An Apology of the Church of England

by John Jewel, Robin Harris (Editor), Andre Gazal (Editor)

Long out of print, John Jewel's classic defense of Reformation principles is again available in this specially re-issued edition with an introductory essay by John E. Booty. Written after Elizabeth's accession to the throne upon the death of Mary Tudor, Jewel's Apology was a major literary contribution toward England's struggle with the papacy and influenced the development of Anglicanism. John Booty's brilliant introduction places Jewel's work in its historical context and highlights its documentary importance in the English Reformation.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Religion, History, Church History, Christianity, Christian Non Fiction

165 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2002

About the author

Anglican bishop of Salisbury and controversialist who defended Queen Elizabeth I's religious policies opposing Roman Catholicism.

Reviews

[John Damon Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A resolute and early defence of the evangelical catholic character of the Anglican tradition against the innovations of the Roman council of Trent.
Really helpful in answering my concerns about the lack of distinctive in my tradition. I was glad to discover that it is an original feature not a bug. Anglicans never really viewed themselves as a distinct denomination or tradition but rather a continuation of the same true catholic church alongside the Reformed and Lutherans.

[Jeremy Counts · Rating 5 out of 5]

After nearly five hundred years, this book remains one of the best works defending the Protestant tradition against the attacks of Roman Catholics.

One of the main arguments Jewel propounds is that Rome ceased being catholic (a universal church) when they: (1) Anathematized the Protestant cause without showing where they error from Scripture, which all the Fathers certainly did do with heretics to show they were in error. (2) Convened at the Council of Trent with zero representation of Christians outside of Rome (hardly a catholic council), and then deemed good and godly men heretics with warranted objections to certain church dogmas and practices based upon papal claims to infallibility.

Jewel also gives a lengthy defense of the Protestant tradition from Biblical as well as patristic sources.

All in all, both sides of the debate should read this because it's one of the best works that either defends your tradition, or it is one of the best to interact with or critique since it gives some of the best arguments Protestants have to offer.

[Allison Wise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this for class (obviously). The version I read is by a different editor, however that wasn't an option on goodreads #niche so I just put this one on here instead.

[Joshua Pearsall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful read on the defense of yes the Anglican tradition, but also the reformation as a whole. A very solid demonstration of how we are simply returning to Apostolic teachings and correcting major accretions that have crept into the Roman Catholic & Eastern Orthodox traditions. Things like Icon Veneration (as expressed also in the 25 articles of my own tradition & the 39 articles of the Anglican tradition), adoration of the Eucharist, denial of the Eucharist in both kinds, and so much more. Highly recommend this text to anyone looking into the Ecclesialist traditions, as it is worth looking at the reformers & their predecessors as well. There is a reason we can say with confidence, we align with both Scripture & the Church fathers.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

While an interesting work. It really is less an apology for the Church of England and more a condemnation of the church at Rome during this time.

[Joshua Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5
Potent words that allow for a window into the mind of the early Anglican church. It touches the main aspects of the Reformation and the motivation for the church of England to depart from Rome, envoking the full force of the Scripture, early church fathers, history, and morality.

[Joey Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best apology for Protestantism I’ve read thus far.

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thorough argument for the theological, historically precedented, and moral justifications for the establishment of the Church of England as a separate entity from the Roman Catholic Church. Jewel first Kay's out the positive case for the Anglican theological and moral fidelity, then a historical review of breaks from "unity" in redemptive and church history. He then spends time cataloging the error of the Church of Rome in (his) recent centuries, before finishing with a dismantling of the claimed authority of the Pope and magesterium of the day. Overall, a surprisingly relevant exposition if Anglicanism for the current day, though the polemical portions do drag on at times. Anyone unfamiliar with the founding of the Anglican Church (apart from, "Henry wanted a divorce" would do well to read Jewel first and educate and edify themselves.

