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Articles I to VIII: The Catholic Faith
[ Contents | 1-8 | 9-18 | 19-31| 32-39 ]
English:
1 Of faith in the Holy Trinity
2 Of the Word, or Son of God, which was made very man
3 Of the going down of Christ into Hell
4 Of the resurrection of Christ
5 Of the Holy Ghost
6 Of the sufficientcy of the Holy Scripture for Salvation
7 Of the Old Testament
8 Of the three Creeds.
Latin:
1 De fide in Sacrosanctam Trinitatem
2 De Verbo, sive Filio Dei, qui verus homo factus est
3 De descensu Christi ad inferos
4 De Resurrectione Christi
5 De Spirito Sancto
6 De divinis scripturis, quod sufficiant ad salutem
7 De veteri testamento
8 De tribus Symbolis
Introduction
These thirty nine articles, together with the Book of Common Prayer, are doctrinal statements of the Church of England. (Common Prayer) They developed from the Forty-two Articles, written by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer in 1553 'for the avoiding of controversy in opinions'. These had been partly derived from the Thirteen Articles of 1538, designed as the basis of an agreement between Henry VIII and the German Lutheran princes, which had been influenced by the Lutheran Augsberg Confession (1530).
The Forty-two Articles were eliminated when Mary became queen (1553) and restored Catholicism. After Elizabeth I became queen (1558) a new statement of doctrine was needed. In 1563 the Canterbury Convocation, an assembly of clergy of the province of Canterbury, drastically revised the Forty-two Articles and additional changes were made at Elizabeth's request. A final revision by Convocation in 1571 produced the Thirty-Nine Articles, which were approved by the Queen and imposed on the clergy.
In form they deal briefly with doctrines accepted by Catholics and Protestants alike and more fully with points of controversy. They are often studiously ambigous, however, because the Elizabethan government wished to make the national church as inclusive as possible. Thus interpretations of the articles have often differed.
The status of the Thirty-nine Articles varies in the several churches of the Anglican Communion. Since 1865, the Church of England clergy have only had to declare that the doctrine in the articles is 'agreeable to the Word of God'. In the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, neither clergy nor laity is required formally to subscribe to them.
[Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1981] back
Article 1
Of faith in the Holy Trinity
There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body, parts, or passions; of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the maker and preserver of all things both visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead there be three Persons, of one substance, power, and eternity; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. back
De fide in Sacrosanctam Trinitatem
Unus est vivus et verus Deus, aeternus, incorporeus, impartibilis, impassibilis, immensae potentiae, sapientiae, ac bonitatis, creator et conservator omnium, tum visibilium tum invisibilium. Et in unitate huius divinae naturae tres sunt Personae eiusdem essentiae, potentiae, ac aeternitatis, Pater, Filius, et Spiritus Sanctus. back
Article 2
Of the Word, or Son of God, which was made very man
The Son, which is the Word of the Father, begotten from everlasting of the Father, the very and eternal God, and of one substance with the Father, took man's nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin, of her substance: so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say, the Godhead and manhood, were joined together in one person, never to be divided, whereof is one Christ, very God and very man, who truly suffered, was crucified, dead, and buried, to reconcile His Father to us, and to be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for all actual sins of men. back
De Verbo, sive Filio Dei, qui verus homo factus est
Filius, qui est Verbum Patris, ab aeterno a Patre genitus, verus et aeternus Deus, ac Patri consubstantialis in utero beate Virginis ex illius substantia naturam humanam assumpsit: ita ut duae naturae, divina et humana, integre atque perfecte in unitate personae, fuerint inseparabiliter coniunctae: ex quibus est unus Christus, verus Deus et verus homo: qui vere passus est, crucifixus, mortuus, et sepultus, ut Patrem nobis reconciliaret, essetque hostia non tantum pro culpa originis verum etiam pro omnibus actualibus hominum peccatis. back
Article 3
Of the going down of Christ into Hell
As Christ died for us, and was buried, so also is it to be believed that He went down into Hell. back
De descensu Christi ad inferos
Quemadmodum Christus Pro nobis mortuus est, et sepultus, ita est etiam credendus ad inferos descendisse. back
Article 4
Of the Resurrection of Christ
Christ did truly rise again from death, and took again His body, with flesh, bones, and all things appertaining to the perfection of man's nature, wherefore He ascended into heaven, and there sitteth until He return to judge all men at the last day. back
De Resurrectione Christi
Christus vere a mortuis resurrexit, suumque corpus cum carne, ossibus, omnibusque ad integritatem humanae naturae pertinentibus, recepit, cum quibus in coelum ascendit, ibique residet, quoad extremo die ad iudicandos homines reversurus sit. back
Article 5
Of the Holy Ghost
The Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is of one substance, majesty, and glory with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God. back
De Spiritu Sancto
Spiritus sanctus, a Patre et Filio procedens, eiusdem est cum Patre et FIlio essentiae, maiestatis, et gloriae, verus ac aeternus Deus. back
Article 6
Of the sufficiency of the Holy Scripture for Salvation
Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation.
In the name of Holy Scripture, we do understand those Canonical books of the Old and New testament, of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church.
