Ulrich Zwingli and the Swiss Reformation: Key Events and Impact on Reformed Churches

1. Ulrich Zwingli & The Swiss Reformation

2. Swiss Confederation • Confederation began in 1291 • Technically part of Holy Roman Empire, basically independent by 1499 • Noted for its independent spirit & quality of its mercenaries

3. Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) • Born in Switzerland; son & grandson of civil magistrates; Uncle Bartholomew, parish priest • Latin scholar; educated in Basel, Bern, Vienna • Came under influence of Erasmus & humanism

4. Early Priesthood (1506-1518) • Glarus – Arranged by Uncle Bartholomew • Another priest sold post for 100 florins • Main “cash crop” was mercenaries • Zwingli served as chaplain, saw 10,000 killed • Einsiedeln – Chaplain of Shrine of Virgin • Preaching to pilgrims earned his reputation • Began to question indulgences • Grossmunster – Great Church of Zurich

5. Zurich & Early Reform • Zurich: key city of Switzerland & important religious center • Pastorate: preaching, mass, visiting sick • Preached through books of Bible instead of prescribed Scriptures • Spiritual crisis: plague, brother’s death, his own sickness after ministering to victims

6. 1522 – Key Year • “Affair of the Sausages” • Zwingli preached against Lenten fast • Zurich printer rewarded workers with sausages • Zwingli defended practice

7. 1522 – Key Year • Petition against celibacy • Priests petitioned bishop to legitimize relations • Many priests had common-law wives, concubines • 1500 illegitimate children fathered by priests • Zwingli was living with widow Anna Rinehart

8. First Disputation – Jan. 1523 • Debate between Zwingli and Vicar General of Bishopric of Constance • Zwingli presented 67 Articles for church life • City Council supported Zwingli’s Reformation: • Affirmation of Scripture as basis of authority • Condemned corruption of Roman Catholic Church • Denounced: purgatory; papal office; priestly garments; priesthood; clerical celibacy; traditional mass (Lord’s Supper should be memorial) • Zwingli’s Reformation depended on Council

9. Second Disputation – Oct. 1523 • Topics: Use of images; the mass; purgatory • Quick agreement to reject use of images • Purgatory was never discussed • Instead remainder of discussion was spent on replacing the mass with simple Lord’s Supper: magistrates delayed implementation; Zwingli’s followers insisted on immediate action; Zwingli sided with magistrates • No action was taken • Christmas Day, Zwingli did not conduct simple Lord’s Supper as planned • Many of his student-followers broke with Zwingli

10. Prophecy Meetings & Swiss Brethren • 1519, Zwingli began attracting students: • Conrad Grebel • Felix Manz • George Blaurock • At Prophecy Meetings, studied NT in Greek • Study led to rejection of infant baptism & support of believer’s baptism • When this reform was rejected by Council, Zwingli backed down

11. Third Disputation – Jan. 1525 • Zwingli attempted to suppress Swiss Brethren at public disputation on baptism • Zwingli coined term “Anabaptists”: Re-baptizers • Decision: Brethren to stop meeting & have children baptized or leave in 8 days • Brethren defied Zwingli & Council, were baptized as believers & were persecuted

12. Zwingli on Church-State • State-church in Zurich:Reformation depended uponsupport from Council • Christian Civic Union: allied with other Swiss cantons to spread Reformation

13. Zwingli on Baptism • Adhered to infant baptism • Nature of baptism • Infants are not guilty • Baptism not necessary for salvation • Infant was elect; in covenant community • Predestination • Fit his view of infant baptism, which was sign of covenant for those elected by God • Covenant concept of church • Used OT to show that baptism is NT parallel to circumcision

14. Zwingli on Lord’s Supper • Easter 1525, Zwingli observed “evangelical” Lord’s Supper • Advocated symbolic view of Lord’s Supper • Taught that bread & cup were signs or symbols to be observed in remembrance & thanksgiving for Christ’s sacrifice • Holy Spirit uses these signs/symbols to testify that participants are joined in true & spiritual way to resurrected & ascended Christ; but Christ was not actually present in elements of Supper

15. Zwingli as Reformed Spokesman • 1529, Marburg Colloquy: met with Luther for alliance against Catholics; no agreement on Lord’s Supper (Zwingli – memorial; Luther – real presence) 1530, Augsburg Diet: Swiss Churches presented their own articles

16. Zwingli’s Contribution to Reformed Churches • Zwingli set out goal & early model • Creation of disciplined people of God governed by biblical principles required extensive reform of doctrine, worship, church government & entire society • Laws enforcing state church’s worship were based on precedent of Israel & OT laws on religion & civil matters • Infant baptism, like OT circumcision, included children in covenant community

17. Zwingli’s Contribution to Reformed Churches • Biblical lessons became focus of worship • Worship attendance was mandatory • Music & organs, images removed from churches • Tight control on moral behavior; curfew • Religious uniformity strictly enforced; deviation considered treasonous; Anabaptist targeted especially

18. Zwingli’s Writings (1525) • On Baptism, Anabaptism and Infant Baptism • Baptism is sign of covenant: infant baptism is NT expression of circumcision • OT is precedent for covenant community • Commentary on True and False Religion • Lord’s Supper is symbolic remembrance • On Human and Divine Justice • Union of Church & State

19. Zwingli’s Death • Second Kappel War (1531) • Protestants blockaded routes to Catholic cantons • Protestant cantons did not unite; Catholics did • Catholics attacked Zurich • Catholics won; routed Zurich army • Zwingli died • Catholics strengthened hold on 5 Catholic cantons, which remain Catholic to this day

20. Heinrich Bullinger (1504-75) • Successor & spokesman for Zwinglian viewpoint after 1531 • Influenced refugee Protestant leaders who relocated in Zurich • Drafted Helvetic (Swiss) Confession, basic doctrinal standard for Reformed churches in Europe (1536, 1566)

21. Heinrich Bullinger (1504-75) • Negotiated with John Calvin for accord uniting German-speaking & French-speaking Reformed churches (Consensus Tigurinus, 1549) • Wrote historical & theological works defending Reformation & Protestantism (i.e. The Decades)

22. Johann Oecolampadius (1482-1531) • Led Reform in Basel • Humanist, Hebrew scholar, commentator on Scripture • Elaborated concept of “covenant” community as model for Reformed city • Advocated use of elders to help pastors in providing spiritual oversight

23. Berchtold Haller (1492-1536) • By 1528, led Reform in Bern, political & military center of Protestant reform among Swiss & capital of Swiss Confederation • Supported French-speaking Reformed church development in Geneva, Neuchatel & Lausanne

24. Martin Bucer (1491-1551) • Strasbourg: located outside of Swiss Confederation; refugee center until 1548; leading intellectual center for Reformed churches • Reform led by Bucer: Humanist scholar, Bible commentator & theologian, implementer of Reformed models

25. Martin Bucer (1491-1551) • Pursued middle way or moderate approach to accommodate Lutheran & Schmalkaldic League positions with Swiss Reformed positions • Effort to recruit English church leaders into united Protestant church effort • Thomas Cranmer invited Bucer to England to assist in English Reformation