39 Articles of Religion

The 39 Articles of Religion is one of the earliest Protestant doctrinal statements of any detail penned. It is a summary of several things: the teaching of the historic church back through the centuries; a refutation of some Roman Catholic doctrines; a refutation of some Anabaptists teachings; and a summary of Protestant understanding of the Gospel. One will find the Articles at times Lutheran, at times historic with its emphasis on the three ancient creeds (Apostles', Nicene, Athanasian), at times Reformed and Calvinistic (especially on predestination and the sacraments), sacramental, balanced, and at all times gracious and pastoral (as in the Article on predestination). It has often been commented that one cannot understanding Anglicanism without understanding the Book of Common Prayer and the 39 Articles of Religion. These expositions of the Articles below are classical gems that you can't get anywhere else in such easy searchable format!

• E. J. Bicknell, Theological Introduction to the 39 Articles (1887), 642 pages by ebook format. His strengths are his historical documentation, his summaries of theological issues, theological introduction and setting of the Articles, and especially his historical introduction to the Articles, documenting their rise from Henry VIII, the Ten Articles, the Forty-Two Articles, and then finally the Thirty-Nine Articles. Bicknell was a man of his day when liberalism flourished, and though he was basically conservative, at times he gives away too much. But we would be poorer without his work. (table of contents)
• Edward Harold Browne, An Exposition of the Thirty-Nine Articles (1887). This is the best volume on the Articles we know about! Browne covers the Articles in straight numerical order, and under each Article he covers the history of the doctrine, its biblical basis along with the theological implications. If you could only have one exposition of the Thirty-Nine Articles, this is it! Browne's only weakness is his view of predestination, which he believes, but is weak on. 1081pages in ebook format. (table of contents)
• Edward Arthur Litton, Introduction to Dogmatic Theology (1882). This is the most Reformed of these works on this CD, and the contents are organized by systematic theological topic rather than numerical order of the Articles. He is very conservative, a joy to read, and the late Anglican scholar Philip E. Hughes has very helpful footnotes that explain controversial matters and at times he takes Litton to task. This is a good one, indeed! 759pages in ebook format. (table of contents)
• W. H. Griffith Thomas, The Principles of Theology, (1930). Thomas has the best discussion of the history of the Articles of these on this CD, comparing the Articles with Lutheran and Reformed standards, discussing the Ten Articles, the Six Articles, Forty-Two, Thirty-Eight, and then the Thirty-Nine Articles. His analysis of the Thirty-Nine Articles themselves as a whole is very valuable. Thomas then goes through the Articles under various headings that include the Articles in numerical order. Rarely Thomas is midly dispensational (he was to be the first professor of theology at Dallas Theological Seminary when the seminary began in 1924, but the Lord took him), occasionally higher life in his view of the Christian life (Keswick), but he is always conservative, very knowledgeable of theology, and insightful. This work is still used by many! 796 pages in ebook format. (table of contents)
• Thomas Rogers, The Catholic Doctrine of the Church of England: An Exposition of the Thirty-Nine Articles (1854). Rogers covers each article with this format: the proposition of the article, proof from God's word, and errors regarding. It is complete, orthodox, and very easy to use. 464 pages in ebook format. (table of contents)