History of Bible-Believing Christianity X

Bible Study at Gospel Light Christian Church, Singapore
by Pastor Dr Paul Choo
Mid-Week Teaching Service

Zwingli Of Zurich

Introduction: Shortly after Luther's death, the Gospel light began to fade in Germany due to compromises by his successors. God raised up Switzerland as the new center for His Reformation. Prior to this, Switzerland was a backward, superstitious Romanist country - that had been oppressed by neighboring Austria and later by Rome. Swiss men were often "conscripted" into the papal army because of their bravery. But when the Gospel light shone on her, she became an "advanced country," which produced more warriors for the Reformation than any other country. The man that God raised for His work in Switzerland was Zwingli.

Zwingli's ministry: Zwingli was born at the same time as Luther. He studied at the University of Basle, where he graduated top in his class and became a priest. Basle was famous for its printing presses, which reproduced the literary classics. The famous editor of the Greek New Testament (from which the KJV is translated), Erasmus, lived in Basle.

Since Basle was a city of intellectuals, Zwingli spent much time studying the Scriptures and learning the art of eloquence (speech-making) to prepare himself to teach his congregation. As he read the book of Romans, and its clear teaching on the Gospel of Grace, he realized the errors of Romanism. Furthermore, like Wycliffe and Luther, he had to make an official trip to Rome and was shocked by the corruption that he saw there. The shedding of Swiss blood in the numerous papal wars also troubled him deeply.

He was transferred to Switzerland's chief city, Zurich. As the priest in Zurich Cathedral, Zwingli's influence was great. He started his ministry there by expositing (verse by verse teaching) the Gospel according to Matthew. He taught it through, week after week, until he finished the book. Since he was dealing with intellectuals, his "battle-cry" was "the sole authority of the Scriptures," (sola scriptura). (Luther, who was ministering to peasants, used "sola fide," (solely by faith) as his battle-cry.) Later, he started a Friday bible study for the peasants who came to sell their produce in the market each Friday.

He preached against indulgences - and when the indulgence-salesman reached Zurich, he found the city-gates shut.

God allowed a devastating plague to infect Zurich and crowds of desperate citizens took shelter in Zurich cathedral. Zwingli's selfless care for the plague victims was a great testimony and furthered the cause of the Reformation.

Zwingli believed that the people had first to be taught the doctrines of salvation. In other words, his objective was to see the people saved (rather than to cast off Romanism). He did not attack nor remove the outward forms of Romanism (eg. idols) but believed that as the people were taught God's truth, the "truth would set them free" and they would themselves cast off the false practices of their past.

Zwingli's most valuable "ally" was Luther's German translation of the Bible. The printing-presses of Basle supplied Switzerland with many Bibles, until it was said that "every peasant's hut became the best school" - as the people learned to read and write from their bible.

The Gospel spread throughout all Switzerland, except for the forest provinces - whose peasants had spent much time in the papal military service and had been strongly influenced by Romanism.
After four years of preaching, Zwingli reached the fourth chapter of the First Epistle to Timothy, which taught about eating of "forbidden food" (1TI 4:4,5). As his followers began to eat as taught by the Bible, the monks lost their revenue that they used to collect for granting permission to eat "forbidden foods." They began to attack Zwingli through "pastoral letters." The matter was brought up before the Swiss Diet (parliament). Zwingli and his friends ably defended their position.

Zwingli sensed that it was now time to change the outward forms of Romanist worship (which he had left alone thus far). He replaced the morning chanting service (which all clergy and seminarians were expected to attend) with a teaching service where he exposited God's Word. He closed down the monasteries. Monks who were able to study were taught God's Word. Those who were unable were taught a trade. Every kind of monkish beggary was forbidden. Thousands of "parasitical" monks were put to useful labor and the wealth of the monasteries were used to help the poor, sick and for education. Priestly celibacy was forbidden and Zwingli himself married. Zwingli finally abolished the Mass and replaced it with the Lord's Supper.

Zwingli taught that the two pillars of Christian morality were Sabbath-keeping and the sanctity of marriage. All were expected to attend church at least once on Sundays.

Satan's responses: Throughout his ministry, the Romanist monks opposed him.
Zwingli did not destroy the idols in his church - he was not against them so long as their purpose was entirely aesthetic. However, others who were more impatient decided to break the idols. Groups of pastors, architects, locksmiths and masons went from church to church and removed images and defaced the frescoes (niches where idols were placed). Many superstitious people expected the idols to miraculously reappear in their niches the next day - and were cured of their superstition when nothing of that sort happened.

Anabaptists (ie, re-baptizers) appeared and desired to start a church "without sin." Their method was simple - whenever they sinned, they said: "I have not sinned, I am no more in the flesh but in the spirit - therefore, it is not I that sinned." They also rejected the office of the pastor and all other church authority. Some even threw their Bibles into the fire saying: "The letter killeth." They formed themselves into a ring in the streets and danced , sang and tumbled in the dust. Some claimed that they received revelations from the Spirit and putting on sackcloth and ashes on their head, proclaimed in the streets: "Woe! Woe! Yet forty days and Zurich shall be destroyed." Zwingli preached against their doctrines and practices and after much trouble the Anabaptists were outlawed.

Conclusion: In one of the many battles that the Swiss had to fight against Romanist forces, Zwingli was killed.

Zurich became one of the most beautiful, wealthiest and cleanest cities in the world - and continues to be so until today.

Though Switzerland continues to enjoy its prosperity as a result of the faithfulness of its forefathers, the church has long since become apostate (preaching a social gospel) and most Swiss are indifferent to spiritual matters.