to hear the voice
of God
===============================
3 - Christian Experience
*
"Experience with Christ is sufficient to
deny or confirm any doctrine based on the Scriptures;
* The experience with Christ opens the eyes of the understanding to a new reality and the ears to hear the voice of God;
* True experience is
one that conforms to the Bible." (See: Rom
8:16; 2 Corinthians 5:1-8; 1 Corinthians 2:9-16). [13]
Biblical text related to the
Christian experience
And as he was walking, he came near Damascus,
and suddenly there shone around him a light from heaven.
And he fell to the ground, and heard a voice
saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me?
===============================
Acts 9
Verse 3
and
suddenly there shone around him a light from heaven
And as he was walking, he came near Damascus, and
suddenly there shone around him a light from heaven.
And suddenly
- When God suddenly and vehemently attacks a sinner, it is the highest act of
mercy. Then Saul, when his anger has reached its peak, is taught not to breathe
killing. And what was lacking in time to confirm him in his discipleship, is
made up for by the inexpressible terror he sustained. By him also the suddenly
constituted apostle was guarded against the great snare into which novices are
apt to fall, Wesley commented.
Verse 4
Saul,
Saul, why do you persecute me?
And he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying
unto him, Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me?
He heard a voice—stern
but full of grace, Wesley said.
Verse 5
I am
Jesus, whom you persecute
And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And the
Lord said, 'I am Jesus, whom you persecute; it is hard for you to kick against
the goads.
Kick against the goads—it's
a Syriac proverb, expressing an attempt that brings nothing but pain, Wesley
said.
Verse 6
Lord,
what wilt thou have me to do?
And he trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what wilt
thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city,
and thou shalt be told what thou shalt do.
It shall be said unto thee
- Then God himself sends Saul to be taught by a man, as the angel does
Cornelius, Acts 10:5. Admirable condescension! that the Lord treats us as men, like us, said
Wesley.
Verse 7
And the
men who departed with him were speechless
And the men who departed with him were speechless,
hearing a voice, but seeing no one.
The men - stood -
Having risen before Saul; for they also fell to the ground, Acts 26:14. It is likely that they all traveled on foot.
Hearing the noise
- But not an articulate voice. And seeing the light, but not Jesus himself, Acts 26:13, etc.
Verse 9
And he
did not see for three days, and neither ate nor drank
And he did not see for three days, and he did not eat
or drink.
And he went three days
– an important season! For so long he seems to have been in the pains of the
new birth, Wesley said.
Wesley commented, "By scales growing
over his eyes, to intimate him the blindness of the state he was in, to impress
him with a deeper sense of the omnipotent power of Christ, and to turn his
thoughts inward, while he was less able to converse with external objects. This
also was a manifest sign to others, of what had happened to him on his journey,
and should have humbled and convinced those fanatical Jews, to whom he had been
sent from the Sanhedrin.
consultation
in the house of Judas by someone named Saul of Tarsus; for behold, he prayeth
And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go to the
marketplace which is called Straight, and inquire into the house of Judas by
one named Saul of Tarsus; for behold, he prays:
Behold, he is praying
- He was thus shown to Ananias, diosse Wesley.
Verse 12
And he saw in a vision a man named Ananias coming in
and laying his hand on him, that he might recover his sight.
A man named Ananias
- His name was also revealed to Saul, said Wesley.
Verse 13
Lord, I
have heard from many concerning this man
And Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard of many
concerning this man how much evil he hath done unto thy saints in Jerusalem.
But he answered,
How natural it is to reason against God. Wesley said, Wesley said.
Verse 14
He has
authority from the chief priests
And here he has authority from the chief priests to
bind all who call on your name.
All that call upon thy name–That is, all Christians, said Wesley.
Go,
because he is a chosen vessel for me
But the Lord said to him, Go, for he is a chosen
vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children
of Israel.
Wesley commented, He is a chosen vessel to bear my name - That is, to testify of me. It is undeniable that
some men are unconditionally chosen or elected to do some works for God.[14]
On the importance of experience,[15] he wrote: "It is generally
supposed that traditional evidence weakens with the passage of time, since it
must necessarily pass through many hands in a continuous succession of epochs.
