Why is Zwingli the forgotten Reformer? Bruce Gordon and Matthew Barrett

In celebrations of the Reformation Protestants have placed not little emphasis on prominent figures such as John Calvin or Martin Luther. Others such as Zwingli, along with the Swiss reformation, are often overlooked and considered inconsequential. Yet, Zwingli’s controversial legacy is foundational to the genesis of the Reformed church. Zwingli finds himself caught in between Rome and Radicals. Although his reforming vision began by displaying Zwingli’s prophetic voice, it ended with a prophet armed on the battle field only to be cut down. In a deeply personal story, Zwingli forced friends and enemies alike to answer this question, What is the church?

In this episode, Bruce Gordon joins Matthew Barrett to help orient Protestants today to one of the most influential reformers in the sixteenth century.

Bruce Gordon is professor of Reformation history, Yale Divinity School. He is the author of a number of books, including biographies of Zwingli and Calvin. Dr. Gordon is also the editor of The Oxford Handbook of Calvin and Calvinism.

Matthew Barrett is the author of Simply Trinity: The Unmanipulated Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Baker). He is the founder and executive editor of Credo Magazine and host of the Credo podcast. He is associate professor of Christian theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.