Foreword by Lord Williams of Oystermouth, Master of Magdalene College Cambridge:
The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion still represent a major strand in the Church of England’s self-understanding; the inheritance of faith they transmit to us is affirmed in the Declaration of Assent made by the clergy of the Church of England as an authoritative standard – something offering ‘inspiration and guidance’, in the words of the preface to that Declaration. It may be true that the Articles no longer hold quite the place they did even fifty years ago in the minds of clergy and ordinands; but the fact remains that they are a central part of how the Church of England has located itself on the global map of Christian conviction.
Martin Davie gives us in this book a magisterial overview of the context and original significance of each of the Articles and of the text as a whole, and spells out the biblical and traditional elements that form the ground of what they teach. He rightly cautions against the glib conclusion that they are simply ‘Calvinist’, but leaves us in no doubt of their broadly Reformed intentions. As he notes, the current Declaration allows for some latitude as to how binding the precise formulation of this or that point may be. But this does not mean that they are of primarily historical interest, or that we are invited to affirm them in so vague and general a sense as to render them empty.
In the language he helpfully borrows from Dr James Packer, the Articles call us into a twofold dialogue: a dialogue with the texts themselves as ‘inspiration and guidance’ – in which we allow ourselves to be questioned and challenged by them, and a dialogue between these and other doctrinal formulations and the words of Scripture – to test the authenticity of these human formulations against the primary words of revelation.
We have here a treasury of both historical and theological learning. This volume will take its place in a distinguished succession of commentaries on the Articles across the centuries, and will provide great stimulus and nourishment for all students of Anglican identity – and, I hope, for all exploring their calling to teach and minister in the Anglican tradition.
+Rowan Cantuar
Lambeth Palace, London
Advent 2012
The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion still represent a major strand in the Church of England’s self-understanding; the inheritance of faith they transmit to us is affirmed in the Declaration of Assent made by the clergy of the Church of England as an authoritative standard – something offering ‘inspiration and guidance’, in the words of the preface to that Declaration. It may be true that the Articles no longer hold quite the place they did even fifty years ago in the minds of clergy and ordinands; but the fact remains that they are a central part of how the Church of England has located itself on the global map of Christian conviction.
Martin Davie gives us in this book a magisterial overview of the context and original significance of each of the Articles and of the text as a whole, and spells out the biblical and traditional elements that form the ground of what they teach. He rightly cautions against the glib conclusion that they are simply ‘Calvinist’, but leaves us in no doubt of their broadly Reformed intentions. As he notes, the current Declaration allows for some latitude as to how binding the precise formulation of this or that point may be. But this does not mean that they are of primarily historical interest, or that we are invited to affirm them in so vague and general a sense as to render them empty.
In the language he helpfully borrows from Dr James Packer, the Articles call us into a twofold dialogue: a dialogue with the texts themselves as ‘inspiration and guidance’ – in which we allow ourselves to be questioned and challenged by them, and a dialogue between these and other doctrinal formulations and the words of Scripture – to test the authenticity of these human formulations against the primary words of revelation.
We have here a treasury of both historical and theological learning. This volume will take its place in a distinguished succession of commentaries on the Articles across the centuries, and will provide great stimulus and nourishment for all students of Anglican identity – and, I hope, for all exploring their calling to teach and minister in the Anglican tradition.
+Rowan Cantuar
Lambeth Palace, London
Advent 2012
Clear, illuminating and authoritative, just as the Articles themselves were intended to be. This should prove a welcome resource for ordinands and for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Anglican identity. Any attempt to understand Anglicanism needs to address its theology and any attempt to do that must engage with the 39 Articles. Sadly, fewer and fewer Anglicans—including clergy—are familiar with them. This excellent study should help rectify this lack as well as benefitting the wider church in its exposition of genuinely catholic and Reformed theology. It is packed with historical and theological insights into the Articles as it explores their origins, theology, interpretation and continued relevance and importance. |
The 39 Articles have a renewed significance in the Anglican Communion. This theological commentary – in the tradition of Bicknell, Litton, Griffith Thomas and O'Donovan – introduces, explains and elucidates each Article. The historical formularies live again in this timely and important study. I warmly commend it to students of Anglicanism. In this erudite study Martin Davie sets out to explode some myths about the 39 Articles, not least that they are of little importance to contemporary Anglicanism. He does so by providing not only a careful commentary on their origin, meaning and relevance but also, through them, a course in Christian doctrine that demonstrates their abiding value. This important study is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the Christian Faith as the Church of England has received it. |
5 Star Review from Amazon.com:
For those who love and are interested in Anglicanism, January 22, 2014
What do Anglicans believe? The Book of Common Prayer is where most might look for the answer to that question, but there is a statement of faith - a set of declarations - that do indeed lay out what Anglicans of the Reformation period believed about their church, and that is the 39 Articles of Religion. These articles are not a creed or even a dogmatic statement of faith but an overview of what Anglicans have understood as the historic faith of the Church through the eyes of the Reformation. Martin Davie does a superb job of analyzing each of the 39 Articles, along with their history, rationale and how each compares to the statements of faith of the continental reformation churches. This is a magnificent work on Tudor Christianity for any scholar and for anyone interested in the genesis of Anglicanism. Yes, the churches of the Anglican Communion today are quite different from that of the 16th century, but the basic theology and mindset are the same. This is a great read!
For those who love and are interested in Anglicanism, January 22, 2014
What do Anglicans believe? The Book of Common Prayer is where most might look for the answer to that question, but there is a statement of faith - a set of declarations - that do indeed lay out what Anglicans of the Reformation period believed about their church, and that is the 39 Articles of Religion. These articles are not a creed or even a dogmatic statement of faith but an overview of what Anglicans have understood as the historic faith of the Church through the eyes of the Reformation. Martin Davie does a superb job of analyzing each of the 39 Articles, along with their history, rationale and how each compares to the statements of faith of the continental reformation churches. This is a magnificent work on Tudor Christianity for any scholar and for anyone interested in the genesis of Anglicanism. Yes, the churches of the Anglican Communion today are quite different from that of the 16th century, but the basic theology and mindset are the same. This is a great read!
Church of England Newspaper
The Thirty Nine Articles are key part of the Anglican theological tradition. Since 1571 they have shaped the way in which Anglicans have understood and proclaimed the Christian faith and the way in which they have related to Christians of other traditions. Today however the Articles are not well understood.
Our Inheritance of Faith addresses this problem. It begins by providing a clear and comprehensive introduction to the development of the Articles and their subsequent history within Anglicanism. It then goes on to look at each of the Articles individually, explaining in detail how each Article reached its present form, what its original purpose was and what it teaches.
Points of theological difficulty raised by the teaching in the Articles are explored and there are additional notes explaining how the Articles relate to subsequent developments in the Church of England and the wider Church. This book provides anyone who is interested in the Articles with all the tools they need to understand them and to think in an informed way about how to apply their teaching today.
Our Inheritance of Faith addresses this problem. It begins by providing a clear and comprehensive introduction to the development of the Articles and their subsequent history within Anglicanism. It then goes on to look at each of the Articles individually, explaining in detail how each Article reached its present form, what its original purpose was and what it teaches.
Points of theological difficulty raised by the teaching in the Articles are explored and there are additional notes explaining how the Articles relate to subsequent developments in the Church of England and the wider Church. This book provides anyone who is interested in the Articles with all the tools they need to understand them and to think in an informed way about how to apply their teaching today.