3/31/2018
The Swiss Reformation A Reform of the Reformers
Geneva: William Farel, John Calvin, Zurich: Ulrich Zwingli Theodore Beza, &John Knox
Reform or New?
First Session: “The March of Third Session: “A Reform of the Folly” Reformers: A little history of issues What makes the Swiss Reform swirling around different? 50+ years of papal and curial What are the dynamics between inaction, inattention, and the HR Empire, Rome and the corruption Swiss government(s) What theologies, ecclesiologies, Second Session: “Theological and other issues begin to Spark and Secular Timber” change? Martin Luther – nothing new Is this a new phase? How did he escape the heretic’s A continuation of Luther? fate? A gateway to something else?
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Swiss History
Right in the middle of things A republic form of government since 1280 – Carolingian to Hapsburgs (800s longest surviving today up to 1500s) Very different from 16th century Germany
Old Swiss Confederacy
The Swiss Milieu
Politics and Governance Swiss Catholicism
1495 the Old Swiss Confederation Right in the middle of things defeats the Swabian League (local Language muscle of HR Emperor) Free of imperials courts, France, Papal States, Milan, taxation, and interference German princes, and a Holy Roman Emperor Takes control of administration of Catholic churches and schools Things are complicated – investiture of things local Pope Julius II forms the Swiss There are diocese and Guard ~ mercenaries Landeskirchen (Roman Catholic cantonal churches) By age of Reformation – all things are local
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Swiss Church in1495
There were How does all this Dioceses with a metropolitan compare to the German church vis-à-vis secular Dioceses reporting directly to governance? Rome Land ownership Canton-land churches * Control of revenue City-state churches * streams
Who controlled the church taxes Imperial controlled the church entanglements Roman Curia Organized along democratic lines influence Local pastors appointed by city councils (e.g.) Who controls the Swiss mercenaries? Catholic school professors and teachers appointed the same way
The Swiss
Swiss local government had far 1523 – city council of Zurich more controls over the Church directs Catholic Churches to …I know a guy reform ala Zwingli
Same abuses still present but to a Within two years lesser degree Celibacy dropped Ulrich Zwingli Churches stripped of décor Humanist scholar, Catholic priest State administration of ~ multiple benefices church Assigned to Zurich Priest paid by state Church reform Church property taken over Political reform Social work of the church contra mercenaries (chaplain) taken over All relatively orderly unlike Germany. Why?
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Zwingli in Zurich
1519 – posted to Zurich 1522 – the “Affair of the Sausages” Immediate changes There are no biblical limits on preaches the Gospel of food Matthew beginning to end Lenten fasting was church Acts, Epistles, then OT obedience and not sin Running commentary on Gospel, theology and reform Cantons, cities, and bishops ala Erasmus weigh in on the position.
Out with Zwingli’s petition to relax celibacy made to Veneration of saints and church décor bishop and City council of Zurich Tithing as divine institution Already co-habitating and about to have his first child
Zurich Disputations
First Disputation (Jan 1523) Second Disputation (Sept 1523)
Called by City Council Matters discussed Bishop’s Vicar-general Statues, icons, and décor Officials from local area and Mass as sacrifice surrounding Cantons Infant baptism Zwingli Attendees Zwingli prepared for theological All major Cantons and cities and Scriptural debate; the Vicar only asserted Church authority The known reformers, Zwingli New group of radical reformers Council ruled Zwingli keep preaching Decree issued by Council to All others – only preach what Eliminate statues, icons, etc you can demonstrate from Eliminate the Mass – backed down Scripture Rural areas, local church voting
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Swiss Sunday
In time…. Mass with Zwingli Luther, Zwingli and Eucharist (1524) (jumping ahead to 1529) New order of worship Marburg Colloquy Communion 4 times a year (Zurich with Landgrave of Hesse) with wooden cups and plates, Center of the debate was the seated at table Real Presence of Christ in the No music Eucharist Focus – the sermon The Swiss Reformers + new German reformers versus But there are still Catholic Luther, Melanchthon and the masses in Zurich and the area, old school but pressure is mounting First major theological split - at core: authority to interpret Switzerland is starting to divide Scripture.
The Confederation
The Five States Alliance (1524) The Kappel Wars (1529-31) Lucerne, Uri, Schwyz, A reformed preacher Unterwalden, and Zug executed in an Alliance area Protection against Zwingli’s Zwingli calls for war but reform armistice arranged with Civic Union posed for victory The Baden Dispute (1526) Zwingli demands strong 9 of 13 confederation • and ultimately ignored members vote againstBy Zwingli the end of the Kappel Wars, the political and religious boundariesEnd of his of political Deep rift revealed Switzerland are in place.influence • The first evidence of SwissZwingli “religious” dies in the second The Christian Civic Union neutrality is in place (1529) war – victory by Five States over Zurich Reformation alliance
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The Religious Landscape of Switzerland 1536
John Calvin
French born and educated Lawyer, humanist, and scholar 1533 conversion Affair of the Placards (1534) forced him to seek refuge in Switzerland
Timeline Geneva with William Farrel Institutes (1536) Strasbourg (1538-1541) Geneva (returned in 1541) Law, discipline and resistance Michael Servetus affair (1553) Uncontested power (1554-1564)
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Calvin’s Theology
Hierarchy of Authority Scripture in matters of faith Church is matters of discipline Law in all secular matters
Theological Change/Reform from German Reformation Double predestination Eucharist – not Luther or Zwingli Role of Virgin Mary Imputed righteousness Austerity of worship Persecutions and inquisitions
Anabaptists
Zurich during time of Zwingli Felix Manz (d. 1527) Infant baptism was affirmed at Fundamental difference in the authority 2nd Disputation in Zurich of Scripture Affirmed in follow-on If proscribed in Scripture – do it. If it disputation not forbidden – reflect upon and do it if it seems good All children ordered to be baptized If not delineated in Scripture it is human tradition and forbidden January 21, 1525
Infant baptism – Re-baptism Adults re-baptized 1200 year old discussion Movement formalized Sacramental nature of baptism Preaching
Munster and Peasant’s Revolt – and January 1527 died a “heretic” at Zwickau prophets hands of Reformers of Zurich.
Movement spread to Bohemia and Low Countries
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The Swiss Reformation A Reform of the Reformers
Geneva: William Farel, John Calvin, Zurich: Ulrich Zwingli Theodore Beza, &John Knox
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