CHURCH HISTORY IICHURCH HISTORY IILesson 4Lesson 4

“The Clarity & Certainty of the “The Clarity & Certainty of the Word of God”: Word of God”:

The Life & Theology of Ulrich ZwingliThe Life & Theology of Ulrich Zwingli

Apostolic Church

Apostolic Fathers

Church Councils

Church History

Ca. 30AD 590 AD 1517 AD

Golden Age of Church Fathers

Reformation & Counter Reformation

Rationalism, Revivalism, & Denominationalism

Revivalism, Missions, & Modernism

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Ancient Church History Medieval Church History Modern Church History

The Pre-Reformers

The First Medieval Pope

The Rise of the Holy Roman Empire

The Crusades

The Papacy in Decline

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

Thomas Platter

I. Zwingli’s First 35 YearsJanuary 1, 1484

A. 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

1506 Became priest at Glarus

Chaplin to monastery

Accompanied mercenary soldiers

1) Waste of youth

2) 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 theteaching of Christ from Luther, but from the Word of God”

II. The Reformer of Zurich

A. The Pastor

1. The plague of 1519

Help me, O Lord,My strength and rock;Lo, at the doorI 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 hopeEarth I resign.Secure of heaven.For I am Thine.

My pains increase;Haste to console;For fear and woeSeize body and soul.

Death is at hand.My senses fail.My tongue is dumb;Now, Christ, prevail.

Lo! Satan strainsTo snatch his prey;I feel his grasp;Must I give way?

He harms me not,I fear no loss,For here I lieBeneath thy cross.

My God! My Lord!Healed by the hand.Upon the earthOnce more I stand.

Let sin no moreRule over me;My mouth shall singAlone 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 yokeStraight to the skies.

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”

2nd Disputation October 26-28, 1523

“Shepherd”

Revelation

Reconciliation

Revolution

3. Zwingli’s theologya. 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”

Luther-we may do what the Bible does not forbidZwingli-we may not do what the Bible does not command

WORSHIP

Zwingli and the Radicals

Zwingli and Luther: The Lord’s Supper

Marburg Castle

The Lord’s SupperThe Lord’s Supper Zwingli’s text: “It is the Spirit Zwingli’s text: “It is the Spirit

who gives life, the flesh is of who gives life, the flesh is of no avail” (John 6:63)no avail” (John 6:63)

Zwingli’s answer: “is” = Zwingli’s answer: “is” = “signify”“signify”

Presence of Christ: “Spiritual”Presence of Christ: “Spiritual”

Purpose of the sacrament: Purpose of the sacrament: Thanksgiving for the death of Thanksgiving for the death of Christ (memorial)Christ (memorial)

Zwingli’s conception of the Zwingli’s conception of the Lutheran view: A return to Lutheran view: A return to ceremonies and worksceremonies and works

Luther’s answer: Text does Luther’s answer: Text does not apply to the Lord’s not apply to the Lord’s Supper; the Spirit acts Supper; the Spirit acts inwardly when we act inwardly when we act outwardlyoutwardly

Luther’s text: “This is my Luther’s text: “This is my body” (Luke 22:19)body” (Luke 22:19)

Presence of Christ: PhysicalPresence of Christ: Physical

Purpose of the sacrament: Purpose of the sacrament: Strengthening of faith and Strengthening of faith and remission of sinsremission of sins

Luther’s conception of the Luther’s conception of the Zwinglian view: A rational Zwinglian view: A rational emptying of the Lord’s Supperemptying of the Lord’s Supper

“I would rather drink blood with the Papists than mere juice with the Zwinglians” M. Luther

Difference in interpretation not authority

B. The patriot

1. Rule of God extended over allof life

2. Political alliances are necessary topreserve and extend the worship of God

3. Death in battle at age 46

III. Zwingli’s Successor: Heinrich Bullinger

Bullinger (1504-75)

Greatest influence: Writings

•Letters-over 12,000!

•The Decades: 50 groups

•The Second Helvetic Confession