http://www.amazon.com/Thirty-nine-Articles-Their-Place-Today/dp/1573834130/ref=pd_sim_b_5
Description
Anglicanism, according to J.I. Packer, possesses "the truest, wisest and potentially richest heritage in all Christendom" with the Thirty-nine Articles at its heart. They catch the substance and spirit of biblical Christianity superbly well, and also provide an excellent model of how to confess the faith in a divided Christendom. In this concise study, Packer aims to show how the sixteenth-century Articles should be viewed in the twenty-first century, and how they can enrich the faith of Anglicans in general and of Anglican evangelicals in particular. He demonstrates why the Articles must once again be given a voice within the Church, not merely as an historical curiosity but an authoritative doctrinal statement. A thought-provoking appendix by Roger Beckwith offers seventeen Supplementary Articles, addressing theological issues which have come into prominence since the original Articles were composed. J.I. Packer is Board of Governors' Professor of Theology at Regent College, Vancouver. Amongst his many best-selling books are Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God (1961), Knowing God (1973), Keep in Step with the Spirit (1984), and Among God's Giants (1991). Roger Beckwith was librarian and warden of Latimer House, Oxford for more than thirty years. His recent books include Elders in Every City (2003) and Calendar, Chronology and Worship (2005).
Some reviews:
By Daniel Sullivan.
Packer's book on the Articles of Religion is not a study of the articles themselves but a lament over their disuse and the attitude of indifference toward them that seems to pervade Anglicanism. The result as Anglicanism has developed over the last 175 years or so is an increasing pluralism of beliefs within Anglicanism and a doctrinal "incoherence" unparalleled in mainline protestantism.
The book begins by simply reprinting the Articles without comment. Packer then speaks of the "silence" of the Articles in present Anglican life. They have simply been muffled and shunted aside. He recounts their history briefly, grounding the 39 Articles solidly in the Reformation. He makes mention of the erosion of the need for subscription to the articles, the various ways they have been "interpreted" in latitudinarian and Anglo-Catholic circles and laments that fewer and fewer Anglican provinces pay any significant attention to what was once a doctrinal statement which held what Packer refers to as essentially creedal status within the church of England.
Packer insists that doctrinal statements and creeds are necessary because we live in a divided Christendom - that is - churches need statements which identify where they stand. Failing to lay out a clear theology, in Packer's view, actually works against ecumenical dialogue and not for it. Lack of clarity only breeds confusion, not unity. Anglicanism, as stated by the Articles of Religion, is firmly committed to both the authority of scripture and the three creeds of Christendom. As such, the articles state a Christianity that is both reformed and historical, and as such the articles express a rich heritage.
Where the Anglican communion has drifted is in its commitment to Scripture as the final authority and its commitment to salvation by faith alone. Roger Beckwith's appendix articulates a few recent clarifications that might supplement the Articles regarding historic and evangelical Anglican belief. Packer and Beckwith both stand against the view that sacraments operate apart from faith, as one example of a creeping reinterpretation of a central Anglican principle. One wonders if Packer's stinging critique of recent moves toward a catholic and semi-sacrificial view of the Eucharist raised much attention when the book was written decades ago. Roger Beckwith's contribution suggests that such a sacrificial understanding of the Eucharist overturns the very foundations of Christianity, a stinging rebuke to many liturgical alterations in recent decades.
Anglicanism has become a broad tent with Evangelicals in the minority, liberal revisionists attempting to steer the entire communion toward a humanistic relativism and those sympathetic to more Catholic beliefs pulling the communion in a third direction. Most Anglicans seem to float between the three views oblivious to the differences between them. Both of the latter seem to be willing to discard, reinterpret or ignore the 39 Articles of Religion as a doctrinal statement and advance a particular agenda in spite of them. The result is no consistent or coherent theology that can lay claim to being the official Anglican position on many, many issues. Packer's case is that the Articles need to be returned to their status as a statement of faith Anglicans should subscribe to. It makes sense, because the alternative is the dissaray that Anglicanism is currently experiencing.
