October 17 – Ulrich Zwingli: The Swiss Shepherd of Reform

When people think of the Reformation, Martin Luther usually comes first to mind. Yet at the same time in Switzerland, another man was preaching Christ and calling the church back to Scripture. His name was Ulrich Zwingli, and though less celebrated than Luther or Calvin, he played a vital role in shaping the Reformation. A pastor at heart, Zwingli’s ministry emphasized preaching, purity of worship, and the sufficiency of Christ.

Early Life and Ministry

Ulrich Zwingli was born in 1484 in Wildhaus, a small village in the Swiss Alps. Gifted with intelligence, he studied at Basel and Vienna before being ordained as a priest in 1506. For ten years he served as a parish priest, but his life changed dramatically when he began reading the Scriptures in Greek and Hebrew.

At the same time, Zwingli became increasingly disillusioned with the corruption of the church, especially the practice of selling indulgences and the immorality of many priests. When he was called to serve as the “people’s priest” at the Grossmünster (Great Minster) in Zurich in 1519, he began preaching verse by verse through the Gospel of Matthew. This was revolutionary in a time when sermons were usually short moral lessons or theological speculations.

A Preacher of the Word

Zwingli’s decision to preach systematically through Scripture transformed Zurich. People were hearing, often for the first time, the Word of God explained clearly and directly. His sermons challenged unbiblical practices, from fasting laws to the veneration of saints.

In 1522, Zwingli openly broke from Rome when he defended a group of men who had eaten sausages during Lent in defiance of church rules. He declared that fasting laws were man-made traditions, not biblical commands. This bold stand symbolized the growing conviction that Scripture, not church tradition, must govern the life of believers.

Theology of Reform

Zwingli’s theology shared much in common with Luther’s but also developed distinct emphases:

• Sola Scriptura: Scripture alone is the ultimate authority. Zwingli rejected anything not rooted in the Bible.

• Christ Alone: He insisted that Christ’s death was sufficient for salvation, rejecting indulgences, pilgrimages, and masses for the dead.

• Worship Reform: He stripped churches of images, relics, and music that distracted from God’s Word, emphasizing simplicity in worship.

• The Lord’s Supper: Unlike Luther, Zwingli viewed the bread and wine as symbols of Christ’s body and blood, pointing believers to His sacrifice but not becoming His literal body and blood.

His view of the Supper created deep division with Luther at the Marburg Colloquy in 1529. Despite agreeing on most doctrines, the two could not find unity on this issue.

Political Engagement and Death

Zwingli’s reform efforts were not limited to theology. He also saw the gospel as transforming society. He worked for moral reforms in Zurich, urged care for the poor, and resisted the mercenary trade that sent Swiss soldiers to fight in foreign wars.

But his blending of religion and politics also led to conflict. In 1531, war broke out between Protestant and Catholic Swiss cantons. Zwingli served as a chaplain for Zurich’s forces, but on October 11, 1531, he was killed in battle at Kappel. His body was mutilated, burned, and scattered by his enemies.

Legacy

Though his life ended violently, Zwingli’s reforms spread throughout Switzerland and beyond. His emphasis on Scripture-driven worship and Christ-centered preaching shaped later Reformers, including Heinrich Bullinger, who succeeded him, and John Calvin, who built upon his work.

Zwingli is often overshadowed by Luther and Calvin, but his pastoral heart and biblical convictions make him a key figure in the Reformation.

Biblical Reflection

Zwingli’s ministry reflects the truth of 1 Corinthians 3:11:

“For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

By pointing Zurich to Christ as the only foundation, Zwingli helped establish a church built not on traditions but on the solid rock of God’s Word.

Application for Today

Zwingli’s life challenges us in three ways:

1. Preach the Word Faithfully – His verse-by-verse exposition reminds us that true reform begins when God’s Word is proclaimed clearly.

2. Guard Worship from Distraction – He sought to keep worship focused on Christ alone. Are we willing to examine our practices to ensure the same?

3. Count the Cost of Faithfulness – Zwingli died on the battlefield, a reminder that following Christ may demand our very lives.

Conclusion

Ulrich Zwingli was a shepherd who fed his people the Word of God and a reformer who called his city to follow Christ alone. Though his life was cut short, his ministry helped spread the flame of the Reformation across Switzerland. His story reminds us that the church must always be reformed by God’s Word, with Christ as its only foundation.