Articles 19–36: The
Church
Articles 19-21:
The church and its (limited) authority
Articles 22-24: Some
errors to be avoided in the church
Articles 25-31:
The sacraments
Articles 32-36:
The discipline of the church
Article
19: Of the Church
The visible Church
of Christ is a congregation of faithful men, in which the pure Word of God is
preached, and the Sacraments be duly ministered according to Christ's
ordinance, in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same.
As the Church of
Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch, have erred; so also the Church of Rome hath
erred, not only in their living and manner of Ceremonies, but also in matters
of Faith.
The visible church is not simply the Roman Catholic
church. The Pope does not define the church.
Distinguish invisible and visible church. Invisible
church: all true believers. We cannot see into people’s hearts. Some who belong
to the visible church may not be members of the invisible church. Cranmer said
the visible church included “all who are baptized in Christ, who have not
openly denied him nor been lawfully and by his Word excommunicated”.
“Congregation” (coetus) can mean a group of people of
whatever size, not necessarily a local congregation cf. Ex 12:19; Josh 22:18;
Ps 74:2.
“men” used generically, of course.
“faithful” means those who profess the Christian faith. Cf.
Article 26.
Two marks of the church. Mt 28:19; 1 Cor 11:23-25; Acts
2:37-42; Eph 2:20.
“pure”, not with the addition of erroneous human
traditions.
Some added church discipline as a mark of the
church.
Jerusalem, Alexandria and Antioch are the 3 historic patriarchates
of the Eastern Church.
Contrast the fallibility of churches and the infallibility
of Scripture.
Some of the errors
of the church of Rome are pointed out e.g. in Articles 32, 24, 30, 6, 14, 22,
25, 28.
Papal infallibility did not become a dogma of the Roman
Catholic church until 1870, but in the 16th C the church held it was
“indefectible”, preserved from error.
Article
20: Of the Authority of the Church
The Church hath
power to decree Rites or Ceremonies, and authority in Controversies of Faith:
and yet it is not lawful for the Church to ordain anything that is contrary to
God's Word written, neither may it so expound one place of Scripture, that it
be repugnant to another. Wherefore, although the Church be a witness and a
keeper of Holy Writ, yet, as it ought not to decree any thing against the same,
so besides the same ought not to enforce any thing to be believed for necessity
of Salvation.
Against some Protestants who
objected to the church going beyond Scripture and against the Roman Catholic
church which was said to have ordained things contrary to Scripture.
In the Jewish church the festivals of Purim
and the Dedication seem to have been added without direct divine authorisation.
Mt 23:2-3; 1 Cor 11 inc. v16; 14:27, 34, 40; 1 Tim 2:12. The church is not
simply to repeat the Bible – it needs to be explained and applied. The creeds
and the articles are an example of this. Titus 1:9, 13; 2 Tim 2:2.
A limited authority of the church.
The supreme authority of Scripture. The unity & consistency of Scripture –
it is the Word of God, God does not contradict himself. A harmonious reading
must be possible. E.g. the Bible’s teaching on Christ’s humanity must not be
used to rule out his divinity; Predestination must not be used to take away
human responsibility; faith and works. The sufficiency of Scripture (article 6).
Article
21: Of the Authority of General Councils
General Councils
may not be gathered together without the commandment and will of Princes. And
when they be gathered together, (forasmuch as they be an assembly of men,
whereof all be not governed with the Spirit and Word of God,) they may err, and
sometimes have erred, even in things pertaining unto God. Wherefore things
ordained by them as necessary to salvation have neither strength nor authority,
unless it may be declared that they be taken out of holy Scripture.
Roman Catholics often appealed to the authority of councils e.g.
for the number of sacraments, transubstantiation and denying the cup to the
laity. Some hoped a General Council of the church could heal the divisions of
the Reformation. Pope Paul III called the Council of Trent in 1545 and it
continued to meet until 1563 – tensions with Emperor Charles V over this. From
1377 to 1529, 86 provincial councils were called by the Archbishop of
Canterbury, only 6 of which were not summoned by royal writ.
“General” = international / ecumenical council of the whole
church.
The calling of a general council is probably not an issue for us
today!
Church state relations. The king is not a priest – can’t preach a
sermon nor administer the sacraments. In England the Queen as Supreme Governor.
Jesus the head of the church!
OT kings: 1 Chron 28:1; 1 Kings 8:1; 2 Chron 15:9, 29:4; 34:29.
General councils are made up of sinners and sinners err!