[Benjamin Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and classic defense of the Reformation—especially the English—and a clear demonstration of Reformed Catholicity.
As a Presbyterian, there is little to object to in here, bishops are a small part and Kings a bigger (they are part of our tradition, albeit one I don’t know what to do with)

[Jacob Strange · Rating 1 out of 5]

Catholic Church do bad thing. Look! Pope bad! Look! Clergy bad! Catholic Church wrong. Us real cathlik, we are real Christian from history. *provides little to no proof, repeat*

[Jack Edwards · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by a very devout Anglican and a man who has been for the last year my suffering theology don, and at the end of the year he said to my class well we’re done, so for the next 40 minutes ask me any question that you have. So, I boldly stuck my hand in the air and said you’re a devout member of the Anglican faith you seem to be the only Anglican in the country that actually believes what is written in the Bible, so why don’t you jump ship and come and join the Catholic Church, to which I am a member. He said that the Anglican Church is the true church, he left it there. The he caught me as I walked past his office and gave me this book saying that it’s an excellent proof of his earlier statement. Therefore, I expected a rigorous assessment of consubstantiation over transubstantiation, and why the chair of St. Peter wasn’t true to the Bible. Instead i got 136 pages of ad hominem attack on varies different popes, and the argument over transubstantiation was interesting but not fully explored. He outlined the argument of it not being based in scripture, but he at no point fully examines why the Catholic Church may have arrived at this point. And thus how it shows it’s an insinuation of human control. It was just a long attack on what the Catholic Church does, and a defence of anything that the CofE does or believes. He seems to be obsessed by what the pope wears and what he doesn’t wear and this is just ridiculous. Again not at all a defence of the Church of England. For example, it isn’t to do with the pope but it shows the very nature of his writing; when talking about communion he says that a monk poisoned Henery of Luxembourg in 1313 and that no follower of Luther or Zwingly would do this. Well then, look at the state of the Church of England today. You have an Archbishop of Canterbury that covered up the abuse of children. This one fact destroys the whole argument made by Jewel, because his argument seems to rest on the point that the Catholic Churhc is made up of humans, which has moved it away from the truth of the Gospel, which is such a weak argument, because if one is to asses the state of the Church of England, it’s a political organisation, that in my assessment doesn;’t care about the Bible. Therefore, I have to say that this book could today (if one switches the words Roman, or Papist with CofE) be used against the Church of England.

[Stephen Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It hath been an old complaint...that the truth wandereth here and there as a stranger in the world, and doth readily find enemies and slanderers amongst those who know her not."

John Jewel is one of the great lights of the Church of England, and in this work he ably defends its reformation using Scripture, history, and reason. Though occasionally using apocryphal stories to illustrate Romish abuses of doctrine and power (as this edition justly shows, to its credit), most of the examples he cites are true and demonstrable, which I found surprising and scandalizing. The things that were tolerated under the late medieval Roman church almost beggar belief. Yet, Jewel is also modest in many of his claims, not pretending perfect righteousness of his own side, but entrusting their doctrines and lives before God and his counsel according to their understanding of the Scriptures and the (truly) catholic doctrines that have been supported by the church across various times and places.

Many modern Christians would probably be surprised at how infrequently justification by faith comes up. While it is not entirely absent, it is certainly not the primary focus. Questions of authority, the sacraments, marriage, good works, and other topics take up much of the space. Jewel's primary vector of attack, it seems to me, is against the pope himself, in whom Jewel observes the excessive wresting of power and who tolerates and perpetuates numerous abuses and vices both in his own person and in the clergy. I was completely impressed with Jewel's mastery of Scripture and history, marshaling both of their forces to demonstrate the falsehood of many slanderous claims, as well as to show how, in most cases, the same could be said against Christ, the apostles, and the early fathers of the church. A great work, and even though I can't speak to many of the historical arguments (due to my own ignorance), it's an impressive work that raises important questions and arguments that Christians should consider, especially since many critiques in this work could be leveled at many churches today (e.g., where do pastors today get their authority? What relation do our churches have to the catholic faith going back to the primitive church?)

[Joshua C(himpius) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was foundational in the formation of the identity of the Elizabethan Church. Reading it today Jewel unfortunately often misquotes Church Fathers, relates medieval myths, and presents Anglican identity in a very polemical light.

Despite this the book is surprisingly quotable, easy to read, and more insightful into the medieval roots of the Roman vs Protestant debates than modern authors. His best section is perhaps his analysis of unam sanctum and the lawfulness of England’s reforms which were led by the King in conjunction with bishops rather than by papal authority.

In one memorable passage Jewel says that the Eucharist is a meal for eagles not jays drawing out the unworthiness of the man to approach the table. It’s these small pithy comments which make the book worth rereading.

For anyone interested in the Elizabethan age and its formation of Anglicanism this is essential reading but is perhaps not as indicative of Anglican identity as later authors like Hooker, Overall, Andrewes, or Field are.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great historical resource as to what was going in England and with the Anglican church and their complaints againts Rome. This was written after Bloody Mary's reign and before the deep and often violent Anglican persecution of nonconformists in the 17th century, so keep that in mind if you ever go on to read Fair Sunshine. John Jewel was a bit of a honeybagder with this Apology. I would love a modernized version of this book as I am not a fan of translating older english as I read and I quite frankly, don't always have the time too.

