1. CHURCH HISTORY II Lesson 4 “The Clarity & Certainty of the Word of God”: The Life & Theology of Ulrich Zwingli

2. Church History Ca. 30AD 590 AD 1517 AD Ancient Church History
Medieval Church History
Modern Church History
Apostolic Church
The First Medieval Pope
Reformation &
Counter Reformation
Apostolic Fathers
The Rise of the Holy Roman Empire
Rationalism, Revivalism,
& Denominationalism
Church Councils
The Crusades
Revivalism, Missions,
& Modernism
Golden Age of
Church Fathers
The Papacy in Decline
The Pre-Reformers ?

4. “I felt as if someone was lifting me by the hair right up into the sky”
Thomas Platter

5. Zwingli’s First 35 Years January 1, 1484 Swiss peasant family
“Adam was the first peasant”
B. Influenced by Humanists
Erasmus
When did Zwingli become a Protestant?
“I felt as if the gates of heaven were open and I had been born anew” Luther
More gradual process-Zwingli

6. 1506 Became priest at Glarus
Chaplin to monastery
Accompanied mercenary soldiers
Waste of youth
Waste of ‘morals’
1516 Moved to Einsieden
Luther “propelled me to eagerness”
“I do not want to be called Lutheran, for I did not learn the
teaching of Christ from Luther, but from the Word of God”

7. II. The Reformer of Zurich
A. The Pastor
1. The plague of 1519

8. Help me, O Lord, My strength and rock; Lo, at the door I hear death’s knock. Uplift shine arm, Once pierced for me, That conquered death. And set me free. Yet, if thy voice, In life’s midday. Recalls my soul, Then I obey. In faith and hope Earth I resign. Secure of heaven. For I am Thine.
My pains increase; Haste to console; For fear and woe Seize body and soul. Death is at hand. My senses fail. My tongue is dumb; Now, Christ, prevail. Lo! Satan strains To snatch his prey; I feel his grasp; Must I give way? He harms me not, I fear no loss, For here I lie Beneath thy cross.
My God! My Lord! Healed by the hand. Upon the earth Once more I stand. Let sin no more Rule over me; My mouth shall sing Alone to thee. Though now delayed, My hour will come. Involved, perchance. In deeper gloom. But, let it come; With joy I’ll rise, And bear my yoke Straight to the skies.

9. II. The Reformer of Zurich
A. The Pastor
1. The plague of 1519
2. Theological Disputation of January 1523
Sixty-Seven Articles
“vigorous expression of the
Reformed faith”
“custom should yield to the Bible”

10. 2nd Disputation October 26-28, 1523
“Shepherd”
Revelation
Reconciliation
Revolution

11. 3. Zwingli’s theology
a. The Theologian of the Bible
The Clarity and Certainty of the Word of God
“I began to try every doctrine by this touchstone (of Scripture). If I saw that a teaching could bear the test, I accepted it; if not, I rejected it”

12. WORSHIP
Luther-we may do what the Bible does not forbid
Zwingli-we may not do what the Bible does not command
Zwingli and the Radicals
Zwingli and Luther: The Lord’s Supper
Marburg Castle

13. The Lord’s Supper
Luther’s answer: Text does not apply to the Lord’s Supper; the Spirit acts inwardly when we act outwardly
Luther’s text: “This is my body” (Luke 22:19)
Presence of Christ: Physical
Purpose of the sacrament: Strengthening of faith and remission of sins
Luther’s conception of the Zwinglian view: A rational emptying of the Lord’s Supper
Zwingli’s text: “It is the Spirit who gives life, the flesh is of no avail” (John 6:63)
Zwingli’s answer: “is” = “signify”
Presence of Christ: “Spiritual”
Purpose of the sacrament: Thanksgiving for the death of Christ (memorial)
Zwingli’s conception of the Lutheran view: A return to ceremonies and works

14. “I would rather drink blood with the Papists than mere juice with the Zwinglians” M. Luther
Difference in interpretation not authority
B. The patriot
Rule of God extended over all
of life
Political alliances are necessary to
preserve and extend the worship
of God
3. Death in battle at age 46

16. III. Zwingli’s Successor: Heinrich Bullinger
Greatest influence: Writings
Letters-over 12,000!
The Decades: 50 groups
The Second Helvetic Confession
Bullinger ( )