Philip Schaff · 5 of 85

The Sixty-seven Articles of Ulrich Zwingli, A.D. 1523.

ARTICULI SIVE CONCLUSIONES LXVII. H. ZWINGLII.

The Sixty-Seven Articles or Conclusions of Ulrich Zwingli.

[These Theses of Ulrich Zwingli (1484–1531) were publicly discussed and successfully defended at the religious conference in Zurich, Jan. 29, 1523, and prepared the way for the introduction of the Reformation in German Switzerland. They exhibit the first creed of the Reformed Churches (seven years older than the Lutheran Confession of Augsburg). Their form, consisting of brief, concise propositions, is much better adapted for a creed than the lengthy argumentative discussions of many later and more authoritative confessions. They never acquired a strictly symbolical authority, not even in Zurich, but may justly claim a place in this Collection on the ground of their historical importance. We give the original in High-German, with some of the old readings in foot-notes, together with the Latin translation (instead of the less intelligible Swiss dialect in which Zwingli wrote them, and which is reproduced by Niemeyer, pp. 1 sqq.). For an abridgment in English, see the History of Creeds, Vol. I. pp. 363 sqq.]

Hier unternehme Keiner zu streiten mit Sophisterei oder Menschentand, sondern komme, die Schrift zum Richter zu haben (die Schrift athmet den Geist Gottes), damit man die Wahrheit entweder finde, oder, wenn sie gefunden ist, wie ich hoffe, behalte.

Amen. Das walte Gott!