Our study is based on examining the views of Huldyrich Zwingli (d. 1531), one of the pioneers of the Swiss Reformation, on the two important theological issues that he differed from one of the reform leader Martin Luther, about the Holy Communion and the Baptism sacraments. Our study aims to contribute to filling this deficiency about Zwingli, a theologian who is not sufficiently studied in Turkish academia, compared to the leading theologians of the reform process such as Luther and Calvin; and to form a basis for further studies. In our research, methodologically, Zwingli’s views were studied primarily as a comparative review of Luther’s views through his works. In addition, studies conducted abroad and domestic on Zwingli and theology have been evaluated. Zwingli’s theological views were shaped by these three factors that continue to influence the world of thought throughout his life: Swiss patriotism, Erasmus humanism, and scholasticism. Erasmus’s thoughts were the framework of Zwingli’s theological ideas. According to him, Erasmus saved the scriptures from scholasticism. With the effect of this thought, Zwingli has not revealed scholastics but a humanistic theology vision. Like Luther, he’s opposed to doing military service on behalf of the Papacy and indulgence. As a result of these reformist ideas, he left the Catholic Church in 1522 with his followers. Although the Reform movement was mainly seen as Martin Luther’s effort, Zwingli’s views contributed to the success of the Reform process. Theological issues that these two important names of the Reformation, Luther, and Zwingli, thought differently, Holy Communion came first. While Luther argued that the ritual, the words, and the practice of the ritual should be understood as literary, Zwingli argued that all of these should be considered symbolic, Holy Communion symbolized the nature of Jesus Christ and the work it has done for the faithful. According to Zwingli, the symbolism of the ritual did not prevent its sanctity and required respect for the ritual. Zwingli evaluated the word “sacramentun” used for the ritual etymologically and gave the meaning of joining the unity based on the origin of the word. Considered in this sense, beliver admitted that he had joined the army of Jesus Christ followers by communion. Another issue where Zwingli differed from Luther was the tradition of infant baptism. Although Zwingli did not reject the tradition of infant baptism, he evaluated the relationship between faith and grace in the context of baptism differently from Luther. Zwingli stated that there could be no relationship between faith and baptism. Zwingli acknowledged that the relationship and identity gain established by circumcision with Abraham in the Old Testament continued with baptism in the New Testament. He argued that Jesus Christ did not establish a relationship between salvation and baptism. Although there were such issues that Zwingli thought differently from Luther, there were also some issues where he shared similar views. For example, like Luther, Zwingli was strongly opposed to usury and interest. In our study, it is stated that the reform theologians, who emerged with a similar aim to reform the Catholic Church, can think differently even on the most basic theological issues; Zwingli and Luther, who were the influential leaders of the reform, had serious differences of opinion on two important theological issues, Holy Communion and Baptism; It was concluded that Zwingli was a mainstay for later Protestant theologians, with the idea that expressions should be evaluated symbolically, opposing the literal interpretation of the Bible.
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Open Access
Jul 24, 2024
Ceyhun Elgin 
