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A Beginner's Guide to the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion

Rev. C•D•F• Warrington, M.Div.
By Rev. C•D•F• Warrington, M.Div.

Ordained Minister, M.Div.

March 21, 2026

2 min read

thirty nine articles
Beginner's guide to the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Anglican Confession of faith

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.

Tags:thirty nine articlesanglicanismreformationchurch of england

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion?

The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion are the doctrinal standards of the Church of England, first fully established in 1571 under Queen Elizabeth I. They represent the doctrinal settlement of the English Reformation, articulating Anglican teaching on Scripture, justification, the sacraments, church, and the relationship between the church and the state. The articles draw on Protestant Reformation theology, particularly Calvinist and Lutheran influences, while maintaining some distinctively Anglican features.

How many articles are in the Thirty-Nine Articles and what do they cover?

As the name indicates, there are 39 articles in total, covering a wide range of theological topics. The early articles (1–8) address the Trinity, the Incarnation, and the creeds; middle articles (9–18) treat sin, justification, and predestination; later articles (19–36) cover the church, councils, Scripture, the sacraments, and ministry; and the final articles (37–39) address civil government, the oath, and property. Together they define Anglican orthodoxy in both theology and ecclesiastical practice.

When were the Thirty-Nine Articles finalized?

The Thirty-Nine Articles reached their final form in 1571 under Archbishop Matthew Parker during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, when Parliament gave them legal standing. They developed through earlier versions, including the Forty-Two Articles drafted in 1553 under Archbishop Thomas Cranmer during Edward VI's reign. The reduction from 42 to 39 articles involved clarifying language on predestination, the Lord's Supper, and other contested topics.

What do the Thirty-Nine Articles teach about salvation?

Article 11 of the Thirty-Nine Articles declares that 'we are accounted righteous before God, only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by Faith, and not for our own works or deservings,' a clear statement of justification by faith alone (sola fide). Article 9 affirms the doctrine of original sin, and Article 17 addresses predestination and election in broadly Calvinist language, though it is deliberately ambiguous enough to accommodate various Protestant views. Together these articles place Anglican doctrine firmly within the Protestant tradition.

Are the Thirty-Nine Articles still binding on Anglican clergy today?

The Thirty-Nine Articles remain part of the historic formularies of the Church of England and the worldwide Anglican Communion, and clergy are ordained in the context of these doctrinal standards. However, the level of subscription required from clergy has varied over time — the current requirement in the Church of England is to affirm that Anglican doctrine is 'grounded in the Holy Scriptures' rather than to assent to each article individually. Conservative Anglican bodies, such as those in the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), tend to emphasize the articles more strongly as binding doctrinal standards.

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