However, there has always been debate with regard to the extent of exclusivity to which the Protestant Reformers, and others who followed in their tradition, held to the sola principles—to grace, faith, and scripture ‘alone’. In theory, sola gratia, sola fide, and sola scriptura became powerful slogans for identifying, defending, and promoting the Protestant Reformation. Protestants continue to tout them. However, in practice, there are many reasons to question the Protestant principles both in terms of how the founders used them and especially in terms of how Protestants have used them since the time of the Reformation. In many ways, Protestantism includes more than grace alone, more than faith alone, and more than scripture alone. The Latin word prima (‘primarily’) makes more sense in describing the complex understanding of Protestant Reformers and their nuanced articulation of salvation and religious authority. The concept of prima makes even more sense in describing the diversity of beliefs, values, and practices in the subsequent development of Protestant Christianity.

John Wesley is a pivotal example of a Protestant who affirmed the Reformation tradition, yet went beyond it in all three of its principles. Most notable is Wesley’s complex understanding of religious authority. Albert Outler says:

The great Protestant watchwords of sola fide and sola Scriptura were in fact fundamentals in Wesley’s formulation of a doctrine of biblical authority. But early and late in his career, Wesley interpreted solus to mean “primarily” rather than “solely” or “exclusively.”[1]

In Latin, prima—rather than solus—is the appropriate adjective for modifying nouns such as faith and scripture.

In addition to religious authority, Wesley’s complex understanding of salvation affirmed more than grace alone and faith alone. Grace worked in prevenient as well as justifying ways; and people’s acceptance of salvation involved more than just faith. Salvation was a lifelong process that required responsible thoughts, words, and actions on the part of believers. Wesley’s prima understanding of the Reformation principles is as important to the present age as it was to Wesley’s age. In fact, his theological contributions become increasingly important to the so-called postmodern trajectory of our age. Wesley’s complex, dynamic, and holistic understanding of grace, faith, and scripture are crucial to both our personal Christianity and to the nature and mission of the church.

Although the sola principles remain important for understanding the history of Protestant Christianity, they are best understood theologically from a Wesleyan perspective as representing prima principles because Protestants—past and present—think that salvation and religious authority include more than grace, faith, and scripture alone. Salvation should be thought of in terms of prima gratia—initiated primarily by God’s grace—and prima fide—accepted primarily through faith. Likewise, religious authority should be thought of in terms of prima scriptura; scripture represents the primary religious authority of Protestantism but not its exclusive religious authority. Church tradition, logical reflection, and relevant experience all play important and authoritative roles in the founding and continuation of Protestantism.

In order to better understand, teach, and advance the received tradition of Protestant Christianity, it is helpful to re-examine the sola principles in terms of a more realistic and relevant perspective as prima principles. The prima principles help us to understand the history of Protestantism; we need to understand them in their historical context. They also help us understand our personal Christian vocation and the nature and mission of the church in our present, global, inter-religious context. The prima principles, in fact, are crucial to fulfilling God’s redemptive mission in the world in the present age.

Although Christians make decisions in a variety of ways, the Wesleyan quadrilateral represents a helpful model for conceptualizing the way they make decisions in relationship to scripture along with other factors that affect their decision-making process, including church tradition, critical thinking, and relevant experience. The Wesleyan quadrilateral is considered a realistic description of how Christians make theological decisions, since they are not always aware of or admit to the contextual nature of their understanding of religious authority and theological method.

For more information, see Don Thorsen, The Wesleyan Quadrilateral: Scripture, Tradition, Reason and Experience as a Model of Evangelical Theology (Grand Rapids: Francis Asbury Press for Zondervan, 1990; Lexington, KY: Emeth Press, 2005).

Does the concept of holiness hold any relevance for Christians in the twenty-first century? Or is it a relic of the past, with little to offer in today’s postmodern world? The contributors to this book firmly insist that holiness is indeed relevant, no matter the age in which we live. Moreover, it is essential to following Jesus Christ in the twenty-first century.

The essayists are all members of the Wesleyan Holiness Study Project, a gathering of scholars and leaders who met between 2002-2006 to explore the mission of the churches of the Holiness Movement. The book begins with two compelling ecumenical statements articulating the holiness message for today’s church: “The Holiness Manifesto” and “Fresh Eyes on Holiness.” These are followed by a dozen penetrating essays grouped in three parts: (1) the understanding of holiness in Scripture, (2) holiness in historical and theological perspective, and (3) holiness in relation to various practical aspects of ministry. The book concludes with appendixes offering five considered descriptions of holiness.

The fastest-growing segments of the church worldwide have their roots in the Wesleyan Holiness tradition. Catholic, Orthodox, and other Protestant denominations are discovering its relevance to their own traditions and practices. The Holiness Manifesto offers an ideal overview to those wishing to understand more about this extremely influential movement.

Beginning students of Christian theology often get lost in the labyrinth of doctrinal terms and formulations arising from the twists and turns of church tradition and history. An Exploration of Christian Theology provides a map for navigating Christian theology. Writing from a broad-ranging perspective, Thorsen opens with introductory chapters on theology, revelation, and authority and then goes on to interact with biblical teaching and Christian tradition related to such topics as God, creation, sin, person and work of Jesus Christ, salvation, church, and eschatology.

Text boxes throughout the book provide thought-provoking questions, reflections, and definitions. Original comics bring lofty doctrinal issues down to earth in an entertaining and humorous way. Questions at the end of each chapter challenge readers to deepen their understanding of Christian theology. An extensive glossary supplies handy defintions to key theological terms. Ideal for college level introduction to Christian theology, this book can also be used by individuals or small groups.

The authority of Scripture has been a subject of continuing, intense debate among Chritians for many years. In the Wesleyan tradition this debate has focused on the so-called quadrilateral–a term referring to the four elements that John Wesley viewed as the basis for theological method: Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience. Both evangelical and progressive Christians invoke the quadrilateral in defense of their views, thus bringing confusion to the debate.

This book seeks to dispel confusion and enlighten discussion by showing that Wesley always affirmed the primacy of Scripture and saw the other three elements as necessary and complementary in order to interpret, illuminate, and apply scriptural truth to life.