Canon · 1523

Zwingli's 67 Articles

By Ulrich Zwingli, Zurich, Switzerland.

  1. Chapter I: Introduction
    The articles and opinions below, I, Ulrich Zwingli, confess to have preached in the worthy city of Zurich as based upon the Scriptures which are called inspired by God, and I...
  2. Chapter 1: Article I
    All who say that the Gospel is invalid without the confirmation of the Church err and slander God.
  3. Chapter 2: Article II
    The sum and substance of the Gospel is that our Lord Jesus Christ, the true Son of God, has made known to us the will of his heavenly Father, and has with his innocence...
  4. Chapter 3: Article III
    Hence Christ is the only way to salvation for all who ever were, are and shall be.
  5. Chapter 4: Article IV
    Who seeks or points out another door errs, yes, he is a murderer of souls and a thief.
  6. Chapter 5: Article V
    Therefore all who consider other teachings equal to or higher than the Gospel err, and do not know what the Gospel is.
  7. Chapter 6: Article VI
    For Jesus Christ is the guide and leader, promised by God to all human beings, which promise was fulfilled.
  8. Chapter 7: Article VII
    That he is an eternal salvation and head of all believers, who are his body, but which is dead and can do nothing without him.
  9. Chapter 8: Article VIII
    From this follows first that all who dwell in the head are members and children of God, and that it is the church or communion of the saints, the bride of Christ, Ecclesia catholica.
  10. Chapter 9: Article IX
    Furthermore, that as the members of the body can do nothing without the control of the head, so no one in the body of Christ can do the least without his head, Christ.
  11. Chapter 10: Article X
    As that man is mad whose limbs (try to) do something without his head, tearing, wounding, injuring himself; thus when the members of Christ undertake something without their...
  12. Chapter 11: Article XI
    Hence we see in the clerical (so-called) ordinances, concerning their splendor, riches, classes, titles, laws, a cause of all foolishness, for they do not also agree with the head.
  13. Chapter 12: Article XII
    Thus they still rage, not on account of the head (for that one is eager to bring forth in these times from the grace of God,) but because one will not let them rage, but tries...
  14. Chapter 13: Article XIII
    Where this (the head) is hearkened to one learns clearly and plainly the will of God, and man is attracted by his spirit to him and changed into him.
  15. Chapter 14: Article XIV
    Therefore all Christian people shall use their best diligence that the Gospel of Christ be preached alike everywhere.
  16. Chapter 15: Article XV
    For in the faith rests our salvation, and in unbelief our damnation; for all truth is clear in him.
  17. Chapter 16: Article XVI
    In the Gospel one learns that human doctrines and decrees do not aid in salvation.
  18. Chapter 17: Article XVII: ABOUT THE POPE
    That Christ is the only eternal high priest, from which it follows that those who have called themselves high priests have opposed the honor and power of Christ, yes, cast it out.
  19. Chapter 18: Article XVIII: ABOUT THE MASS
    That Christ, having sacrificed himself once, is to eternity a certain and valid sacrifice for the sins of all faithful, from which it follows that the mass is not a sacrifice,...
  20. Chapter 19: Article XIX: ABOUT THE MASS
    That Christ is the only mediator between God and us.
  21. Chapter 20: Article XX: ABOUT THE INTERCESSION OF THE SAINTS
    That God desires to give us all things in his name, whence it follows that outside of this life we need no mediator except himself.
  22. Chapter 21: Article XXI: ABOUT THE INTERCESSION OF THE SAINTS
    That when we pray for each other on earth, we do so in such manner that we believe that all things are given to us through Christ alone.
  23. Chapter 22: Article XXII: ABOUT GOOD WORKS
    That Christ is our justice, from which follows that our works in so far as they are good, so far they are of Christ, but in so far as they are ours, they are neither right nor good.
  24. Chapter 23: Article XXIII: CONCERNING CLERICAL PROPERTY
    That Christ scorns the property and pomp of this world, whence from it follows that those who attract wealth to themselves in his name slander him terribly when they make him a...