By the Rev. Dr. Charles Erlandson.
While many commentaries on the 39 Articles were written in the past, particularly during the 19th and early 20th centuries, not nearly as many works have been written which discuss the place and use of the Articles. Packer and Beckwith's "The Thirty-nine Articles: Their Place and Use Today" is therefore an important and practically unique work, and one that should be of great use to Anglicans. Many of the earlier commentaries on the Articles are still excellent reference works, but without an understanding of the importance and place of the Articles in the 21st century the point of any commentary is a moot one.
This treatise on the place of the Articles by two traditional Anglicans who are also scholars is a very welcome one. While Packer and Beckwith are Evangelical Anglicans, they are also, in a sense, "old school" Evangelicals who still value the role of the Prayer Book. In other words, they have a firm grasp of historic Anglican identity. At a time when Anglicans, including orthodox Anglicans, are confused about their identity, a discussion of the place of the Articles in Anglicanism, such as this one, is essential. This is especially true in North America, where the newly formed orthodox province, the ACNA, has the Articles as one of their theological norms.
For all Anglicans who want to learn more about their identity and especially those who understand that the Thirty-nine Articles are an important part of Anglican identity, this work is an invaluable one. I highly recommend it.
Packer and Beckwith discuss the Articles under the following topics:
1. Introduction
2. The Silence of the Articles
A. The Articles have No Voice in Anglican Theology (this is their assessment of the way things are - not the way they should be)
B. The Articles have No Voice in Anglican Liturgy
C. The Articles have No Voice in Anglican Community
3. The History of the Articles
A. The Establishing of the Articles as a Doctrinal Standard
B. The Developing of Different Traditions of Interpretation
C. The Devaluing of Clerical Subscription
4. A Place for the Articles
A. What authority may the Articles claim?
B. What functions can the Articles fulfill?
C. What responses do the Articles require?
5. A Use for the Articles
A. Assimilation
B. Application
C. Augmentation
Appendix: Supplementing the Articles
Description
Anglicanism, according to J.I. Packer, possesses "the truest, wisest and potentially richest heritage in all Christendom" with the Thirty-nine Articles at its heart. They catch the substance and spirit of biblical Christianity superbly well, and also provide an excellent model of how to confess the faith in a divided Christendom. In this concise study, Packer aims to show how the sixteenth-century Articles should be viewed in the twenty-first century, and how they can enrich the faith of Anglicans in general and of Anglican evangelicals in particular. He demonstrates why the Articles must once again be given a voice within the Church, not merely as an historical curiosity but an authoritative doctrinal statement. A thought-provoking appendix by Roger Beckwith offers seventeen Supplementary Articles, addressing theological issues which have come into prominence since the original Articles were composed. J.I. Packer is Board of Governors' Professor of Theology at Regent College, Vancouver. Amongst his many best-selling books are Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God (1961), Knowing God (1973), Keep in Step with the Spirit (1984), and Among God's Giants (1991). Roger Beckwith was librarian and warden of Latimer House, Oxford for more than thirty years. His recent books include Elders in Every City (2003) and Calendar, Chronology and Worship (2005).
Some reviews:
By Daniel Sullivan.
Packer's book on the Articles of Religion is not a study of the articles themselves but a lament over their disuse and the attitude of indifference toward them that seems to pervade Anglicanism. The result as Anglicanism has developed over the last 175 years or so is an increasing pluralism of beliefs within Anglicanism and a doctrinal "incoherence" unparalleled in mainline protestantism.
The book begins by simply reprinting the Articles without comment. Packer then speaks of the "silence" of the Articles in present Anglican life. They have simply been muffled and shunted aside. He recounts their history briefly, grounding the 39 Articles solidly in the Reformation. He makes mention of the erosion of the need for subscription to the articles, the various ways they have been "interpreted" in latitudinarian and Anglo-Catholic circles and laments that fewer and fewer Anglican provinces pay any significant attention to what was once a doctrinal statement which held what Packer refers to as essentially creedal status within the church of England.
