Content To Be Second

Content To Be Second

Playing “second fiddle” is a time-honored profession.

AMONG THE well-known leaders of the Reformation, Martin Luther had Philip Melancthon; John Calvin had Theodore Beza; and Ulrich Zwingli had Johann Oecolampadius. Johann’s real last name was Hausschein, which means “the light of the house” in German. He took the Greek equivalent, Oecolampadius, as his surname instead.

Johann Oecolampadius and Ulrich Zwingli, the better known of the two, were the reformers in German-speaking Switzerland. Zwingli led the Reformation in Zurich and Oecolampadius in Basel, the Athens of Switzerland—the wealthiest and most literary city. It was a commercial center as well, situated on the banks of the Rhine, bordering both Germany and France.

Oecolampadius was born in Germany in 1482. A precocious child, he began writing Latin poetry at the age of twelve and soon thereafter mastered Greek. According to Erasmus, the foremost intellect of his day, Oecolampadius was the second leading Hebrew scholar in the German-speaking world. Studying at the University of Tubingen, he became friends with Philip Melancthon, who was to become Luther’s theologian.

In 1515 Oecolampadius was called to pastor the cathedral in Basel. The following year he received the degree of doctor of divinity. Ever the scholar, Oecolampadius assisted Erasmus in publishing his Greek New Testament. Job pressures caused him to leave Basel in 1520 to enter a monastery temporarily, but he returned in 1522 as preacher at the cathedral and professor of theology at the University of Basel, positions he held until his death.

It was also in 1522 that Oecolampadius became friends with Ulrich Zwingli, pastor of the Zurich Great Church. By this time he was deeply affected by the teachings of both Luther and Zwingli. He publicly attacked the doctrine of transubstantiation (the belief that in the Lord’s Supper the bread and wine actually become Christ’s body and blood), the abuses of the confessional, and worship of the Virgin Mary. Because of his vigorous campaign, the Mass was abolished in Basel.

The ministry of Oecolampadius, however, was not just a negative one. He preached and taught the Word of God. He instituted congregational singing in the services, and communicants participated in receiving both bread and wine.

In 1531 Zwingli was killed in a battle between the Reformed and Catholic cantons of Switzerland. The Zurich Reformers asked Oecolampadius to come to Zurich to replace Zwingli, but he declined their invitation. His ambition was not to take Zwingli’s place as leader of the Reformation in Switzerland but to continue to minister in Basel.

Just five weeks later he fell gravely ill. Realizing he was dying, he shared the Lord’s Supper with his family and servants. While they shed their tears, Oecolampadius told them, “This supper is a sign of my real faith in Jesus Christ, my Redeemer.”

On the last night of his life as ten pastors of Basel stood around his bed, he inquired of one of them, “What is the news?”

The answer was, “Nothing,” to which Oecolampadius replied, “Well, I will tell you something new. In a short time I will be with the Lord Jesus.”

As dawn was beginning to break on November 24, 1531, he kept repeating the words of Psalm 51:1: “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness.” As the sun rose, Oecolampadius, “the light of the house,” was gone to shine like the sun in his Father’s kingdom.

Reflection

Oecolampadius knew the role to which God had called him and faithfully fulfilled it. Do you know the role God has for you in his kingdom? If you are a child of God, God has given you at least one spiritual gift to exercise. If you aren’t sure of your gift or your role, ask God to show you. You can also ask your Christian friends to help you identify your spiritual gift. God desires to use you for his glory!

Christ . . . is the head of his body, the church. Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Ephesians 4:15-16