But no length of time can possibly affect the strength of the internal
evidence. She is equally strong and new through the course."[16]
According to Wesley, Spiritual
Experience is "the strongest evidence of the truth of Christianity."[17]
===============================
Christian tradition
I revere these Christians with all their faults
because I see so few Christians today; Because I read so little in the writings
of the last times and hear so little of genuine Christianity
===============================
5 - The Christian Tradition:
* "The full truth we had when Christ came into the world in the year 1 of the Christian era;
*
The more the years go by, the farther we get
from the day this truth came into the world;
* Those who lived a little after Jesus (until the fourth century) had a more authentic Christianity than those who are born today and write about Jesus and his Church;
* We must turn to the "apostolic fathers" by reading their writings, for they were nearer to the truth than we were;
* Here are some of the
apostolic fathers: Ignatius, Irenaeus, Polycarp, etc." (See: 1 Corinthians 11:2; 2 Timothy 2:15.)[18]
Biblical text related to the
Christian tradition
When I remember the unfeigned faith that is in you,
which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice; and I am
sure that in you too
2
Timothy 1
Chapter 1
Who I serve from my ancestors with a pure conscience
Verse
3
I thank
God, whom I serve from my ancestors with a pure conscience, that I unceasingly remember
you in my prayers, night and day;
Whom I
serve from my ancestors - That is,
whom I and my ancestors serve, said Wesley.
He always worshipped God according to his conscience
With a
pure conscience - He always worshipped
God according to his conscience, before and after his conversion He who is on
the verge of life is greatly invigorated by the remembrance of his
predecessors, to whom he is going, commented Wesley.
Verse
4
Remembering your tears
Greatly
desiring to see you, remembering your tears, that I may be filled with joy;
Being
attentive unto thy tears–Perhaps
often shed, as well as at the apostle's last parting with him, said Wesley.
Verse
5
Unfeigned faith in you
When I
remember the unfeigned faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your
grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice; and I am sure that in you also.
Wesley
commented:
Who dwelt - A word not applied to a transient guest, but only
to an established inhabitant.
First—Probably this was before Timothy was born, but not
beyond the memory of St. Paul.
Verse
6
Awaken the gift of God, which is in you
Therefore
I remind you to awaken the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on
of my hands.
Therefore—Because I remember it, said Wesley.
Blow the embers into a flame
Wesley
commented:
I remind
you to shake – Literally, to
explode the embers into a flame.
The gift
of God - All the spiritual gifts, which the
grace of God has given you.
Verse
7
Because God has not given us the spirit of fear
For God
has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, of love, and of moderation.
Wesley
commented:
And let
nothing discourage you, for God has not given us - That is, the spirit that God
has given us Christians, is not the spirit of fear - Or cowardice.
But of
power - Banish fear.
Love is between, the bond and the temperament of both
Wesley
commented:
And love
and sobriety - These encourage us
in our duties to God, our brethren, and ourselves. Power and sobriety are two
good extremes. Love is between, the bond and the temperament of both;
preventing the two bad extremes of fear and rashness. More is said of power, 1 Timothy 1:8; of love, 2 Timothy
2:14, etc.; of sobriety, 2 Timothy 3:1, etc.
Verse
8
Don't be ashamed
Be not
ashamed therefore of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me, his prisoner, but
partake of the afflictions of the gospel, according to the power of God;
Wherefore,
be not ashamed—When fear is banished,
the shame of evil also flees, said Wesley.
Witnessing his truth to all men
Of the
testimony of our Lord - The
gospel, and of testifying the truth of it to all men, [19] said Wesley.
On the importance of the Christian tradition,
Wesley included the following reliable people: "... Clement Romanus,
Ignatius, Polycarp, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Origen, Clement Alexandrinus,
Cyprian, to whom I would add Macarius and Ephraim Syrus (...).
“(...) I revere these Christians with all their
faults because I see so few Christians today; because I read so little in the
writings of the last times and hear so little of genuine Christianity, and
because most modern Christians (so called) not content with being totally
ignorant about Christianity have deep prejudices against it by calling it
'enthusiasm' and I don't know what else." [20]
===============================
Origin of the Sources of
Spiritual Knowledge
Therefore, it can be said that, today, it is
recognized that John Wesley recognized and made use of five sources of
theological knowledge, the Bible, tradition, reason, experience and creation
===============================
For some
scholars, Martin Luther had the Bible, Reason and Tradition as sources of
interpretation, also called Trilater.
In fact,
for him, the Bible is the only supreme and infallible source. Both reason and
tradition were aids to understanding the Bible. For him, the Bible is the only
source for evaluating and judging reason and tradition.
For Luther,
experience was important in paving the way for liberation and salvation.
Wesley, however, taught about the need to use experience as a basis for
spiritual understanding as well.
