John Rodgers, Essential Truths for Christians: A Commentary on the Anglican Thirty-Nine Articles and an Introduction to Systematic Theology (Blue Bell, PA, Classical Anglican Press, 2011) 723 pages.
As a reader of Seed & Harvest, you may be familiar with Bp. John Rodgers’ wonderful commentary on the Thirty-Nine Articles. Some of you may own the book, but chances are that many of you do not. This review is my appeal to you to purchase this classic of evangelical Anglican theology, written by a beloved former Dean President of TSM and one of the key reformers of American Anglicanism.
In a recent conversation with Dr. Stephen Noll, I learned that John Rodgers had two great vocational loves: Trinity School for Ministry, and the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion. It was at Trinity that he devoted so much time to studying and teaching the articles, so Bp. Rodgers was blessed that he could pursue these two great loves simultaneously and in a manner that allowed each to be of benefit to the other.
Originally written by Thomas Cranmer, the Articles of Religion went through five major revisions, beginning with just ten position statements in the original 1536 version and ending with thirty-nine when finalized in 1571. The Thirty-Nine Articles served to clarify the teachings of the Church of England during a time of discord between Protestants and Roman Catholics, as well as between various Protestant groups. Along with the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, the Two Books of Homilies, and the 1662 Ordinal, the Thirty-Nine Articles are among the Anglican Formularies – foundational documents, which are constitutive of Anglican belief and practice.
In his Introduction, Rogers holds up the Articles as “a superb statement of essential doctrine as found in Holy Scripture.” He goes on to suggest that “all Christians should believe, live, and teach the doctrine that they set forth.” They articulate the “heart of the theology that we need to hold and be held by.” Rodgers’ love of the Articles helped establish Trinity School for Ministry on a strong biblical and theological foundation that remains firmly in place to this day.
I suspect that reading Essential Truths for Christians, is a little like sitting in on a class with John Rodgers, Professor of Theology. He divides the book into five sections made up of chapters focused on one article. Thus, section one includes five chapters (Articles 1-5), section two has three chapters (Articles 6-8), section three has ten chapters (Articles 9-18), section four has 18 chapters (Articles 19-36), and section five has just three chapters (Articles 37-39). Each chapter includes the text of the article addressed, an introduction, a teaching section with theological commentary on the article, explanations of false teachings denied in the article, and a thorough treatment of the practical implications found in the doctrinal position under consideration.
At 772 pages, this is one of the more comprehensive treatments of the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion available. However, the book never seems “merely academic.” On the contrary, what makes the book so valuable is that it was clearly written with a deep conviction that theology matters in ministry, because Truth matters to those called to give witness to the one who is the way, the truth, and the life.
The book begins with a forward by J.I. Packer and ends with three appendices: the first on arguments for the existence of God, the second on Anglican hermeneutics, and the last on various views of ordained ministry in Anglicanism. The entire book will be helpful to lay readers, those serving the church in various teaching roles, and seminary professors. I give it my highest commendation.
¨ Please note that Anglican House Publishers offers a 20% Clergy Member Discount on a wide selection of Prayer Books and publications, including John Rodgers’s Essential Truths for Christians, Zoom Memoirs, The Faith of Anglicans, and A Short Course [Confirmation]. Clergy may sign up for the discount on the Anglican House home page.