(or '''Ulrich''') '''Zwingli''' (
January 1 ,
1484 –
October 11 ,
1531 ) was the leader of the Protestant
Reformation In Switzerland , and founder of the
Swiss Reformed Churches . Independent from
Luther , who was ''
Doctor Biblicus '', Zwingli arrived at similar conclusions, by studying the Scriptures from the point of view of a
Humanist scholar.
Zwingli was born in
Wildhaus ,
St. Gall ,
Switzerland to a prominent family of the middle classes. He was the seventh of eight sons. His father Ulrich was the chief
Magistrate in town, and his uncle Bartolomeus the
Vicar .
Zwingli's Reformation was supported by the magistrate and population of
Zürich , and led to significant changes in civil life, and state matters in Zürich. In particular, this movement was known for mercilessly persecuting
Anabaptists and other followers of Christ who maintained a nonresistant stance. The reformation was spread from Zürich to five other
Canton s of Switzerland, while the remaining five sternly held on to the
Catholic view of the faith.
Zwingli was killed at
Kappel Am Albis , in a battle against the Catholic cantons.
While a wealth of information related to the theology of
Martin Luther ,
John Calvin , and others exist, relatively much less, or little, is available with relation to Huldrych Zwingli. Because Zwingli's life-time coincided with that of Luther's, and because Zwingli's renunciation of the Catholic priesthood came only a few years after that of Luther's, Zwingli may have been over-shadowed by Luther's and Calvin's contributions to the Reformation.
Another reason for Zwingli's less noticeable career may have been caused by his own theological differences with respect to that of Luther's. Some believe that because of these differences, historical writers and religious zealots, who were more sympathetic to Luther's doctrinal views, may have aided in suppressing Zwingli's doctrinal views. They hold that "the side who wins in history, is the side who writes the history"; the "other side of the story" is either forgotten, or suppressed.
One major difference in theological opinion between Zwingli and Luther is that of grace versus works as it relates to the Christian sacraments. Many consider Luther to have been the originator of the belief that God's covenants to man are unconditional; Zwingli, on the other hand, proposed that God's covenants were just that--spiritually binding contracts between God and man that were vulnerable to man's relapse into the sinful life that could eventually lead to an annulment of God's part in the contract.
E. Brooks Holifield states in "The Covenant Sealed: The Development of Puritan Sacramental Theology in Old and New Testaments" (1570-1720, New Haven, Conn.: Yale University press, 1974, 6) that "When Luther called the sacrament a covenantal seal, he meant that baptism visibly ratified and guaranteed God's promises, as a royal seal authenticated a government document on which it was inscribed. Only secondarily was baptism a pledge of obedience by men. For Zwingli, however, the sacrament was primarily 'a covenant sign which indicates that all those who receive it are willing to amend their lives to follow Christ."
For both Luther and Zwingli, the sacrament of baptism was a sign or symbol of God's new Gospel covenant. Their theological differences arise in the relationship between baptism and mankind. While Luther believed that God's grace was sufficient for man's salvation thereby defining baptism simply as a sign of having received a divine guarantee of this grace, Zwingli taught that God's grace in addition to man's work was necessary for salvation thereby defining baptism as a covenant between God and man. This covenant/contract involved two parties wherein both were given specific responsibilities; if one party did not comply with said agreements, the opposite party was relinquished of all responsibilities detailed in the contract.
A key doctrinal difference between Zwingli and other sects of Protestantism was his view on the
Eucharist . Whereas Luther believed that the body and blood of Christ are
Really Present in the bread and wine of this sacrament (a view often called
Consubstantiation by non-Lutherans), Zwingli understood the sacrament to be purely symbolic and
Memorial in character. Their differences were discussed at the
Marburg Colloquy in 1529. By contrast, the next generation Reformer
John Calvin 's view was that Christ is spiritually but not physically present in the sacrament, but some later
Calvinist s such as
Charles Hodge tend more towards Zwingli's memorialism than Calvin's doctrine.
Zwingli was also known for his belief that the Christian sacrament was similar to a military oath or pledge in order to demonstrate an individual's willingness to listen and obey the
Written Word Of God .