Of the names and number of the Canonical Books.
Genesis.
Exodus.
Leviticus.
Numbers.
Deuteronomy
Joshua.
Judges.
Ruth.
The First Book of Samuel.
The Second Book of Samuel.
The First Book of Kings.
The Second Book of Kings.
The First Book of Chronicles.
The Second Book of Chronicles.
The First Book of Esdras.
The Second Book of Esdras.
The Book of Esther.
The Book of Job.
The Psalms.
The Proverbs.
Ecclesiastes, or the Preacher.
Cantica, or Songs of Solomon.
Four Prophets the Greater.
Twelve Prophets the Less.All the books of the New Testament, as they are commonly received, we do receive, and account them canonical.
And the other books (as Hierome saith) the Church doth read for example of life and instruction of manners; but yet doth it not apply them to establish any doctrine. Such are these following:
The Third Book of Esdras.
The Fourth Book of Esdras.
The Book of Tobias.
The Book of Judith.
The rest of the Book of Esther.
The Book of Wisdom.
Jesus the Son of Sirach.
Baruch the Prophet.
The Song of the Three Children.
The Story of Susanna.
Of Bel and the Dragon.
The Prayer of Manasses.
The First Book of Maccabees.
The Second Book of Maccabees.
back
De divinis Scripturis, quod sufficiant ad salutem
Scriptura sacra continet omnia, quae ad salutem sunt necessaria, ita, ut quicquid in ea nec legitur, neque inde probari potest, non sit a quoquam exigendum, ut tanquam articulus fidei credatur, aut ad salutis necessitatem requiri putetur.
Sacrae Scripturae nomine, eos Canonicos libros Veteris et Novi Testamenti intelligimus, de quorum authoritate in Ecclesia nunquam dubitatum est.
De nominibus et numero librorum sacrae Canonicae Scripturae veteris Testamenti.
Genesis.
Exodus.
Leviticus.
Numeri.
Deuteronomium.
Iosuae.
Iudicum.
Ruth.
Prior liber Samuelis.
Secundus liber Samuelis.
Prior liber Regum.
Secundus liber Regum.
Prior liber Paralipomenon.
Secundus liber Paralipomenon.
Primus liber Esdrae.
Secundus liber Esdrae.
Liber Hester.
Liber Iob.
Psalmi.
Proverbia.
Ecclesiastes vel Concionator.
Cantica Solomonis.
IV Prophetae maiores.
XII Prophetae minores.Novi Testamenti omnes libros (ut vulgo recepti sunt) recipimus, et habemus pro Canonicis.
Alios autem libros (ut ait Hieronymus) legit quidem Ecclesia ad exempla vitae et formandos mores; illos tamen ad dogmata confirmanda non adhibet: ut sunt:
Tertius liber Esdrae.
Quartus liber Esdrae.
Liber Tobiae.
Liber Iudith.
Reliquum libri Hester.
Liber Sapientiae.
Liber Iesu filii Sirach.
Baruch Propheta. Canticum trium puerorum.
Historia Susannae.
De Bel et Dracone.
Oratio Manassis.
Prior liber Machabaeorum.
Secundus liber Machabaeorum.
back
Article 7
Of the Old Testament
The Old Testament is not contrary to the New; for both in the Old and New Testament everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and man, being both God and man. Wherefore there are not to be heard which feign that the old fathers did look only for transitory promises. Although the law given from God by Moses, as touching ceremonies and rites, do not bind Christian men, nor the civil precepts thereof ought of necessity to be received in any commonwealth; yet, notwithstanding, no Christian man whatsoever is free from the obedience of the commandments which are called moral. back
De Veteri Testamento
Testamentum Vetus Novo contrarium non est, quandoquidem tam in Veteri quam in Novo per Christum, qui unicus est Mediator Dei et hominum, Deus et Homo, aeterna vita humano generi est proposita. Quare male sentiunt, qui veteres tantum in promissiones temporarias sperasse confingunt. Quanquam lex a Deo data per Mosen, quoad ceremonias et ritus, Christianos non astringat, neque civilia eius praecepta in aliqua republica necessario recipi debeant: nihilominus tamen ab obendientia mandatorum quae moralia vocantur nullus quantumvis Christianus est solutus. back
Article 8
Of the Three Creeds
The three Creeds, Nicene Creed, Athanasius' Creed, and that which is commonly called the Apostles' Creed, ought thoroughly to be received and believed; for they may be proved by most certain warrants of Holy Scripture. back
De Tribus Symbolis
Symbola tria, Nicaenum, Athanasii, et quod vulgo Apostolorum appellatur omnino recipienda sunt et credenda; turarum testimoniis probari possunt. back
Books
| Church of England, The Book of Common Prayer, Ebury Press 1992 '... we have good hope, that what is here presented and hath been by the Convocation of both Provinces with great diligence examined and approved, will also be well accepted and approved by all sober, peaceable and truly conscientious Sons [sic] of the Church of England' [p 9] Amazon back |
| Goetz, Philip W, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Helen Hemingway Benton 1981 Amazon back |
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