The Thirty-nine Articles of Religion are the historically defining statements of doctrines and practices of the Church of England. The articles were initially published in 1563 and revised in 1571. Originally there were a total of forty-two articles, but some were eliminated in the 1563 revision, leaving us with the “Thirty-nine Articles” known today. The articles address many doctrinal and theological issues related to Protestantism and Catholicism. Let’s dive into what each of the articles covers:
Article 1 – On Faith in the Holy Trinity
This article affirms belief in the Holy Trinity – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. It states that the three persons are coeternal and consubstantial. This upholds the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity defined at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD and the Council of Constantinople in 381 AD (Galatians 4:4-6, Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14).
Article 2 – On the Word, or Son of God, which was made very man
This article affirms that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, the only begotten Son of God, begotten from eternity from the Father. It upholds the hypostatic union of Christ’s two natures – human and divine. This doctrine was affirmed at the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD (John 1:14, Colossians 2:9, Philippians 2:5-8).
Article 3 – On the Going Down of Christ into Hell
This article affirms that Christ died and was buried, descending into Hell after his death on the cross. However, Hell here does not refer to the place of eternal torment, but rather Hades – the abode of the dead. Christ descended there to proclaim salvation, but was resurrected bodily on the third day (1 Peter 3:18-20, Acts 2:24-32).
Article 4 – On the Resurrection of Christ
This article affirms the bodily resurrection of Christ on the third day after his death, as prophesied in Scripture. It states that Christ truly rose with the same body he suffered in, verifying his divinity. His resurrection guarantees the resurrection of all believers (John 20:1-10, 1 Corinthians 15:20-22).
Article 5 – On the Holy Ghost
This article affirms that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son, as He is the Spirit of both. It upholds the full divinity and personhood of the Holy Spirit, coequal with the Father and Son. His role includes sanctifying, assuring, and empowering believers (John 14:15-17, 26, John 15:26, Acts 1:8).
Article 6 – On the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation
This article upholds the sufficiency and divine inspiration of Scripture. It states that the Bible contains all things necessary for salvation and is the ultimate authority in all matters of faith and practice. The apocryphal books may be read for example of life but not for establishing doctrine (2 Timothy 3:15-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21).
Article 7 – On the Old Testament
This article affirms that the Old Testament moral laws – the Ten Commandments and ceremonial laws pointing to Christ – remain binding for Christians. The judicial laws ended with the ancient Jewish state. The Old Testament should be read with the New Testament, which sheds greater light (Matthew 5:17-19, Romans 13: 8-10, Hebrews 10:1).
Article 8 – On the Three Creeds
This article approves of and accepts the three historic Christian creeds – Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian. These creeds summarize and uphold key doctrines like the Trinity and incarnation of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:3-7, Philippians 2:6-11).
Article 9 – On Original or Birth Sin
This article affirms that humans are born with original sin as descendants of Adam. It states that this renders all humans disposed to evil and subject to God’s wrath, unless baptized and born again in Christ (Psalm 51:5, Romans 5:12-21, Ephesians 2:1-3).
Article 10 – On Free Will
This article states that due to the Fall, humans do not have true free will to turn to God of their own accord. Only through the grace of the Holy Spirit can a person turn to Christ in faith and perform good works pleasing to God (Romans 8:7-8, Ephesians 2:8-10).
Article 11 – On the Justification of Man
This article affirms the Reformation doctrine of justification by faith alone. It states that we are accounted righteous before God by faith in Christ alone, not by our own works or deservings. Good works follow as evidence of true faith (Romans 3:20-28, Galatians 2:16, Ephesians 2:8-10).
Article 12 – On Good Works
This article qualifies that works done in righteousness and obedience to God’s Word are the fruits of a true and living faith. They follow after justification and cannot put a person in right standing before God, which is by faith alone (James 2:14-26, Ephesians 2:8-10).
Article 13 – On Works before Justification
This article affirms that works done before receiving Christ by faith have the nature of sin and cannot make a person acceptable before God. Only the mercy of Christ provides forgiveness of sins (Romans 4:1-8, Titus 3:3-7).
Article 14 – On Works of Supererogation
This article rejects the Catholic doctrine of works of supererogation, which are works supposedly done beyond what God requires that can merit favor from God. It states that Christ alone is our righteousness and reconciliation before God (Romans 3:21-24, Hebrews 7:26-27).
Article 15 – On Christ alone without Sin
This article affirms that Christ alone was conceived and born without sin original or actual. It states that all have sinned and lack God’s glory, but Christ alone fulfills all righteousness by His sinless life (2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 4:15, 7:26-27).
Article 16 – On Sin after Baptism
This article affirms that willful sinning after baptism risks God’s wrath and punishment, yet God remains faithful to His promises. It rejects any doctrine that a truly regenerate person cannot fall into sin (Hebrews 10:26-31, 2 Peter 2:20-22).
Article 17 – On Predestination and Election
This article upholds the doctrine of predestination. It states that God’s eternal counsel ordained who would receive eternal life before the foundation of the world. Yet how predestination works with human free will remains a mystery (Ephesians 1:3-6, Romans 8:28-30).
Article 18 – On Obtaining Eternal Salvation Only by the Name of Christ
This article affirms salvation is found in Christ alone, not in any other means. It rejects inclusivism and universalism, stating Jesus is the only way to the Father and only His sacrifice can redeem us (John 14:6, Acts 4:8-12, 1 Timothy 2:5-6).
