Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1563/1571 AD)
Doctrinal charter of the Church of England moderating between Rome and Anabaptism
The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion were drafted by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer (originally 42 Articles in 1553) and ratified by the Convocation of Canterbury under Queen Elizabeth I in 1563 and 1571, establishing the definitive doctrinal standard of the Church of England and the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Historical Context & Significance
They articulate the supremacy of Scripture over councils and popes (Article VI), justification by faith alone (Article XI), the two dominical sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper (Article XXV), and predestination to life (Article XVII), while preserving historic episcopacy and civil order.
Genealogical Lineage & Splits
This movement or council is an early root foundation with no preceding parent split in the dataset.
Theological & Hermeneutical Coordinates
Primary Scripture Proof-Texts
Key biblical passages central to this tradition's exegesis and historical debates.
Connected Theological Perspectives & Debates
Universal agreement that authentic salvation produces genuine love, obedience, and good works, and that dead, hypocritical faith cannot save.
Universal confession that the Holy Spirit is fully God, co-eternal and consubstantial with the Father and the Son, sent economically into the world by both the Father and the Son.
Unanimous agreement across all Christian communions on the 27 books of the New Testament as divinely inspired canonical scripture.
Universal confession that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins and was raised for our justification according to the Scriptures.
Universal Christian confession that Holy Scripture is divinely inspired, supremely authoritative, and completely trustworthy for knowing God and receiving salvation.