I do agree with other reviewers that this focuses more on the shortcomings of Rome than a defense for Anglicanism.

[Stephen Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is much to be said about this book, but I'll leave only this quote, which my professor calls "the horizon of pastoral ministry."

“Christ hath given to his ministers power to bind, to loose, to open, to shut; and that the office of loosing consisteth in this point, that the minister should either offer by the preaching of the gospel the merits of Christ and full pardon to such as have lowly and contrite hearts, and do unfeignedly repent them, pronouncing unto them the same and sure and undoubted forgiveness of their sins, and hope of everlasting salvation…” Amen.

[Bryce Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book was helpful in familiarizing myself with reasons why the Church of England broke away from the Catholic Church, it seems that the author more so attacks the shortcomings of particular popes and bishops rather than attacking Catholic doctrine itself. Jewel also vehemently goes against what he saw as corruption and an abuse of power by the Roman Catholic Church. I don’t deny that the church during this time was sinful in its actions. The Catholic Church is fallen and sinful like the rest of humanity but just because particular leaders fail inside the church doesn’t discredit the church as false.

[Christopher Pokorny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a helpful primary text for understanding the concerns and issues that the English Reformers were exploring. Similar in style to Augustine and other writers of
the early church, Jewel goes phrase by phrase of ancient writers, citing his claims and reinforcing his arguments. Recommended reading for Protestants and Catholics alike, who are attempting to better understand the English Reformation.

[Darren Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent and good but very long-winded.

Good because this book helps us to understand that the reformation is not a revolution, but to see that this movement is to renew the Ancient Catholic Church which Rome corrupted.

Also, this is not much of a theological treatise, but rather more of apologetic and polemic in nature in arguing against the abusive practices of Rome in Jewel's time.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Jewel is a force of nature. It truly is a pity his name has been largely forgotten among Protestants. Herein lies a powerhouse of apologetics, with succinct and precise detail as to both the reformers’ catholicity and Rome’s spurious errors. The best Protestant apologetic I have yet to read - it truly is a one stop shop.

[Jaden Weatherly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many of the arguments leveled by Bishop Jewel against Rome are less forceful today than they were in the 16th century, however, the premise of the Anglican reformation that he wields *must* be kept today: Ad Fontes. Our goal must be to submit to the revelation of God in the Holy Scriptures in conformity with the ancient doctors, Catholic bishops, and ecumenical creeds.

[Nathan Bozeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Protestant classic.

If you want insight into the intentions of the Protestant Reformation, some of the corruption that had made its way into the Catholic Church, and much more, this is a must-read.

[Bobby Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Anglicans, this book is a very fun read. Jewel’s biting and borderline sarcastic language is enlightening and also humorous. I would recommend this book to any Anglican who wants to understand the mindset of the English reformers.

[Jon R. Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am biased, but I recommend this brief defense of Anglican theology to all Catholic-minded protestants trying to make sense of their Church's place in the post-reformation landscape.

[Dallas Lovewell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A worthwhile read to understand the Anglican (and larger Reformational) arguments against Rome at the time.

[Cooper Cobbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

An important and significant work. Enjoyed the introduction and helpful notes and citations. I find it to be more rhetorically powerful than anything else, but still beautiful and helpful.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Protestantism bad, why Catholicism so much worse?

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview of the concerns and general theology of the English reformers. Establishes pretty clearly that, whatever Henry VIII's chicanery, the English divines were in the mainstream of Protestant theology.

[James Mayuga · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is freely online at both archive.org and google books in different translations:

translated by Anne Lady Bacon
https://archive.org/details/a58850270...

translated by William Withers Ewbank
https://www.google.com/books/edition/...

translated by William Withers Ewbank
https://archive.org/details/anapology...

There are many more editions freely available at those websites. These are the three that I read and compared.

The work is an older Protestant response to Catholicism and therefore less relevant and less sophisticated than modern Protestant responses and defenses. Nevertheless, the work is interesting as a historical glimpse as to what Protestants and Catholics believed about each other back then and the polemics used at the time. As well as how Catholicism has changed through the years in both doctrine, dogma and practice. It helped confirm my Protestant convictions that Catholicism is false and an incoherent ahistorical system.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you ever doubt the Reformation, read this. First hand from the boys who paid the price.