As the title indicates, this book introduces the Swiss reformer Heinrich Bullinger in eleven short chapters. As an introductory guide, it includes discussion questions at the end of each chapter. The purpose of this book is to recognize Bullinger's importance not only in the Swiss context but also his impact on the larger European Reformation. The evidence for this impact is demonstrated in the publication of Bullinger's sermons, while his letters reveal his correspondence with various religious leaders all across Europe. Chapter 1 outlines Bullinger's life from his childhood and early years as a student including his time at the Abbey of Kappel-am-Albis, where he met Ulrich Zwingli and Leo Jud, to his time as a pastor and noted theologian in Zurich after Zwingli's death. Chapters 2–9 cover theological themes such as scripture, trinity, predestination, covenant, sin, and sacraments. In his work of biblical interpretation, Bullinger combined the theological with the ethical, namely “what to believe and how to live” (18), because he expected scripture and its interpretation to give direction to people's lives. In the sacraments, Bullinger saw the Holy Spirit's role as a facilitator that instills the faith for the Word and sacrament to be effective (70–71).
Chapter 10 combines his view of politics and his eschatology. Since Bullinger saw the state as “the interim measure between the time of Christ and the return of Christ” (138), he viewed the state as necessary for the spread of the gospel, and therefore it was necessary for Christians to be involved in government. Because the church was deeply integrated with the functioning of the state in the sixteenth century, Bullinger confronted the magistrates on issues of Christian duty and practice, although he avoided any military advice. Regarding death, Bullinger believed that the souls of the saved would live consciously with Christ until the final day, at which point their bodies would be resurrected (148). Bullinger valued the book of Revelation as a source of comfort and consolation for those living in the present (150). Since his understanding of the political context and his view of last things are important themes for Bullinger, the book might have benefited from a dedicated chapter to each topic. In the final chapter, the authors reiterate their arguments for Bullinger's continued significance today. They highlight his lessons on biblical interpretation, Christology, fellowship of saints, and guidelines for Christian living. For Bullinger, the communication of the gospel through the study of scripture was essential to faith, something that could transform human lives, because “belief expresses itself in actions, [namely] acts of love and service to others” (153, 158). The strength of this book is that it summarizes decades of scholarship on Bullinger in a concise format and portrays him not only as the chief minister of Zurich, but also as a leader who shaped Christian thought and practice during the European Reformation by commenting on nearly every major Christian doctrine.
