Controversy Between Luther And Zwingli

This paper will begin by highlighting elements behind the controversy between Luther and Zwingli over the presence of Christ in the bread and wine. Followed by a focused look on the different accounts transcribing the words spoken between Zwinglians and Lutherans during the Marburg Colloquy. To ultimately demonstrate the disagreement between Luther and Zwingli was unavoidable because of the distinct differences and understands of Jesus Christ as human and divine.

Tensions between Zwingli and Luther emerged around 1524. Zwingli whose interpretations of the words “this is my body” were more aligned with Carlstadt, a foe of Luther. Zwingli taught the words spoken by Jesus were meant to only signify Christ’s presence in the bread and wine. With the __ of the printing press, making communication more expedite, Luther was able to clearly articulate and mass distribute his stance on the Eucharist. Using the pulpit to advance his doctrine and bully the Swiss Reformers, Luther in 1526 in his “Sermon von dem Sacrament” urged the congregation that Christ is present with the bread.

From Zwingli and associates, for this discussion I will focus on Oecolampadious, emerged Friendly Exegesis, Exposition of the Matter of the Eucharist to Martin Luther, That These Words This is My Body Shall Forever Retain Their Old Meaning and Answers to Dr.Martin Luther’s Book Called Confession. Luther’s works not including previously produced material but rhetoric directed toward Zwingli and company- That These Words ‘This is my body’, etc. Still Stand Against the Enthusiast and Confession Concerning Christ’s Supper. The words in these treatises were the fuel to the fire that would eventually set ablaze at the Marburg