BAPTISM: Zwingli or The Bible?

by Jack Cottrell, J.W. McGarvey

Perhaps no Bible doctrine is more misunderstood than the Bible’s teaching on Christian baptism. In Zwingli or the Bible, Dr. Cottrell explores the influence of the Reformer Huldreich Zwingli (A.D. 1484-1531) on the modern understanding of the meaning and purpose of baptism.

For the first 1500 years of Christendom, the Bible’s teaching that baptism is for the remission of sins was accepted, taught, and practiced. Dr. Cottrell explains the details of how Zwingli’s laying the foundation for covenant theology led to his efforts to revise the churches prior 1500-year consensus concerning the meaning of baptism.

In Zwingli or the Bible, Dr. Cottrell also discusses the relationship of faith, works, and baptism where he demonstrates conclusively that baptism is not a work of law but rather is the sinner’s response to the gospel call. Thus, baptism for the forgiveness of sins is not inconsistent with the Bible teaching that salvation is by grace, apart from works of law.

180 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 25, 2022

Reviews

[Jim Kilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is now my go-to book for individuals trying to understand the shift that took place during the reformation regarding Baptism. For 500 years the church has struggled to work its way out of the theological morass that Zwingli inflicted upon the church. Cottrell presents a clear, concise, and well-researched picture of Zwingli's incipient doctrine exposing its falsehoods and presenting in its place a sound theological explanation of Biblical Baptism. While many in broader evangelicalism will reject Cottrell's arguments out of hand, I think this book should be required reading in every theological seminary, if for no other reason than to introduce people to a position that they may otherwise have to exposure to. Agree with him or disagree with him, one thing is for certain, his arguments are compelling, and not easily ignored, save for those who operate under an anti-intellectual mindset.

[Ashley · Rating 1 out of 5]

He completely undermines the biblical attributes of God in an attempt to reconcile God to his ideology. He starts with man and tries to reason up to God. He also displays the logical conclusion of Arminianism in his last chapter… open theism.

[Adam Bloch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cottrell is very intelligent and I pretty much completely agree with him, but it's hard to read him and not feel a hint of arrogance. That said, he is right, so maybe he should be saying it point-blank (which comes across as arrogance). This book looks at the giant splitting point at which Christians started to disagree on the meaning of baptism (although Christianity had already split on the mode a long time prior). Can be a bit boring in some places, but still worth recommending to those who like theology and history combined.