Methodist Articles of Religion: Our Doctrinal Standards

When John Wesley organized American Methodism in 1784 through the Christmas Conference in Baltimore, he sent a set of doctrinal standards across the Atlantic. He took the Church of England's Thirty-Nine Articles and reduced them to twenty-four, adding a twenty-fifth article dealing with the civil rulers of the United States. These Articles of Religion remain constitutionally protected standards in the United Methodist Church.

Article I: Of Faith in the Holy Trinity

The Articles begin where all Christian theology must begin: with the Trinity. 'There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body or parts, of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the maker and preserver of all things, both visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead there are three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.' This is classical Nicene orthodoxy, not sectarian novelty.

Articles II-IV: The Work of Christ

Articles II through IV address the eternal Word made flesh, the resurrection and ascension of Christ, and the sufficiency of His sacrifice. Article II states that Christ '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 actual sins of men.' The penal substitutionary note is clear: the atonement reconciles an offended holy God, not merely a humanity estranged from itself.

Articles V-VI: Scripture and Its Sufficiency

Article V affirms the sufficiency of Holy Scripture: 'The 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 faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation.' This is the classic Protestant principle of sola Scriptura, though Methodists have always read Scripture within the living tradition of the Church.

The Restrictive Rules

The United Methodist Church's constitution includes 'Restrictive Rules' that prohibit any General Conference from revoking or changing the Articles of Religion or Wesley's Standard Sermons. This gives these standards a unique constitutional protection. They are not merely historical curiosities - they are living doctrinal boundaries. The ongoing debates within United Methodism frequently invoke these standards when assessing whether proposed changes fall within or outside the boundaries of the tradition.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Methodist Articles of Religion?

The Methodist Articles of Religion are a condensed doctrinal standard derived from the Church of England's Thirty-Nine Articles. John Wesley edited them from 39 to 25 articles for the newly formed Methodist Church in America in 1784. They remain a foundational doctrinal document for United Methodist and related denominations.

How do the Methodist Articles differ from the Anglican Thirty-Nine Articles?

Wesley reduced the articles primarily by removing those specific to the English church's political situation — articles about the authority of the monarch and the relationship of church and state. The core theological content on Scripture, the Trinity, justification, the sacraments, and sin was retained.

Do Methodists subscribe to the Articles of Religion as a confession?

The Articles of Religion are part of the United Methodist Book of Discipline and are described as 'standards of doctrine.' However, unlike confessional Reformed or Lutheran churches that require strict subscription, United Methodism has a more flexible approach to doctrinal standards as guides rather than binding tests.

What does Article IX of the Methodist Articles say about original sin?

Article IX teaches that original sin is the corruption of the nature of every person naturally engendered from Adam, whereby every person is very far gone from original righteousness and is inclined to evil. This guilt is real and requires the redemption offered in Christ, not merely education or moral effort to overcome.

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