Zwingli was one of the first Protestants to abandon the use of instruments during worship services. In fact, Zwingli was so alarmed by the abuses to which music was put, in his view, that some of his services did not have any music whatsoever. He found instruments to be an offense, quoting the
Church Fathers for support. He was attempting to return to a practice followed in most of the
Eastern Orthodox churches even to this day, but exceeded them in his distaste for music ''per se'', regarding it as a distraction from single attention to the preaching of the word of God. Much of the Reformed movement fell into agreement with the banning of instruments, although none followed the elimination of music. The organ in particular was denounced by leaders of the Reformed churches, as being a prominent example of what they meant by the corruption allowed into worship by the Catholic Church. Zwingli recommended that a better use for an organ would be to sell it and give the money to the poor. This Reformed aversion to musical instruments, first adopted by Zwingli, became at times a sticking point preventing cooperation with the musically rich Lutherans.
Non-instrumental singing continues to be a distinctive of some branches of the
Presbyterian Church , and a few other
Reformed Churches . This Presbyterian practice was adopted as being biblical, by some who separated from them following the Campbell branch of the
Restoration Movement known as the
Church Of Christ , because instruments are not specifically mentioned in the New Testament. The
Primitive Baptists also follow this practice. These Christians believe that the use of instruments is connected with the
Old Testament worship in the
Temple Of Jerusalem , a form of worship instituted by God but superseded when God raised Christ from the dead, establishing the Church by sending his Holy Spirit, according to their beliefs.
Zwingli got his early education at
Weesen under the guidance of this uncle Bartolomeus, who had moved away from Wildhaus. Before going to the
University Of Vienna Zwingli completed his studies in
Berne . He enrolled in
Vienna in
1498 , and after having been expelled for a year Zwingli continued his studies there until
1502 , at which time he transferred to the
University Of Basel , where he took his B.A. degree
1504 , and M.Div. in
1506 .
Just before winning his theological degree Zwingli became
Pastor at
Glarus , and stayed there for ten years. It was during his stay in Glarus that Zwingli perfected his
Greek , and also took up the study of
Hebrew . Apart from studying the languages of the
Scripture , he also read
Erasmus , which gave his thinking a
Humanistic perspective.
The use of Swiss
Mercenaries was more than common in Europe of the
16th Century and this was something that Zwingli opposed, unless commissioned by the
Pope . Nevertheless Zwingli took on the job of
Chaplain on several occasions, as the youth of his
Parish went to Italy as mercenaries. Still, Zwingli's opposition to foreign military service and his growing reputation as a fine preacher and learned scholar led to his election in
1518 to priest in the
Great Minster Church (German name
Grossmünster ) in Zürich. He had then been a priest in
Einsiedeln Abbey for two years.
Zwingli's willingness to leave Glarus greatly increased due to stronger pro-French sentiment there, given the fact that Zwingli at this period in his life was strongly on the side of the pope. Zwingli's literary production while still in Glarus made Swiss
Cardinal Mattias Schinner his friend, and rendered him an annual pension from
Rome .
It was not until he was a priest of the Great Minster church that Zwingli publicly started questioning the
Dogma of the Catholic Church. He himself claimed to have done so earlier, but this is not corroborated by facts. Zwingli always claimed to be ignorant of what Luther wrote, and that he took part in starting the Reformation in Switzerland independently of Luther. When a preacher of
Indulgence s appeared in Zürich in
1519 , Zwingli opposed him. This was two years after Luther had refuted the practice of indulgence with his
95 Theses .
It was only in
1520 that Zwingli renounced his papal pension. He then attacked the mercenary system, and convinced Zürich, alone of all the cantons, to refuse the alliance with
France on
May 5 ,
1521 . On
January 11 ,
1522 , all foreign services and pensions were forbidden in Zürich.
Owing to Zwingli's success as a politician, which had been boosted by his social efforts during the
Plague of 1520, his prestige and importance increased. From
1522 on he was on track of reforming the church and Christian faith. His first reformatory work, "Vom Erkiesen und Fryheit der Spysen", was published in the midst of a dispute over the ecclesiastical law of fasting. Zwingli declared the fasting provisions to be mere human commands, not in harmony with the
Scriptures , and was by now convinced that the Bible alone, without any reference to the church's
Sacred Oral Tradition , was the sole source of faith; this he asserted in "Archeteles."
