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 Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) received a liberal education at the universities of Vienna and Basel. He entered the ministry in 1506 and was assigned the pastorate at Zurich, Switzerland on January 1, 1519, his 35th birthday.
Prior to his ministry in Zurich, he had read a Latin translation of the Greek New Testament and began to doubt certain teachings of the Roman Church. 
When he arrived in Zurich, he began to expound directly from the Scriptures, beginning with the book of Matthew. In his sermons, he publicly challenged the doctrines of the adoration of saints and relics, promises of miraculous cures, and indulgences. His preaching attracted large crowds, and after someone gave him a printing press, his influence spread to regions far beyond Zurich.
About this time, he read the writings of Martin Luther and was deeply inspired to take a stand against the Roman Church. Images were removed from the church build¬ings in Zürich and altars, relics, and processions were discarded. Zwingli broke with the pope and preached openly against celibacy.
When Pope Adrian VI heard the reports from Zurich, he was infuriated. He forbade Zwingli the pulpit and asked the Zürich council to repudiate him as a heretic. Zwingli appeared before the council and defended his position from the Scriptures. The council upheld Zwingli and officially adopted the Reformation.
The Reformation spread from Zurich into other parts of Switzerland. A number of the cantons (democratic states) adopted the Reformation, but several of them remained loyal to Rome. In 1531, five of these cantons attacked an unprepared Zurich, and Zwingli, fighting like a common soldier, died on the battlefield.
Although his ministry was brief, he left a great legacy of commitment to the Scriptures and their application to all of life.
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