Packer insists that doctrinal statements and creeds are necessary because we live in a divided Christendom - that is - churches need statements which identify where they stand. Failing to lay out a clear theology, in Packer's view, actually works against ecumenical dialogue and not for it. Lack of clarity only breeds confusion, not unity. Anglicanism, as stated by the Articles of Religion, is firmly committed to both the authority of scripture and the three creeds of Christendom. As such, the articles state a Christianity that is both reformed and historical, and as such the articles express a rich heritage.
Where the Anglican communion has drifted is in its commitment to Scripture as the final authority and its commitment to salvation by faith alone. Roger Beckwith's appendix articulates a few recent clarifications that might supplement the Articles regarding historic and evangelical Anglican belief. Packer and Beckwith both stand against the view that sacraments operate apart from faith, as one example of a creeping reinterpretation of a central Anglican principle. One wonders if Packer's stinging critique of recent moves toward a catholic and semi-sacrificial view of the Eucharist raised much attention when the book was written decades ago. Roger Beckwith's contribution suggests that such a sacrificial understanding of the Eucharist overturns the very foundations of Christianity, a stinging rebuke to many liturgical alterations in recent decades.
Anglicanism has become a broad tent with Evangelicals in the minority, liberal revisionists attempting to steer the entire communion toward a humanistic relativism and those sympathetic to more Catholic beliefs pulling the communion in a third direction. Most Anglicans seem to float between the three views oblivious to the differences between them. Both of the latter seem to be willing to discard, reinterpret or ignore the 39 Articles of Religion as a doctrinal statement and advance a particular agenda in spite of them. The result is no consistent or coherent theology that can lay claim to being the official Anglican position on many, many issues. Packer's case is that the Articles need to be returned to their status as a statement of faith Anglicans should subscribe to. It makes sense, because the alternative is the dissaray that Anglicanism is currently experiencing.
By the Rev. Dr. Charles Erlandson.
While many commentaries on the 39 Articles were written in the past, particularly during the 19th and early 20th centuries, not nearly as many works have been written which discuss the place and use of the Articles. Packer and Beckwith's "The Thirty-nine Articles: Their Place and Use Today" is therefore an important and practically unique work, and one that should be of great use to Anglicans. Many of the earlier commentaries on the Articles are still excellent reference works, but without an understanding of the importance and place of the Articles in the 21st century the point of any commentary is a moot one.
This treatise on the place of the Articles by two traditional Anglicans who are also scholars is a very welcome one. While Packer and Beckwith are Evangelical Anglicans, they are also, in a sense, "old school" Evangelicals who still value the role of the Prayer Book. In other words, they have a firm grasp of historic Anglican identity. At a time when Anglicans, including orthodox Anglicans, are confused about their identity, a discussion of the place of the Articles in Anglicanism, such as this one, is essential. This is especially true in North America, where the newly formed orthodox province, the ACNA, has the Articles as one of their theological norms.
For all Anglicans who want to learn more about their identity and especially those who understand that the Thirty-nine Articles are an important part of Anglican identity, this work is an invaluable one. I highly recommend it.
Packer and Beckwith discuss the Articles under the following topics:
1. Introduction
2. The Silence of the Articles
A. The Articles have No Voice in Anglican Theology (this is their assessment of the way things are - not the way they should be)
B. The Articles have No Voice in Anglican Liturgy
C. The Articles have No Voice in Anglican Community
3. The History of the Articles
A. The Establishing of the Articles as a Doctrinal Standard
B. The Developing of Different Traditions of Interpretation
C. The Devaluing of Clerical Subscription
4. A Place for the Articles
A. What authority may the Articles claim?
B. What functions can the Articles fulfill?
C. What responses do the Articles require?
5. A Use for the Articles
A. Assimilation
B. Application
C. Augmentation
Appendix: Supplementing the Articles
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