When their intimacy passed the bounds of propriety is unknown, but from the spring of 1522 Zwingli and
Anna Reinhard were living together in what was called a "
Clerical Marriage ." Such
Concubinages were not uncommon at the time, as it was assumed that without an extraordinary supply of divine grace it was not possible for a priest to live in absolute purity; and in fact, very few did. Zwingli eventually married Anna, on
April 2 ,
1524 . Between 1526 and 1530 the couple had four children.
After three years of preaching, Zwingli prepared 67 articles (''"Schlussreden"''), intended for a more popular audience than
Luther's and covering all the points of the "Gospel," as he called it. In accordance with the religious policy of the Swiss at that time, there had to be a public debate before radical measures were taken in religious matters. A meeting was called in Zürich
January 29 ,
1523 , presided over by the
Mayor . All the clergy were invited. There was no real debate, only a dialogue between Zwingli and the
Vicar-general of
Constance . The decision of the
Magistracy was that the doctrines Zwingli had preached should be enforced in the
Canton Of Zürich .
Zwingli's radical followers made the most of the situation. They removed the images and pictures out of the churches, made changes in the
Liturgic language of the religious services, and stripped the mass of all its incrustations, as far as possible bringing it back to basics. By the end of
1524 the convents for both men and women had been abolished, and music had been silenced in the churches. The mass stood more or less unaltered, since Zwingli hesitated in changing something so wrapped up with the life of the people, before the people were fully prepared to accept a substitute. Zwingli's translation of the bible, the
Froschauer Bibel , was printed between 1524 and 1531.
At last it was decreed that on Thursday of Holy Week,
April 13 ,
1525 , in the Great Minster the "
Lord's Supper " would be for the first time observed according to the liturgy Zwingli had composed. On that eventful day men and women sat on opposite sides of the table which extended down the middle aisle, and were served with bread on wooden platters and wine out of wooden beakers. The contrast to the former custom was shocking to many, yet the new way was accepted. With this radical break with the past the Reformation in Zürich was completed. In the same year, Zwingli was called by the honorary title
Antistes .
The new doctrines were not introduced without opposition. The first opponents of the Reformers were from the ranks of their own party. The peasants could find no reason in the Bible, the sole principle of faith, why they should contribute to their lords'
Tax es,
Tithes , and rent, and they refused to do so. Civil unrest spread everywhere, and was only quelled after long negotiations and some concessions by the Government.
The
Anabaptist s were not so easily silenced. From their interpretation of the Bible, which Zwingli had placed in their hands, they opposed infant baptism and refused to join Zwingli's state church. Zwingli thus persecuted them mercilessly with imprisonment, torture, banishment and death; one of their leaders
Felix Manz was drowned. The war against the Anabaptists was more serious for Zwingli than that against Rome.
In
St. Gallen Mayor Vadian (Joachim von Watt) worked successfully in Zwingli's interest — in
Schaffhausen , Dr.
Sebastian Hofmeister did the same; in
Basle it was
Johann Oecolampadius . Zwingli himself came to
Berne , in January,
1528 . The new doctrines were then introduced as sweepingly into Berne as they had been at Zürich, and many places and counties which had previously wavered followed its example. Zwingli could also point to brilliant successes in
1528 and
1529 . He ensured the predominance of his reforms through the "Christian Civic rights", agreed upon between Zürich and the towns of Constance (1527), Berne and St. Gall (1528),
Biel ,
Mulhausen , and Schaffhausen (1529).
Reformation swept across Switzerland. The cantons of
Uri ,
Schwyz ,
Unterwalden ,
Lucerne ,
Zug , and
Fribourg remained however true to the old Faith, and offered determined opposition to Zwingli. This did not mean that the Catholic cantons were wholly satisfied with conditions prevailing in the Catholic church. They strove to abolish abuses, and issued a Concordat of Faith in
1525 demanding important reforms, this, however, never found general recognition. From
21 May to
8 June ,
1526 , they held a public disputation at Baden, to which they invited Dr.