  25. Chapter 24: Article XXIV: CONCERNING THE FORBIDDING OF FOOD
    That no Christian is bound to do those things which God has not decreed, therefore one may eat at all times all food, from which one learns that the decree about cheese and...
  26. Chapter 25: Article XXV: ABOUT HOLIDAY AND PILGRIMAGE
    That time and place is under the jurisdiction of Christian people, and man with them, from which is learned that those who fix time and place deprive the Christians of their liberty.
  27. Chapter 26: Article XXVI: ABOUT HOODS, DRESS, INSIGNIA
    That God is displeased with nothing so much as with hypocrisy; from which is learned that all is gross hypocrisy and profligacy which is mere show before men. Under this...
  28. Chapter 27: Article XXVII: ABOUT ORDER AND SECTS
    That all Christian men are brethren of Christ and brethren of one another, and shall create no father (for themselves) on earth. Under this condemnation fall orders, sects,...
  29. Chapter 28: Article XXVIII: ABOUT THE MARRIAGE OF ECCLESIASTS
    That all which God has allowed or not forbidden is righteous, hence marriage is permitted to all human beings.
  30. Chapter 29: Article XXIX: ABOUT THE MARRIAGE OF ECCLESIASTS
    That all who are known as clergy sin when they do not protect themselves by marriage after they have become conscious that God has not enabled them to remain chaste.
  31. Chapter 30: Article XXX: ABOUT THE VOW OF CHASTITY
    That those who promise chastity [outside of matrimony] take foolishly or childishly too much upon themselves, from which is learned that those who make such vows do wrong to...
  32. Chapter 31: Article XXXI: ABOUT THE BAN
    That no special person can impose the ban [excommunication] upon any one, except the Church, that is the [full] congregation of those among whom the one to be banned dwells,...
  33. Chapter 32: Article XXXII: ABOUT THE BAN
    That one may ban only him who gives public offence.
  34. Chapter 33: Article XXXIII: ABOUT ILLEGAL PROPERTY
    That property unrighteously acquired shall not be given to temples, monasteries, cathedrals, clergy or nuns, but to the needy, if it cannot be returned to the legal owner.
  35. Chapter 34: Article XXXIV: ABOUT MAGISTRY
    The spiritual (so-called) power has no justification for its pomp in the teaching of Christ.
  36. Chapter 35: Article XXXV: ABOUT MAGISTRY
    But the laity has power and confirmation from the deed and doctrine of Christ.
  37. Chapter 36: Article XXXVI: ABOUT MAGISTRY
    All that the spiritual so-called state claims to have of power and protection belongs to the laity, if they wish to be Christians.
  38. Chapter 37: Article XXXVII: ABOUT MAGISTRY
    To them, furthermore, all Christians owe obedience without exception.
  39. Chapter 38: Article XXXVIII: ABOUT MAGISTRY
    In so far as they do not command that which is contrary to God.
  40. Chapter 39: Article XXXIX: ABOUT MAGISTRY
    Therefore all their laws shall be in harmony with the divine will, so that they protect the oppressed, even if he does not complain.
  41. Chapter 40: Article XL: ABOUT MAGISTRY
    They alone may put to death justly, also, only those who give public offence (if God is not offended let another thing be commanded).
  42. Chapter 41: Article XLI: ABOUT MAGISTRY
    If they give good advice and help to those for whom they must account to God, then these owe to them bodily assistance.
  43. Chapter 42: Article XLII: ABOUT MAGISTRY
    But if they are unfaithful and transgress the laws of Christ they may be deposed in the name of God.
  44. Chapter 43: Article XLIII: ABOUT MAGISTRY
    In short, the realm of him is best and most stable who rules in the name of God alone, and his is worst and most unstable who rules in accordance with his own will.
  45. Chapter 44: Article XLIV: ABOUT PRAYER
    Real petitioners call to God in spirit and truly, without great ado before men.
  46. Chapter 45: Article XLV: ABOUT PRAYER
    Hypocrites do their work so that they may be seen by men, also receive their reward in this life.
  47. Chapter 46: Article XLVI: ABOUT PRAYER
    Hence it must always follow that church-song and outcry without devoutness, and only for reward, is seeking either fame before the men or gain.
