A Beginner's Guide to the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion
Ordained Minister, M.Div.
March 21, 2026
If you have ever attended an Anglican or Episcopal church, you have worshipped within a tradition shaped by one of the most carefully crafted confessional documents in Christian history: the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion. Yet for many modern Anglicans, these articles remain largely unknown — a historical curiosity gathering dust at the back of the prayer book.
What Are the Thirty-Nine Articles?
The Thirty-Nine Articles are a series of doctrinal statements that define the theological identity of the Church of England. They were finalized in 1571 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, though they had been developing since the reign of Henry VIII. They cover topics ranging from the nature of God and salvation, to the authority of Scripture, the sacraments, and the relationship between church and state.
A Document Born in Controversy
The Articles emerged during one of the most turbulent periods in English history. The English Reformation had severed ties with Rome, but where exactly did the Church of England stand? Was it Protestant? Catholic? Something in between? The Articles were designed to answer those questions — clearly, authoritatively, and with careful theological precision.
Archbishop Thomas Cranmer was a driving force behind their early development. His Protestant convictions shaped much of the language, particularly on salvation by faith, the nature of Scripture, and the Lord's Supper. Later refinements under Elizabeth I gave the Articles their final Elizabethan character — Protestant in doctrine, yet broadly worded enough to accommodate a range of Reformed and Lutheran emphases.
The Structure of the Articles
The thirty-nine articles fall into several natural groupings. The first five deal with God, the Trinity, and Christ. Articles six through eight address Holy Scripture and the ancient creeds. Articles nine through eighteen cover sin, free will, justification, and salvation. The remaining articles address the church, the sacraments, ministry, and civil authority.
Why They Still Matter
The Thirty-Nine Articles remain the doctrinal standard for the Church of England and many Anglican provinces worldwide. Clergy are required to assent to them at ordination. They provide a theological anchor in a tradition that has always valued both Scripture and the historic faith of the Church. For anyone who wants to understand Anglican Christianity at its core, the Articles are an essential starting point.