Johann Eck of
Ingolstadt . Zwingli did not appear.
At
Baden , a famous watering-place, only twelve miles northwest of Zürich, there was a
Disputation between the Old Church representatives and the Zwingli party from
May 21 to
June 8 ,
1526 . Though not present in person, Zwingli had close connections with those from Zürich who spoke for him, and gave them daily instructions. Of course each side claimed the victory.
To compel the Catholic cantons to accept the new doctrines, Zwingli even urged
Civil War , drew up a plan of campaign, and succeeded in persuading Zürich to declare war and march against the Catholic territories. The Catholic districts had by then strengthened their position by forming a defensive alliance with
Austria (
1529 ), the "Christian Union." At this juncture, however, they received no assistance. Berne showed itself more moderate than Zürich, and a treaty of peace was arranged, which, however, was very unfavourable for the Catholics.
In Zürich, Zwingli was now the commanding personality in all ecclesiastical and political questions. He was "mayor, secretary, and council" in one. He and Luther could not agree regarding the doctrine of the Lord's Supper when a disputation was arranged between the two
Protestant leaders at
Marburg in October,
1529 .
As a statesman, Zwingli embarked in secular politics with ambitious plans. "Within three years", he wrote, "Italy, Spain and Germany will take our view". By prohibiting any compromises with the Catholic cantons Zwingli may have compelled them to resort to arms. On
9 October ,
1531 , they declared war on Zürich, and advanced to Kappel on the frontiers. That day proved to be fateful for Zwingli.
See
Kappeler Kriege ,
Reformation In Switzerland .
The
Swiss Confederation wasn't a centralized state, but many different states or cantons that were only united on a few issues, primarily wanting independence from the
Holy Roman Empire . When the Catholic cantons took steps towards an alliance with
Charles V , Zwingli recommended that the Protestant cantons begin to take military initiatives before it was too late. Zwingli was preparing for war, but his beliefs weren't shared by all of the other Protestant cantons. Instead, the other Protestants took economic measures towards the Catholic cantons. In
October of 1531, the five Catholic cantons joined together for a surprise attack on Zürich. The Protestants were nearly unable to defend themselves because of no advance warning, but when their army gathered together, Zwingli marched out with the first soldiers and was killed in battle. In
Kappel , the army of Zürich was defeated, and slightly more than a month later, the
Peace Of Kappel was signed.
Zwingli's successor,
Heinrich Bullinger , was elected on
December 9 ,
1531 , to be the pastor of the Great Minster at Zürich, a position which he held to the end of his life (
1575 ). He did not replace Zwingli as the political head man of the canton. The pastor of the Great Minster continued to exert political influence, but the time of
Theocracy was past for Zürich.
- Rhymed fables of the ox, c. 1510
- ''De Gestis inter Gallos et Helvetios relatio'', 1512
- ''The Labyrinth'', c. 1516
- ''Vom Erkiesen und Fryheit der Spysen''
- ''Archeteles''
- ''Vermahnung an die zu Schwyz, dass sie sich vor fremden Herren hutend'', 1522
- ''Petition anent the Marriage of Priests, ,and was signed by Zwingli and ten other clergymen. cf. Catholic Encyclopedia )."Ulrich Zwingli Early Writings",edited by Samuel Macauley Jackson , Wipf & Stock, 1999, ISBN 1579102972 .
- ''De vere et falsa Religione'', 1525
- ''Opera D.H. Zwingli'' (Title in full: ''''Opera D.H. Zwingli vigilantissimi Tigurinae ecclesiae Antistitis, partim quidem ab ipso Latine conscripta, partim vero e vernaculo sermone in Latinum translata: omnia novissime recognita, et multis adiectis, quae hactenus visa non sunt'', published by Zwingli's son-in-law Rudolf Gwalter )
- ''Zwingli's collected works'', (edited by Melchior Schuler and Johannes Schulthess, 8 vols., Zürich, 1828-1842)
- New critical edition of Zwingli's Collected Works (In progress, University of Zürich)
- Zwingli and Today's Christian
