4. Concerning Scripture and Creeds Articles 6-8

6. About the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for salvation

Original: 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 the Faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament, of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church. And the other Books (as Hierome saith) the Church doth read for example of life and instruction of manners; but yet doth it not apply them to establish any doctrine. All the Books of the New Testament, as they are commonly received, we do receive, and account them Canonical.

Simple English: Holy Scripture contains all things necessary for salvation. No one should be required to believe as an article of the Faith, or to think necessary for salvation, anything that is not read in, or may be proved by, the Holy Scripture. The Holy Scripture are those Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament whose authority was never doubted in the Church.  And the other Books (as Jerome said) the Church reads for example of life and instruction in behaviour; but it does not use them to establish any doctrine. All the Books of the New Testament, as they are commonly received, we receive and regard them as Canonical.

The Anglican Church bases its doctrine and practice on the scriptures.

“Holy Scripture contains all things necessary for salvation.” This means that there is enough information in the scriptures to tell us the truth about the Christian faith and how to be saved. We do not need any teaching from anywhere else to tell us what is true about these things.  All our theology must be based on the scriptures. This is one reason why Anglicans think the scriptures are so important, and why we make sure that the sermon is about passages and ideas from the Bible.

The Article states the Anglican position over against both the Council of Trent (which gave equal authority to the traditions handed down in the Catholic Church), and some of the extreme Protestants who gave too much authority to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers.

The books of the Old Testament Apocrypha were listed as part of the Canon by the (Roman Catholic) Council of Trent, but the Anglican church does not use those books as the basis for doctrine. [For more infprmation about the Apocrypha and the Canon - see below.]

7. About the Old Testament

Original: The Old Testament is not contrary to the New: for both in the Old and New Testament everlasting life is offered to Mankind by Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and Man, being both God and Man. Wherefore they are not to be heard, which feign that the old Fathers did look only for transitory promises. Although the Law given from God by Moses, as touching Ceremonies and Rites, do not bind Christian men, nor the Civil precepts thereof ought of necessity to be received in any commonwealth; yet notwithstanding, no Christian man whatsoever is free from the obedience of the Commandments which are called Moral.

Simple English: The Old Testament is not contrary to the New: for both in the Old and New Testament everlasting life is offered to humankind by Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and humans, being both God and Human. That is why they are not to be heard, who pretend that the Patriarchs only looked for temporary promises. Although Christians do not need to follow the ceremonies of the Law given from God by Moses, and governments do not need to follow the civil precepts of that law, yet no Christian is free from obedience to the moral commandments.

Anglicans believe the Old and New Testaments tell one story.  The New Testament teaches that the promises made in the Old are fulfilled in Christ.  The full meaning of the Old Testament promises is discovered in the New.  This also means that the New Testament must be understood with the help of the Old Testament.

The New Testament has not cancelled the Old Testament. The moral law of the Old Testament still applies to Christians, although the New Testament describes how it applies in a new way.

8. About the Three Creeds

Original: The Three Creeds, Nicene Creed, Athanasius's Creed, and that which is commonly called the Apostles' Creed, ought thoroughly to be received and believed: for they may be proved by most certain warrants of Holy Scripture.

Simple English: The Three Creeds, the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed, and that which is commonly called the Apostles' Creed, ought to be received and believed: for they may be proved most certainly by Holy Scripture.

There are three creeds which the Anglican church believes state true doctrine which may be proved from the scriptures.
The Nicene Creed developed doctrines agreed to at the Council of Nicea in 325. Its present form was probably agreed to at the Council of Constantinople in 381.  It was based on earlier creeds and was intended to refute Arian teaching about the divinity of Jesus. (Arius and others taught that Jesus was the highest of God’s creatures but not the same kind of being as the Father.)

The creed of Athanasius was named after a famous theologian but was written by others in the middle of the 5th century.  It is a clear statement of the Trinity and also describes the doctrine of the incarnation of the Son.

The Apostles’ creed was not written by the apostles but contains the apostles’ teaching. Its present form dates from the 8th century, but it gradually developed from baptismal questions which probably go back to the first century.  It was used for teaching the basic ideas of the Christian faith as well as combating heresies.