Wesley, Impassibility, and the Articles of Religion
The Evolution of Article I In 1784, American Methodists met in Baltimore to formally establish the Methodist Episcopal Church. The conference adopted 25 Articles of Religion as one of its doctrinal foundations. John Wesley adapted these articles for use in the United States from the 39 Articles of Religion of the Church of England. The first of these articles, as adopted by the American church, began: “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.” In classical terms, the article affirms God’s aseity, eternity, incorporeality, and simplicity. The American church made one slight change in the article Wesley sent to them. Wesley’s version followed the 1662 Book of Common Prayer exactly: “There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body, parts, or passions ; of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the Maker, and Preserve...