Zend Framework 2: Render Template with Registered Helpers and template path.

zf2_renderTemplate.php

<?php

use Zend\View\Model\ViewModel;
use Zend\View\Renderer\PhpRenderer;

/**
 * Render and return the current template
 * @param string $template  Template Name
 * @param array  $variables Template Variables
 * @return string HTML content
 */
function renderTemplate($template, $variables = [])
{
    $viewRender = new PhpRenderer();
    $viewRender->resolver()->addPath('module/Application/view/');

    // Configure Helpers
    $pluginManager = $viewRender->getHelperPluginManager();
    $helperConfig = new \Zend\Form\View\HelperConfig();
    $helperConfig->configureServiceManager($pluginManager);

    // Add any custom helpers not included with HelperConfig
    // $pluginManager->setInvokableClass('formselect', 'Zend\Form\View\Helper\FormSelect');

    $layout = new ViewModel();
    $layout->setTemplate($template);
    $layout->setVariables($variables);
    return $viewRender->render($layout);
}