Part 2: From Apostates to Apostles
Although he was the first of the reformers, Zwingli decided not to merge his movement with Luther. The success and acceptance of Luther’s reforms gave great encouragement, motivation and inspiration to Zwingli. His focus on going back to the original teachings of the Bible, coincided with the invention of the printing press. By 1520, there were 18 German, 2 Dutch, 11 Italian and 4 Bohemian translations of the scriptures circulating.
As the common people gained access to the original teachings of Christ, the discrepancy between them and what was currently being taught by the Roman Church became very evident.
Zwingli came under the influence of Erasmus, a learned Greek Humanist while at the University of Vienna and Basle. Erasmus believed the best course of reform was to publish the Greek New Testament at Basle and present the Church Fathers with copies. Both Erasmus and Zwingli believed that all good heathens could be saved as well as Catholics. They also believed they were personally influenced by the Holy Spirit in their endeavours.
By 1516 Zwingli had been appointed as Vicar at Einiedelin, which was a place that drew large numbers of people to see the “Black Madonna.” As many as 100,000 came annually, thus Zwingli was able to preach to many pilgrims. Many miracles were attributed to this image of the virgin Mary. At the entry way, an inscription had been posted: “Here the full forgiveness of all sins may be obtained”. Zwingli thought such notions were all “superstitious absurdities”, and preached accordingly.
In 1518 Zwingli was elected as the of the principle of the Church in Grossmunster in Zurich, a prosperous town of about seven thousand people. Here he began to teach from all the books of the New Testament, except Revelation, which he did not accept as written by John.
It is interesting to note that while both Luther and Zwingli could not accept the abuses of the Roman Church nor agree with many of their teachings, they nonetheless accepted the dogmas and creeds of the Roman Church. The false assumptions of Augustine proved to be a stumbling block to the Reformers, just as they had been to the early Church Fathers. They too, could not arrive at the true principles. As a result, they likewise became intolerant of others and cruel in their behavior. Zwingli’s teachings were basically moral doctrines and he stuck to that which he could prove from the New Testament. He therefore rejected everything that was not specifically authorized by those scriptures. His conclusion was in complete contrast to Luther who allowed anything that was not expressly forbidden by the New Testament.
The Roman Church did not oppose Zwingli at first, even when he ranted against the sale of Indulgences. The Officials of Zurich and even the Arch Bishop of Constance supported him against any action from Rome. Gradually though, Zwingli’s criticisms included the doctrine of Purgatory, the intercession of saints, monasticism and fasts. He convinced the City Council in Zurich to issue an order that preachers should teach only that which is found in the New Testament. As in Germany, civil authority was given the right to exercise religious control, which previously had been exclusively the right of the Bishop.
This was the first instance of civil authority eroding the authority of the Bishop in episcopal matters. It was to become common practice in Switzerland. This crack in the concrete, that went on to cause a complete fracture of the foundation of the Roman Church, started here with this subordination of the Church to the State. Zwingli was able to convince the willing ministers of the Cantons (townships) to abolish Roman worship including images, relics, frescoes and ornaments. Thus, the silver and gold crosses, the robes and tapestry were removed – and Zwingli justified the vandalism.
The reaction was predictable. The Catholic Townships would not tolerate the behaviour of the reformist protestants and they clashed in the town of Kappel. Zwingli was among the protestants who were defeated in the battle and he was killed. His body was quartered and burned for treason and heresy, and his ashes scattered. While this stopped the protest movement in German speaking Switzerland, the rest of the country continued its protest under the leadership of John Calvin.