The Zurich Origins of Reformed Covenant Theology

This engaging and finely-crafted study sheds much-needed light on the enduring significance of Zwingli and Bullinger’s contributions to covenant theology in the Reformation era. With verve and a well-honed mastery of the Zurich Reformers’ writings, including a number of manuscript sources by Bullinger provided in the appendices, Pierrick Hildebrand persuasively argues for the vital role of Zurich’s theologians in understanding the development of sixteenth-century covenantal theology. * Karin Maag, Director, Meeter Center for Calvin Studies *
Pierrick Hildebrand’s The Zurich Origins of Reformed Covenant Theology is a decisive advance in the understanding of the emergence of historic Reformed covenantal thought. His scholarship plumbs the vast corpus of Bullinger’s writings and demonstrates Bullinger’s substantial covenantal perspective, carefully situating it in the reformational milieu of Zwingli, Melanchthon, Calvin, Olevianus, and Ursinus. He makes a compelling case for the foundational and pivotal role that Bullinger played in the early Reformed organic articulation of covenant themes. Hildebrand’s research must be taken into account in the articulation of the origins of covenant theology. * Dr. Peter A. Lillback, President, Westminster Theological Seminary *
In The Zurich Origins of Reformed Covenant Theology the author draws a crystal clear map of the road that the biblical concept of the covenant took in theological reflection from Zwingli to Bullinger. A detour takes the reader from Zurich to Geneva. The main route leads to Heidelberg where a younger generation, Ursinus and Olevian, followed the lead of the Zurich fathers. Pierrick Hildebrand is a young scholar who takes Reformation studies a firm stride forwards, critically engaging with older studies and neutralizing anachronistic concepts. Bringing valuable unpublished sources to the table, the author enriches our understanding of the Reformed doctrine of the covenant. Both the academy and churches can profit from this offspring of Zurich scholarship. * Erik de Boer, Professor of Church History, Theological University Kampen *
Pierrick Hildebrand transforms our understanding of covenantal thought in the Reformation by moving beyond familiar texts through his extensive use of unknown manuscripts. Rather than reviving the old debate of Zurich versus Geneva, Hildebrand presents a much more nuanced and persuasive account of the emergence of a defining idea of the Reformed tradition. * Bruce Gordon, Titus Street Professor of Ecclesiastical History, Yale Divinity School *
Based on the reading of the vast corpus of the Reformers, in particular unpublished works of Bullinger (eight manuscripts are transcribed in appendix), this meticulous study of their thought contributes to highlighting the coherence of the Reformed movement. * Michel Mallèvre, Istina *
Hildebrand provides a thorough description of the import of the covenant doctrine for Zurich. He also brings clarity about the relation between Bullinger and Calvin: two reformational traditions but not at loggerheads with each other. * R.W. de Koeijer, Theologia Reformata *
Hildebrand has fully succeeded in his goal of providing “a more nuanced and more complex picture of the development of Reformed covenant theology by showing that the Zurich origins, especially as associated with Bullinger, must be taken fully into account”. * Donald K. McKim, The Journal of Reformed Theology *
Hildebrand’s monograph is well-argued and self-assured. It fills a hole in the jigsaw puzzle between several pieces already firmly placed and forces the removal of two orthree anachronistic misfits. * Robert Wainwright, Scottish Journal of Theology *
It is a careful study of sixteenth-century covenant theology based on a close reading of primary sources. Hildebrand is to be applauded for the way he mines original texts-sermons, commentaries and treatises- in order to make his argument. * Mark D. Tranvik, Journal of Presbyterian History *
This book is a refreshing and important contribution to our understanding of the Reformed tradition that deserves to be read and studied with great care. * Gerald Bray, The Global Anglican *

Pierrick Hildebrand is an Associate Researcher at the Swiss Reformation Studies Institute at the University of Zurich and a minister in the Reformed Church of Bern. His research interests lie with the history and theology of the Reformed tradition in the Reformation and early post-Reformation.

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