Page 9 - History of Christianity II- Textbook

the Bible was full of contradictions in which true and eternal messages could be unveiled only by the
spirit, and he considered dogmatic controversy meaningless. He asserted the extremely anti-dogmatic
notion that Christians need know only the doctrines found in the Ten Commandments and the Apostles’
Creed. In the end he became a solitary figure who found no realm of truth left but the inner life of the
mystics. (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sebastian-Franck)

The Bible says in 2 Timothy 3:12, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus
will be persecuted.” Luther was criticized and persecuted for standing against the Roman
Church on certain issues, the greatest being “justification by faith.” Sometimes the
persecution comes from those who claim the name of Christ. Franck was converted to
Lutheranism, yet departed from the key doctrines, and denied many of Lutheran doctrines. He struck
out against members of his own denominations. Such may be your future course. Remember, if you
stand for the doctrines of the faith as presented in God’s Word, some will not like your position. They
may persecute you. Remember the verse above and take comfort in the fact that persecution means
you are living godly in Christ Jesus. They persecuted Him, so don’t be surprised as His representative,
you can escape their wrath.

Heinrich Bullinger, 1504-75 –

Heinrich Bullinger is considered one of the most influential
Reformers in Christian history. Heinrich was born in 1504, outside
the city of Zurich, Switzerland, to parents who were living in a
common-law marriage..

Young Bullinger was sent to monastic school at Emmerich, Germany,
where he studied the works of the great church fathers such as
Aquinas, Augustine, and Bernard. Their writings stirred within
Heinrich the desire for a personal experience with God. Upon
graduation, he proceeded to the University of Cologne in Germany, where he began to realize the
importance of studying the Scriptures for himself. This practice was rare among his Roman Catholic
classmates, as tradition dominated the atmosphere and the Pope’s interpretations of Scripture were
considered divine.

Zealots were burning the works of Martin Luther in Cologne, and this fanaticism piqued Heinrich’s
interest. What was contained within those books that made the church feel the need to burn them?
Upon obtaining copies of Luther’s work and of others who supported reform, Heinrich began to
understand the doctrine of justification by faith in Christ alone. At age seventeen, Bullinger surrendered
to the call of the Holy Spirit, and his life was transformed.

In 1529, at the age of 25, Bullinger married Anna Adischwyler, a devoted proponent of Reformation
theology in her own right. Together they had 11 birth children and adopted many others. Remarkably,
all six of their sons became Reformed ministers. Roman Catholic resistance had become violent, and in
1531 Zwingli was killed. Within days, Bullinger was asked to fill the empty pulpit Zwingli had left, and
soon Heinrich Bullinger was recognized as the new leader of the Swiss Reformation.

Throughout his life and ministry, Bullinger was a generous and tireless servant. He and Anna opened

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