The Swiss Reformation

Question 1

What is Sweitzerdeutsche?

Answer 1

Southern German dialect, the Alabama of Germany, and considered very low form.

Question 2

What two factors formed Huldrych Zwingli?

Answer 2

Swiss patriotism and renaissance humanism

Question 3

What is Swiss Patriotism?

Answer 3

Independence and republicanism stemming from leaders like William Tell and Pope Julius II. A popularized overture written by Rossini was the theme of the Swiss guard and saying, “The swiss are coming!” There is still a tradition today of military adeptness.

Question 4

What is Renaissance humanism?

Answer 4

A loose knit movement for reforming society based on education with models drawn from classical antiquity (Greco-Roman/Bible) literature. Erasmus of Rotterdam began this movement.

Question 5

Where was he born? What was his education like?

Answer 5

Born in high altitude alpine town January 1, 1484, a year younger than Luther. Educated in Basel, Bern, and then Vienna for his master’s degree. Literate in Greek and Hebrew.

Question 6

Where does he serve as a priest?

Answer 6

Glarius (ten years 1506-16) and Einsleden (1516-18)

Question 7

What occurred at the Battle of Margnano in 1516?

Answer 7

The swiss were hired as mercenaries but very poorly generalled by a different nation leading to the massacre of 10,000 Swiss within hours. Zwingli stood watching as chaplain, a scar on his psyche.

Question 8

What occurred at the Battle of Margnano in 1516?

Answer 8

The swiss were hired as mercenaries but very poorly generalled by a different nation leading to the massacre of 10,000 Swiss within hours. Zwingli stood watching as chaplain, a scar on his psyche.

Question 9

When is the start of the Reformation? How did it begin?

Answer 9

Zwingli’s birthday announcement in 1519 was that he will no longer preach liturgy as written nor use sermons from book of sermons, this was not okay with the bishop who wrote and published liturgy.

Question 10

How long did it take Zwingli to preach the whole bible? How else did he enforce teachings?

Answer 10

6 Years from Genesis to Jude (not revelation because he was not sure it was canonical). He also initiated mall group ministry which was new.

Question 11

Where did the reformation originate?

Answer 11

Westminster Church (western monastery), in Zurich.

Question 12

What happened during the Plague of 1519?

Answer 12

Zwingli writes song on deathbed as he recovers, “The Plague Song” (pestlied). It results in increased faith and confidence in God.

Question 13

Why did the Lent of 1522 end in resistance on stairs of the church?

Answer 13

A 40 day fast with no meat, especially on Fridays, deprived the work force of protein needed for strength. This was know as the “sausage affair,” and Zwingli preached that there was no such rule in the Bible.

Question 14

What was the economic and political reality of Switzerland in the 16th century?

Answer 14

confederation of 13 political cantons, some rich, some poor. The whole of Switzerland was relatively pool and unfarmable. Largest cities are Zurich and Basel.

Question 15

Which canton was the first to reject Roman Catholic authority?

Answer 15

Zurich in 1525 became the leading advocate of Protestantism within the Swiss Confederation.

Question 16

When did Geneva form an alliance with the Swiss cantons?

Answer 16

1527, effectively declaring independence from Savoy.

Question 17

What is lectio continua?

Answer 17

preaching directly from the Bible by expounding biblical text, verse by verse, chapter by chapter, and line by line through the old and new testament.

Question 18

What was Zwingli’s stance on clerical celibacy?

Answer 18

The Protestant view that marriage was not in conflict with the bible, but rather something imposed by the Catholic Church. He was secretly married to Anna Reinhart.

Question 19

Who claimed the Protestant gospel of salvation by grace alone first? Luther or Zwingli?

Answer 19

Officially Luther, although Zwingli claims he embraced it independently in 1516 without record. If so it would be a breathtaking coincidence.

Question 20

How did Anabaptism originate?

Answer 20

Conrad Grebel searched the scripture for evidence of child baptism, and finding none defiantly baptized someone of the age to profess their faith. The Anabaptists were considered overly radical, even to the extent of Martyrdom over the issue. Grebel previously lost a debate to Zwingli on the subject.

Question 21

Why was the rejection of infant baptism considered a political act of treason, worthy of capital punishment? How many Anabaptists were executed?

Answer 21

Rejecting infant baptism was not just religious heresy but political treason because of how closely church and state were tied. The baptism was not just entrance to church, but citizenship of the canton. In this time 1000 to 5000 radicals were executed.

Question 22

How was Philip of Hesse related to the Marburg Colloquy?

Answer 22

Zwingli and Luther met because of Hesse’s desire to form a religious and political alliance between Lutherans and Zwinglians to capitalize on Protestantism’s expansion. Melanchthon was against such a meeting which may provoke the Roman emperor.

Question 23

Why did the Marburg Colloquy fail to be a success?

Answer 23

Success would mean total agreement between the parties, but only 14 of 15 points were agreed upon by Luther and Zwingli. The point of contention concerned the Eucharist, Luther insisting Christ is present with the elements, Zwingli believing Christ is in heaven and not present. Both denounced Transubstantiation.

Question 24

How did Zwingli die?

Answer 24

In the Second Battle of Kappel in 1531, where Zwingli’s activism caused him to be involved in the economic blocking of Catholic cantons which prohibited Protestant preaching. The Catholic’s swift attack came on an unprepared Zurich.

Question 25

Who replaced Zwingli as the head of the Zurich church December 1531?

Answer 25

Heinrich Bullinger, already familier with the church, well versed in ancient languages, and an attendee of Prophezei. He was a remarkable leader, and wrote a collection of sermons, “Decades” and commentaries.

Question 26

What were the Prophezei?

Answer 26

Small group bible studies.

Question 27

What was the Second Helvetic confession?

Answer 27

written by Bullinger on his deathbed, and the most influential Reformed confession in the 16th century, accepted by all Protestant cantons unifying Calvinism and Zwinglian theology where Zwingli failed to.

Question 28

When and from who did Geneva gain independence?

Answer 28

1536 from the prince-bishop and Duke of Savoy. Now a city-state.

Question 29

Under what circumstances did Calvin author the Institutes of the Christian Religion? What status did it give him?

Answer 29

At age 27, after arriving at a safe-house while fleeing from Paris, he wrote this small book. He gained notoriety as a Protestant theologian of high ability convincing him to hide away as a Christian author/scholar.

Question 30

How did Calvin become associated with Geneva?

Answer 30

while passing through Geneva quickly and still devoted to a reclusive life, he was stopped by Farel, and preacher who confronted Calvin and forced him to stay for the reformation movement there.

Question 31

What is the meaning of Calvin’s name?

Answer 31

calvin, from cauvin meaning bald, or bald one. He was tonsured at 12 and destined for priesthood, so he made a joke out of it, John the bald one!

Question 32

What was Calvin’s early life?

Answer 32

Born in 1509 in Noyon, France by a cathedral which his father was an attorney and secretary. His mother died early on, but church scholarship provided for him to be educated. He graduated in 1528 with a masters first to be a church leader, but then to attend law school.

Question 33

Who wrote Confession of Faith and when?

Answer 33

1537, Farel and Calvin; a work to make Geneva a Protestant city.

Question 34

When and why were Farel and Calvin banished from Geneva?

Answer 34

1538 Easter Sunday when they refused to administer the Lord’s Supper according to Bernese prescriptions.