  48. Chapter 47: Article XLVII: ABOUT OFFENCE
    Bodily death a man should suffer before he offend or scandalize a Christian.
  49. Chapter 48: Article XLVIII: ABOUT OFFENCE
    Whoever through stupidness or ignorance is offended without cause, he should not be left sick or weak, but he should be made strong, that he may not consider as a sin that...
  50. Chapter 49: Article XLIX: ABOUT OFFENCE
    Greater offence I know not than that one does not allow priests to have wives, but permits them to hire prostitutes. Out upon the shame!
  51. Chapter 50: Article L: ABOUT REMITTANCE OF SIN
    God alone remits sin through Jesus Christ, his Son, and alone our Lord.
  52. Chapter 51: Article LI: ABOUT REMITTANCE OF SIN
    Who assigns this to created beings detracts from the honor of God and gives it to him who is not God; this is real idolatry.
  53. Chapter 52: Article LII: ABOUT REMITTANCE OF SIN
    Hence the confession which is made to the priest or neighbor shall not be declared to be a remittance of sin, but only a seeking for advice.
  54. Chapter 53: Article LIII: ABOUT REMITTANCE OF SIN
    Works of penance coming from the counsel of human beings (except excommunication) do not cancel sin; they are imposed as a menace to others.
  55. Chapter 54: Article LIV: ABOUT REMITTANCE OF SIN
    Christ has borne all our pains and labor. Therefore whoever assigns to works of penance what belongs to Christ errs and slanders God.
  56. Chapter 55: Article LV: ABOUT REMITTANCE OF SIN
    Whoever pretends to remit to a penitent being any sin would not be a vicar of God or St. Peter, but of the devil.
  57. Chapter 56: Article LVI: ABOUT REMITTANCE OF SIN
    Whoever remits any sin only for the sake of money is the companion of Simon and Balaam, and the real messenger of the devil personified.
  58. Chapter 57: Article LVII: ABOUT PURGATORY
    The true divine Scriptures know nothing about purgatory after this life.
  59. Chapter 58: Article LVIII: ABOUT PURGATORY
    The sentence of the dead is known to God only.
  60. Chapter 59: Article LIX: ABOUT PURGATORY
    And the less God has let us know concerning it, the less we should undertake to know about it.
  61. Chapter 60: Article LX: ABOUT PURGATORY
    That mankind earnestly calls to God to show mercy to the dead I do not condemn, but to determine a period of time therefore (seven years for a mortal sin), and to lie for the...
  62. Chapter 61: Article LXI: ABOUT THE PRIESTHOOD
    About the form of consecration which the priests have received recent times the Scriptures know nothing.
  63. Chapter 62: Article LXII: ABOUT THE PRIESTHOOD
    Furthermore, they [the Scriptures] recognize no priests except those who proclaim the word of God.
  64. Chapter 63: Article LXIII: ABOUT THE PRIESTHOOD
    They command honor should be shown, i.e. e., to furnish them with food for the body.
  65. Chapter 64: Article LXIV: ABOUT THE CESSATION OF MISUSAGES
    All those who recognize their errors shall not be allowed to suffer, but to die in peace, and thereafter arrange in a Christian manner their bequests to the Church.
  66. Chapter 65: Article LXV: ABOUT THE CESSATION OF MISUSAGES
    Those who do not wish to confess, God will probably take care of. Hence no force shall be used against their body, unless it be that they behave so criminally that one cannot...
  67. Chapter 66: Article LXVI: ABOUT THE CESSATION OF MISUSAGES
    All the clerical superiors shall at once settle down, and with unanimity set up the cross of Christ, not the money-chests, or they will perish, for I tell you the ax is raised...
  68. Chapter 67: Article LXVII: ABOUT THE CESSATION OF MISUSAGES
    If any one wishes conversation with me concerning interest, tithes, unbaptized children or confirmation, I am willing to answer.
  69. Chapter C: Conclusion
    Let no one undertake here to argue with sophistry or human foolishness, but come to the Scriptures to accept them as the judge (for the Scriptures breathe the Spirit of God),...