Zurich Infant Baptism Decree (1525)

On January 18, 1525, the city council of Zurich ordered that every infant be baptized within eight days. The decree followed a public disputation the day before, where Huldrych Zwingli defended the practice and those later called Anabaptists argued that baptism should follow personal repentance and faith. Refusal brought civil penalties. With this act, religious conviction and civic enforcement were bound tightly together, and dissent was no longer merely theological—it became criminal.

Disputation and the Question of Conscience

The dispute turned on Scripture, authority, and the nature of the church. The reform in Zurich had begun with bold calls to return to God’s Word, yet the council’s decree placed the magistrate as guardian of religious uniformity. For those persuaded that baptism belonged to confessing believers, obedience to Christ could now cost freedom, livelihood, and family peace. Their stand echoed: “We must obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)

Conrad Grebel

Conrad Grebel, educated and influential, became a leading voice among the believers who sought a gathered church marked by repentance, discipleship, and voluntary faith. He chose the harder path—losing public standing and accepting instability for the sake of a clear conscience. His courage was not brashness but a sober resolve to follow Christ when following meant suffering.

Felix Manz and the Limmat

Felix Manz, a gifted student of Scripture and languages, became one of the most remembered witnesses of the movement. Zurich’s authorities later drowned him in the Limmat River—an execution meant to silence conviction. Manz’s death stands as a grim sign of what happens when the state compels the soul, yet also as a testimony that faith can outlast force. “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)

Legacy of Costly Faithfulness

The 1525 decree and its aftermath call believers to courage joined with charity: firm devotion to truth, patient endurance, and love toward opponents. Their story urges a willing, believing heart that treasures Christ above comfort and remains faithful under pressure.