Symphonic Theologythe Validity of Multiple

Though a coherent body of revelation, the Bible comes to us through a variety of inspired authors, metaphors, and themes highlighting the many facets of God's truth. Likewise, our theological formulations capture manifold emphases -- distinct "perspectives" on the whole -- which collectively enable us to gain a fuller understanding of the truth.

Arguing for the validity of multiple perspectives in theology, Vern S. Poythress explains, "We use what we have gained from one perspective to reinforce, correct, or improve what we understood through another. I call this procedure symphonic theology because it is analogous to a blending of various musical instruments to express the variation of a symphonic theme."

The implications of this approach are far-reaching for theology and praxis.