What's the Story? "Anglicanism & Three-Legged Stools" | BY Tiffany Butler

Sometimes you hear things in a church gathering that make you scratch your head. One of those things might be the analogy that Anglicanism is like a three-legged stool. We all know that stools are useful. They help us to sit upright, and a well-made stool ensures that we don’t fall over! But what is the story with Anglicanism and stools?

Some may refer to the Anglican Way as analogous to a three-legged stool. The idea is that if one leg of a stool is missing, the person sitting on it will fall over. The three legs of the Anglican stool are Scripture, Tradition, and Reason.

The 16th-century Anglican theologian, Richard Hooker, is often credited for the image of the stool. However, none of his writings explicitly mention the analogy. Nonetheless, he was a proponent for the use of reason in conversation with Scripture and the traditions of the Church.

So, what is the relationship between Scripture, Tradition, and Reason?

Scripture refers to the revealed word of God in the Old and New Testaments.  Testifying about the Word of God and profitable for all of life, Scripture is the Christian’s bread and butter. It is the Christian’s ultimate source of authority, preeminent of the three, conveying God’s will and ways.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness… (2 Tim 3:16)

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Rom 15:4)

Tradition affirms that God has been working His grace through the Church since its inception. If we agree that God’s Spirit has continued to build the Church (Matt 16:18-19) and to create one body in Christ (Col 1:18), it is natural to reason (see what I did there?!) that God has been working through the traditions of the Church up to now. Tradition includes the interpretation of Scripture and the faith declared through the Creeds of the Church. The Creeds are meant to safeguard the interpretation of Scripture; they are designed to help Christians pray what is true about God and us. Three Creeds affirmed by Anglicans include the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed (more on these in a future article!).

So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. (2 Thess 2:15)

Reason, subordinate to Scripture and Tradition, nonetheless has a relationship with the other two. The Anglican Way incorporates our entire being in our faith journey—mind, body, soul, and spirit. The fact that we have minds to think means that we may not always agree, but this should develop a great humility to ‘reason’ together and wait on the Holy Spirit to enlighten our path.

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect… (1 Peter 3:15)

Revealed truth in Scripture cannot be altered by tradition nor reason, for in such a case, it would not be reason from above. While not equal in nature, the three supply a solid foundation of the faith and provisions for our journey.