Other
scholars claim that the Sources of Spiritual Knowledge as a criterion for
understanding spiritual truth originated in Anglicanism: "To the typical
Anglican trilogy of authority (Scripture, Christian tradition, reason) he added
direct human experience of divine reality as an important criterion for
understanding divine truth."[21]
John Wesley
used a set of sources that form a system that "Wesleyan" theologians
call the Wesleyan quadrilateral, although traditionally only four elements have
been identified, of which Wesley and (would betray his theological knowledge,
which are the Bible, tradition, reason, and experience, which would justify the
use of the term quadrilateral,
Gradually, Methodism scholars have recognized that Wesley's thought also
stemmed from the observation of nature, of creation. Therefore, it can be said
that, today, it is recognized that John Wesley recognized and made use of five
sources of theological knowledge, the Bible, tradition, reason, experience and
creation".[22]
The
American theologian, pastor and Methodist historian Albert Outler (1908-1989)
"was the one who created the terminology Quadrilateral in 1964, based on
the texts left by John Wesley, understanding that, in practice, Wesley added
the Experience. In 1968, the United Methodist Church (USA) defined Albert
Outler's method of interpretation, consisting of: Bible, Creation, Reason and
Experience. The expression Quadrilateral brings the concept that a structure
needs to be based on four sides to be safe, which is why Albert Outler
preferred to call it the Wesleyan Fortress".[23]
Although
Wesley did not write about the five sources in a systematic way, he
"recognized five main sources of theological knowledge: the Bible,
Tradition, reason, experience, and the observation of nature. Although the
Bible was the primary source, Wesley believed that these five sources should be
used in an integrated way to understand the Christian faith.[24]
This
theological understanding of John Wesley was agreed upon by Robert Wallace
Burtner (1924-2011), an American Methodist pastor and theologian, who
co-authored with Robert E. Chiles "A Compend of Wesley's Theology"
published in 1954, which was reprinted in 1982 and 1984,[25] and which defends Wesley's five sources of spiritual
knowledge.
Robert
Wallace Burtner published the "Collection of the Theology of John
Wesley" in 1954. Ten years later, in 1964, Albert Outler published about
the "Wesleyan Quadrilateral".
According
to William J. Abraham, "Until we move further away from Outler in time, it
will continue to be difficult to raise questions about the famous
'Quadrilateral' of Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience. The debate
over Wesley's views is in part an argument about the identity of the United
Methodists, the Methodists, or the committed Wesleyans today. Here Outler was
the complete master of ceremonies."[26]
But this
thesis of the five sources of spiritual knowledge was also taught at the
Faculty of Theology of the Methodist Church, in Rudge Ramos, SP, which had the
"Collection of the Theology of John Wesley" as a base book for
students.
The Bible
was the primary source for Wesley.
"The
Bible was to Wesley the constant and ultimate source of knowledge and authority.
His credo "I am a man of one book" is manifested through his sermons
and his works. [...] Wesley does not hold to literalism, although he constantly
makes controversial claims in his effort to establish the inerrancy of the
Bible. [...] Wesley prescribes for all the same mental discipline . . .
repeatedly cites these three elements: "Scripture, reason, and
experience." Two other sources of religious knowledge and authority are
indicated: the Christian tradition [...], and the natural creation that
suggests his deep interest in the physical world."[27]
===============================
[1]
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[2] WESLEY, J. -
Sermons of Wesley. Methodist Press, v.2, 1954, p. 15-22.
[3]
https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/wen/2-timothy-3.html
[4] BURTNER, Robert W.; CHILES, Robert E. Collection of the Theology of John Wesley.
p.20.
[5] https://wesleyano.inf.br/artigos/434/
[6] WESLEY, J. -
Sermons of Wesley. Methodist Press, v.2, 1954, p. 22-28.
[7] https://www.studylight.org/
Comentários/Eng/Wen/romans-12.html
[8] BURTNER, Robert; CHILES, Robert, ibidem, p.25.
[9] Ibidem, p.27.
[10] Ibidem.
[11]Ibidem, p.23.
[12] BURTNER, Robert; CHILES, Robert, Ibidem, p. 22.
[13] WESLEY, J. - Sermons of Wesley. Methodist Press, v.2, 1954, p. 28-33.
[14] https://www.studylight.org/comentários/eng/wen/acts-9.html.
[15] BURTNER, Robert; CHILES, Robert, Ibidem, p.29.
[16] Ibidem, p.31.
[17] Ibidem, p.30.
[18] WESLEY, J. - Sermons of Wesley. Methodist
Press, v.2, 1954, p.36-39.
[19]
https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/wen/2-timothy-1.html
[20] BURTNER,
Robert W.; CHILES, Robert, Ibidem, p.35-6.
[21] HEITZENHATER, Richard P. Wesley and the
people called Methodist. São
Bernardo do Campo-Rio de Janeiro: Editeo-Pastoral Bennett, 1986, p. 320.
[22]
https://pt.scribd.com/doc/284414854/Fontes-Do-Conhecimento-Teologico-Para-John-Wesley#
[23]https://www.expositorcristao.com.br/o-quadrilatero-wesleyano
[24]
https://pt.scribd.com/doc/284414854/Fontes-Do-Conhecimento-Teologico-Para-John-Wesley#:
[25]
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/gazettetimes/name/robert-burtner-obituary?id=13553814
[26]https://wesleyano.inf.br/ theology/1244/
[27] BURTNER, 1995, p.
16.[27]
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