| Thirty-nine Articles |
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The Thirty-Nine Articles are the defining statements of Anglican doctrine. The articles were established by a Convocation of the Church in 1563 , using as a basis the Forty-Two Articles written under the direction of Thomas Cranmer in 1553 . Adherance to them was made a legal requirement by parliament in 1571 . They are printed in the Book Of Common Prayer and other Anglican prayer books. The Test Act of 1673 made adherence to the Thirty-Nine Articles a requirement for holding civil office in England (an act which has since been repealed). Clergy of the Church of England are still required to take an oath that the doctrine in the Articles is "agreeable to the Word of God," but the laity are not, and other Churches of the Anglican Communion do not make such a requirement. The Articles highlight some of the major differences between Anglican and , they are: #I. Of Faith in the Holy Trinity #II. Of the Word or Son of God, which was made very Man #III. Of the going down of Christ into Hell #IV. Of the Resurrection of Christ #V. Of the Holy Ghost #VI. Of the Sufficiency of the holy Scripture for Salvation
#VII. Of the Old Testament #VIII. 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 # Of Ministering in the Congregation # Of Speaking in the Congregation in such a tongue as the people understandeth # Of the Sacrament s
# 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
# Of 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
# Of Consecration of Archbishops, Bishop s and Other Ministers
# Of the Civil Magistrates # Of Christian Men's Goods, which are not common # Of a Christian Man's Oath 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. The Articles also argue against some Anabaptist positions such as the holding of goods in common, and the necessity of believer's baptism. , attempted to show that the Articles could be interpreted in a way less hostile to Roman Catholic doctrine. 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. 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. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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