Examples of erring councils: Arimunum (350), Arianism; Ephesus (449),
Eutychianism (Christ’s humanity swallowed up by his divinity); Nicaea II (787),
sacred imaged could be adored; 4th Lateran Council (1215), transubstantiation;
Constance (1414), Communion in 1 kind; Florence (1439), purgatory, 7
sacraments.
Article 22: Of Purgatory [etc.!]
The Romish
Doctrine concerning Purgatory, Pardons, Worshipping and Adoration, as well of
Images as of Relics, and also Invocation of Saints, is a fond thing, vainly
invented, and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture, but rather repugnant to
the Word of God.
Follows on from articles 21 and 22 as examples of wrong things the church
had taught.
According to Bray the doctrine of purgatory was not taught before the 12th
Century and is unknown in the Eastern churches.
“Fond” = credulous, foolish. “Vainly” = pointlessly / without purpose.
RC church taught that Christ dealt with the eternal punishments for our
sins, but that we are still due temporal punishments which if we do not pay in
this life (by penance, sorrow, suffering etc.) we pay for in purgatory. Ecc
11:3; Lk 23:43; Jn 3:36; 1 Jn 1:7; 2:1; Heb 9:14; 10:10, 14; Rev 14:13; Jn
8:21, 24. Undermines the sufficiency and efficiency of Christ’s saving work.
Contradicts justification by faith alone. BCP burial service: “the souls of the
faithful, after they are delivered from the burden of the flesh, are in joy and
felicity”.
“Pardons” = indulgences (article 14) – part of the purgatory industry!
“worshiping and adoration, as well of images as of relics” – Images forbidden
in the OT: Ex 20:4-5; Dt 4:25-28; Ps 97:7; Is 40:18-21; Ez 6:3-7. NT: Rm 1:25;
11:30; Acts 7:41-42; 14:15; 15:20, 29; 17:30; 1 Cor 12:2-3; Gal 4:8-9; 1 Thess
1:8-9.
“invocation of the saints” as holy people who are in the presence of God
but who sympathise with us. Why would you want to pray to the saints? God can
and should be prayed to directly. God’s love and power and promise to hear his
people. Mt 5:45; Ps 147:9; 36:6; Lk 12:7; 21:18; Is 65:24; Heb 4:16; 10:19-23. The
saints wouldn’t like it! Acts 14:8-18; Rev 19:10, 22:8-9. Undermines the role
of Christ as mediator and intercessor.
NT: all God’s people as holy ones, “saints” – Eph 1:1; Jude 1
Article 23: Of Ministering in
the Congregation
It is not lawful
for any man to take upon him the office of public preaching, or ministering the
Sacraments in the Congregation, before he be lawfully called, and sent to
execute the same. And those we ought to judge lawfully called and sent, which
be chosen and called to this work by men who have public authority given unto
them in the Congregation, to call and send Ministers into the Lord's vineyard.
Against radical protestants.
“lawful” according to the law of God.
“congregation” = ecclesia, church.
Not just a matter of feeling an internal call of the Spirit.
Rm 10:15; Jn 20:21; Acts 13:1-3; 14:22-23; Eph 4:11-12; Phil 1:1; 2 Cor
5:20; 6:4; 1 Cor 4:1; Col 1:25; Tit 1:5, 7; Acts 20:28; Heb 5:4; 1 Tim 3:4, 14;
4:14; 5:22; 2 Tim 1:6; 2:2.
Article 24: Of Speaking in
the Congregation in such a Tongue as the people understandeth
It is a thing
plainly repugnant to the Word of God, and the custom of the Primitive Church,
to have public Prayer in the Church, or to minister the Sacraments, in a tongue
not understanded of the people.
Against the Roman Catholic practice of having the service
in Latin not in the vernacular. Use of a low tone. Spectator event. The Mass
was held to have power even if not understood, like a charm on adders. Council
of Trent Chapter 9 of the 22nd session, Canon 9 (Sept 1562)
anathematized the view that the mass should be celebrated in the vulgar tongue.
English prayers in England from 1548. Mary restored Latin; Elizabeth restored
English. A vernacular service promotes unity and edification. 1 Cor 14:7-8,
26-27.
Speaking in tongues in New Testament times – languages the
person has not learned Acts 2.
They thought the gift of tongues only belonged to New
Testament times.
2nd Vatican Council Constitution on the Sacred
Liturgy (1963) section 36 allowed for services in the mother tongue.
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