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Leighton Library has 1568 edition of "De origine erroris libri duo" by Heinrich Bullinger
Added at 07:45 on 17 September 2025
The Leighton Library has a 1568 edition of "De origine erroris libri duo" about the Lord's Supper (explained and set in context in this video from Westminster Seminary California) by Swiss theologian Heinrich Bullinger who died #OnThisDay 17 September 1575. He was one of the most influential theologians of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century
Bullinger wrote “De origine erroris” (“On the Origin of Error”) to explain how religious mistakes crept into Christian practice over time. He traced the roots of idolatry, superstition, and theological confusion, especially in the Catholic Church, from a Protestant point of view.
The second part, “De conciliis” (“On Councils”), critiques church councils - gatherings which were meant to settle doctrine. Bullinger argued that many councils were politically motivated or flawed, and that Scripture should be the ultimate authority.
This edition was revised and expanded by Bullinger himself. It reflected his mature thinking, polished arguments, and strategic additions - just before his death in 1575. It was a snapshot of a man refining his legacy, sharpening his tools, and speaking directly to a world in flux
The work is a masterclass in historical argumentation. He doesn’t just say “this is wrong”- he traced how errors evolved, often through cultural shifts, political pressures, or misreadings of Scripture.