Article 19 – On the Church
This article defines the visible Church as the congregation of believers having the pure Word of God preached and the Sacraments rightly administered. The Church is not confined to any one denomination or building (1 Timothy 3:15, Acts 2:42, Matthew 18:20).
Article 20 – On the Authority of the Church
This article states that the Church has authority to decree ceremonies and establish doctrine but must be subject to Scripture. Human traditions contrary to God’s Word lack authority in His Church (Acts 15:10-29, 2 Thessalonians 2:15, Isaiah 8:20).
Article 21 – On the Authority of General Councils
This article affirms that general councils of the Church universal may declare orthodox doctrine and proper practice, but their decrees have authority only insofar as they agree with Scripture (Acts 15:1-29, Galatians 1:8-9).
Article 22 – On Purgatory
This article rejects the Catholic doctrine of purgatory, stating it is a false doctrine that makes the blood of Christ unprofitable and lacks Scriptural basis (1 John 1:7, Hebrews 9:11-14, 25-28).
Article 23 – On Ministering in the Congregation
This article states that only those lawfully called and sent should minister in the congregation. It permits only qualified men to preach, administer sacraments, and lead the flock, rejecting lay administration (Romans 10:14-17, 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9).
Article 24 – On Speaking in the Congregation in a Tongue Not Understood
This article states that conducting worship services in a tongue not understood by the people is contrary to Scripture and useless. Worship should involve understanding, with interpretation of tongues for edification (1 Corinthians 14:1-25).
Article 25 – On the Sacraments
This article affirms Baptism and Communion as the two divinely instituted sacraments of Christ in the Gospel. It states the sacraments are tangible means of obtaining grace but have no inherent power, only working by faith (Matthew 28:19, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
Article 26 – On the Unworthiness of Ministers
This article affirms that the unworthiness of a minister does not prevent Christ working through the sacraments they administer. A minister’s lack of faith does not nullify or profane the sacraments of grace (Matthew 23:2-3, Romans 3:3-4, 1 Corinthians 11:27-32).
Article 27 – On Baptism
This article affirms Baptism is to be done once for entrance into the Church. It is an effectual sign of regeneration but does not automatically or magically impart grace apart from faith. Infant baptism is retained while condemning Anabaptists (Romans 6:3-4, Galatians 3:27, Titus 3:5).
Article 28 – On the Lord’s Supper
This article affirms that Communion is given only to those properly baptized and in right standing with the Church. Christ’s body and blood are spiritually present and received by faith, rejecting transubstantiation. Worship of the elements themselves is condemned (1 Corinthians 11:27-32, John 6:35-63).
Article 29 – On the Wicked Who Do Not Eat the Body of Christ
This article affirms that wicked and ungodly persons still physically eat the bread and wine in Communion but do not spiritually partake of Christ. Instead they incur God’s wrath for treating sacred things as common (1 Corinthians 11:27-32).
Article 30 – On Both Kinds
This article states that Communion should be distributed in both kinds – bread and wine. Laypersons have Christ’s authority to partake in the full sacrament, rejecting Catholic withholding of the cup (Mark 14:23-25, 1 Corinthians 11:25-29).
Article 31 – On Christ’s Sacrifice Made Once for All
This article affirms Christ’s sacrifice on the cross tore the veil, giving access to God once for all. It rejects the Catholic sacrifice of the Mass as contrary to Scripture, stating it imparts no forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:25-28, Hebrews 10:11-14).
Article 32 – On the Marriage of Priests
This article permits priests and other ministers to marry, rejecting mandatory clerical celibacy. It states that marriage is morally honorable for all men not specifically gifted with celibacy (1 Timothy 4:1-5, Hebrews 13:4).
Article 33 – On Excommunicate Persons
This article states that excommunication and social exclusion does not absolve civil magistrates from punishing notorious sinners. The Church’s spiritual discipline does not exempt criminals from civil justice (1 Corinthians 5, 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15).
Article 34 – On the Traditions of the Church
This article permits individual national churches to ordain ceremonies and rites to edify, so long as they are not contrary to Scripture. Human traditions only have authority insofar as ordered by God’s Word (John 20:21-23, 1 Corinthians 14:26-40).
Article 35 – On Homilies
This article approves the reading of authorized homilies in Church services when ministers cannot preach adequately. Two books of homilies are specified as containing wholesome doctrine to improve knowledge (1 Timothy 4:13-16, 2 Timothy 4:1-4).
Article 36 – On Episcopal Consecration
This article upholds the previous consecrations of archbishops and bishops in the Church of England as valid and not requiring repetition. It establishes the Episcopal system of church governance (1 Timothy 4:14, Titus 1:5).
Article 37 – On Civil Authorities
This article permits Christians to serve as civil authorities and magistrates. It denies that holding civil office is incompatible with being a Christian. Governments have authority from God (Matthew 8:8-10, Romans 13:1-7).
Article 38 – On Property Rights
This article permits individual ownership of property and rejects communism. However, it calls for the poor, distressed and needy to be provided for out of communal goods and property (Exodus 20:15, 17, Acts 4:34-5:11).
Article 39 – On Christian Warfare
This article states that Christians may bear the sword and serve in war by the order of civil authorities. However, the cause must be just and lawful according to Scripture’s principles (Luke 3:14, Romans 13:1-4).
In summary, the Thirty-nine Articles address many theological and practical issues that arose during the Protestant Reformation in England. They uphold foundational Reformed and Protestant doctrines over against medieval Catholic teachings. The articles also establish Church order and positions on moral issues for the Church of England that remain influential today.