A Man With Conviction

Despite the setback at Baden and Marburg, the start of 1528 marked a turn of events in favor of evangelicals influenced by Zwingli in Berne.

The Reformation as Renewal: Retrieving the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, by Matthew Barrett

In January 1528, the magistrates called for a disputation.  Many were invited – including from Charles V.  Many repudiated the invitation.  However, major representatives of the Reformation did attend.  They agreed that Christ was the only head of the Church and the only mediator, that only ecclesiastical commandments from God’s word were binding, that salvation is credited entirely to Christ.

Further, they agreed that the Mass is a “blasphemy against the most holy sacrifice, passion, and death of Christ” and “an abomination before God.” 

Images were discarded, the Mass was abolished, and discipline was enforced by the magistrates.

The preachers would continue to proclaim the Scriptures and the gospel with the support of the magistrates, this despite Roman opposition.  Those in the cities were enthusiastic for such reforms; those in the countryside were not.

While Zwingli remained against the Swiss mercenary service and tradition, he was not opposed to war to enforce the Swiss Reformation’s adoption in areas outside of Zurich, Berne, and Basel.  Tensions came to a head when an evangelical was burned in 1529. 

While opposing armies faced off, a peace was called: the First Peace of Kappel.  Protestants were free to worship in Protestant territories, Catholics were free to worship in Catholic territories.

Zwingli was greatly disappointed by the outcome.

Somehow Zwingli was revolted at the idea of bloodshed while at the same time disappointed when it wasn’t shed for purposes he saw as just.  His Reformation was a justifiable reason.  In any case, his advocacy for war fell flat…at least for a time.

Philipp of Hesse called the Diet of Augsburg in 1530.  While Zwingli did not attend, he did write a confession called An Account [or Reckoning] of the Faith.  It was an original systematic summary of his beliefs. 

He began with the perfections of God, then moved on to an orthodox articulation of the Trinty.  He was explicit in his allegiance to the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed.  Yet, many of his views set him apart from other Reformers.

Certainly, this included his view on original sin, which set him apart from almost everyone.  His view on the Eucharist set him apart from the Lutherans, although he believed he was true to the early church and Augustine.  He provoked both Rome and Reformers alike. 

While his Account was not read at the Diet, it was dealt with.  John Eck would thrash it later that year.  Despite all of this, many parts of his Account would continue to influence Reformers for years, for example his concept of “covenant” theology. 

…his marriage of classical metaphysics and evangelical soteriology had a prophetic ring, anticipating the advent of Reformed Orthodoxy after his premature death. 

On this score, he added a contribution that would define the Reformed Church for centuries.

Zwingli could not let go of the idea of the battlefield to resolve this divide between Swiss Reformed and Swiss Roman Catholic.  Zurich tried sanctions.  Just as today, these not only did not work, they, in fact, strengthened the Catholic side’s resolve.  Zwingli was firm: the entire Confederation must embrace his Reform. 

Israel bore the sword to rid idolatry and advance true worship, a responsibility pursued by the king under the accountability of God’s prophet.  Zwingli was that prophet….

Unfortunately, only Zurich was willing to engage from the Protestant side.  Yet Zurich was not strong enough; it did not have the finances or the military training needed to fight against the Catholics.  By October, 1531, war was inevitable.  Zwingli was so invested in this fight that he took to the battlefield himself. 

Compared to today’s advocates for war, you have to give him credit for this.

Conclusion

The fight was a mismatch if there ever was one.

Not only outnumbered, the Zurich fighters were as children when compared to the Catholic armies.  The result was slaughter. 

Zwingli was found dead with a sword in his hand.  When the Catholics discovered Zwingli’s body, they recreated the trial they had always wanted, declaring Zwingli not only guilty of treason but heresy.  They cut off his head, quartered his body, and then lit his body on fire.

Luther rejoiced at the news of Zwingli’s death: God had finally punished Zwingli for his erroneous theology on the Lord’s Supper.

Victory on the battlefield was, at the time, considered a sure sign of God’s judgement.  The Reformed had to dig out from under a massive defeat.  A new leader was need; this would see the rise of Heinrich Bullinger.

Epilogue

A brief comment on Zwingli’s view of original sin.  Many, both before and after Zwingli, viewed original sin as not only the inheritance of a corrupt nature, but also as a guilty status.  Zwingli rejected the idea of a guilty status.  You might call his view that of original contamination, and a distancing from the idea of original guilt.

Yes, it would lead to the same place – man would sin and therefore be guilty.  However, Zwingli’s view would free infants from being condemned before God prior to any actions of their own.  Yet, at the same time, Zwingli held to predestination, so…

Further, Zwingli believed that pagan seekers of transcendence will be found in heaven.  Not only Abel and Enoch, but Hercules and Socrates. 

Zwingli did not explain how such an extensive inclusivism is reconciled with his commitment to solus Christus, but the interpreter may assume a wide mercy is motivated by the boundless love of predestination. 

Many of the Reformers did not feel compelled to follow Zwingli’s logic.