Zwingli: Father of the Swiss Reformation Issue 4 | 1984 Purchase this issue

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The First Zurich Disputation on January 29, 1523, was also the occasion for Zwingli’s making public his 67 points on contention with the Roman church. The Zurich City Council not only accepted Zwingli’s document, but encouraged the pastor to continue with his preaching. Much of Zwingli’s teaching, except about the Eucharist, was an expansion of these points. Thus, they were one of the first attempts at a systematic theology of all life, unlike Luther’s 95 theses which were limited to a few issues. The following are samplings:

1. All who say that the gospel is invalid without the confirmation of the church err and slander God.

2. The sum and substance of the gospel is that our Lord Christ Jesus, the true son of God, has made known to us the will of his heavenly Father, and has with his sinlessness released us from death and reconciled us to God.

3. Hence Christ is the only way to salvation for all who ever were, are and shall be.

4. He who seeks or shows another way errs, and, indeed, he is a murderer of souls and a thief.

5. Hence all who consider other teachings equal to or higher than the gospel err, and do not know what the gospel is.

6. For Christ Jesus is the guide and leader, promised by God to all mankind, which promise was fulfilled.

7. He is eternal salvation and head of all who believe; these are his body, for his own human body is dead. Nothing is of avail without him.

8. From this follows first that all who dwell in the head (i.e. Christ) are members and children of God, forming the church or communion of the saints, which is the bride of Christ, ecclesia catholica.

9. Furthermore, as the members of the body cannot function without the control of the head, so no one in the body of Christ ...