Thirty-Nine Articles

The Thirty-Nine Articles are the defining statements of Anglican doctrine.

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They were issued by the Convocation of clergy of the Church of England

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in 1571 and are printed in the Book of Common Prayer and other Anglican

Related Topics:
1571 - Book of Common Prayer

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prayer books. The Test Act of 1673 made adherence to the Thirty-Nine

Related Topics:
Test Act - 1673

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Articles a requirement for holding civil office in England.

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The Articles highlight some of the major differences between Anglican and

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Catholic doctrine, as well as more conventional declarations of a Trinitarian Christianity. They are (in the order given in the Book of Common Prayer):

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• Faith in the Holy Trinity
• Of the Word or Son of God, which was made very Man
• Of the going down of Christ into Hell
• Of the Resurrection of Christ
• Of the Holy Ghost
• Of the Sufficiency of the holy Scripture for Salvation
• * including a recommendation of the Apocryphal books 'for example of life and instruction in manners ... to establish any doctrine'
• Of the Old Testament
• Of the Three Creeds (Nicene, Athanasian, and Apostles' Creed
• Of Original or Birth-sin
• Of Free Will
• Of the Justification of Man
• Of Good Works
• Of Works before Justification
• Of Works of Supererogation
• Of Christ Alone without Sin
• Of Sin after Baptism
• Of Predestination and Election
• Of Obtaining Eternal Salvation only by the Name of Christ
• Of the Church
• Of the Authority of the Church
• Of the Authority of General Councils
• Of Purgatory
• * The source of the phrase a fond thing vainly invented
• Of Ministering in the Congregation
• Of Speaking in the Congregation in such a tongue as the people understandeth
• Of the Sacraments
• * identifies only two sacraments, Baptism and the Eucharist
• Of the Unworthiness of the Ministers, which hinders not the effect of the Sacrament
• Of Baptism
• Of the Lord's Supper
• Of the Wicked which eat not the Body of Christ in the use of the Lord's Prayer
• * See manducatio impiorum
• Of both kinds
• * i.e. Communion in both kinds
• Of the one Oblation of Christ finished upon the Cross
• Of the Marriage of Priests
• Of Excommunicate Persons, how they are to be avoided
• Of the Traditions of the Church
• Of the Homilies
• * Includes a list of Thomas Cranmer's homilies, to be read in Churches
• Of Consecration of Bishops and Ministers
• Of the Civil Magistrates
• Of Christian Men's Goods, which are not common
• Of a Christian Man's Oath

The Articles also argue against some Anabaptist positions such as the holding of goods in common, and the necessity of believer's baptism.

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"Tract 90" was John Henry Newman's response to the Thirty-Nine Articles, written before his conversion to Roman Catholicism.

Related Topics:
John Henry Newman - Roman Catholicism

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The Articles were not intended as a complete statement of the Christian faith, but as a statement of the position of the Church of England over against the Roman Catholic Church and some continental Reformers.

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Outside the Church of England, Anglican views of the Thirty-Nine Articles vary. The Episcopal Church in the United States of America regards them as an historical document and does not require members to adhere to them.

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Anglican priest John Wesley adapted the Thirty-Nine Articles for utilization by American Methodists in the 18th century. The adapted Articles of Religion remain official United Methodist doctrine.

Related Topics:
John Wesley - American Methodists - Articles of Religion

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