"Huldrych Zwingli (1484-1531) a Swiss humanist introduced the reformation into Switzerland. He had been ordained a priest, secured an appointment in Zurich .... He was an avid reader of Erasmus; and even managed to meet his hero in 1516. He found much to criticize in the church, as had Erasmus, but was much more willing to challenge the authority of the Pope than his hero had been, and soon became an outspoken advocate of reform.
Zwingli read Luther’s writings, but was more influenced by Erasmus, and preached directly from Erasmus translation of the New Testament. His position was that the Bible was the sole authority for Christians, and the Church (meaning the Pope) could not add to or take away from it. Reacting to his words, in 1522 a number of citizens of Zurich ate sausages publicly during Lent, a clear violation of the Church’s prohibition against eating meat during Lent. Zwingli’s position was that there was nothing in the Bible prohibiting the eating of meat, let alone the observance of Lent itself; therefore one was not bound by it
In a public debate with an emissary of the Pope, Zwingli outlined thirty seven “articles of reform” stating his opposition to Church teachings.
He spoke against
clerical celibacy,
fasting,
monasticism,
pilgrimages,
indulgences,
purgatory,
and the worship of saints,
all of which he said were not Biblical. His object, he said, was to return the church to its original “purity” in accordance with the Church established in the Acts of the Apostles.
At Zwingli’s behest, the collection of tithes was ended and choral singing was removed from the churches. Icons were removed from the local churches because, again, they were not biblical; in fact they might be construed as graven images, a violation of the Second Commandment. Zwingli said of them, “the images are not to be endured, for all that God has forbidden, there can be no compromise.”
Two important differences between Luther and Zwingli should be stressed:
- Luther arrived at his position from intense study of the Bible and his own personal revelation after having studied Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, hence his doctrine of justification by faith. Zwingli’s position was based on his readings of Erasmus and other humanists as well as the Bible. Zwingli was himself a humanist, Luther was not.
- Zwingli was more concerned with the reform of society than Luther, although many of Luther’s writings affected German society and politics. Luther’s primary aim was the salvation of the individual, not the establishment of a Christian government on earth.
Zwingli attempted to force his ideas on the Catholic portions of Switzerland, and convinced the Swiss Parliament to impose harsh economic sanctions on the Catholic communities. (Swiss political subdivisions were called Cantons. ). The Catholics responded in October, 1531 by attacking with a military force. Zwingli led defending troops into battle, but they were outnumbered 8,000 to 1,500. At the battle of Kappel, Zwingli fought at the front lines, carrying a sword and battle. He was killed in action, and his soldiers broke rank and fled. Catholic soldiers found Zwingli’s body, quartered and burned it, and scattered his ashes after mixing them with dung. Lutherans and Catholics both said that Zwingli’s death was divine judgment against his radical positions. The subsequent peace specified that each Canton would choose its own religion." Z,A&C
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life;
that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
2 Timothy 2:4
