On Baptism

work by Zwingli

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July 1, 2026

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Huldrych Zwingli, a key figure in the Swiss Reformation, viewed baptism as a covenant sign, analogous to circumcision in the Hebrew Bible, signifying a child's belonging to the people of God. He believed it was not regenerative but an outward sign of an inner experience. Zwingli's work, On Baptism (1525), articulated this perspective, emphasizing water baptism as a covenant sign rather than a means of obtaining grace. This differed from the Anabaptists, who rejected infant baptism, advocating for adult baptism based on a personal conversion experience. Zwingli's understanding of baptism was part of his broader theological framework, which stressed the supreme authority of Scripture and the close collaboration of church and state in serving God.12

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Huldrych Zwingli
Controversies
…Zwingli wrote a special work, On Baptism (1525), in which his main emphasis was on the significance of water baptism as a covenant sign. During the following years he devoted many other tracts to the subject, culminating in his Tricks of the Catabaptists (1527).
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…Zwingli wrote a special work, On Baptism (1525), in which his main emphasis was on the significance of water baptism as a covenant sign. During the following years he devoted many other tracts to the subject, culminating in his Tricks of the Catabaptists (1527).
Read More