Radical Reformers
The Anabaptists and other Radical Reformers
Radical Reformers • Anti‐Trinitarian Rationalists (Michael Servetus) A ti T i it i R ti li t (Mi h l S t ) • Spiritual Mystics (Casper Schwenckfeld) • Political Fanatics P liti l F ti • Zwickau Prophets (Nicholas Storch) • Jan Matthys h • John of Leiden • Thomas Müntzer • Münster Rebellion • Swiss Brethren
Andreas Karlstadt (c. 1486–Dec 24, 1541) y • Fellow faculty member with Luther at Wittenberg • Preached while Luther was at Wartburg; encouraged the removal of icons •Luther later opposed him as a radical, though Karlstadt denounced violence • Ended up at the University of Basel until his death • Anticipated many Anabaptist ideas
Ulrich von Hutton (1488–1523) • Follower of Luther who advocated military force • Studied theology at University of Greifswald • Leader of the Imperial Knights of the Holy Roman Empire • Led the Knights Revolt of 1522 and was defeated • Later tried to convince Erasmus to join Reformation
Thomas Müntzer (c. 1488–May 27, 1525) • German radical reformer German radical reformer who turned against Luther • Early leader of the Peasant Early leader of the Peasant’ss Rebellion in Germany • Battle cry was Battle cry was “All All things are things are in common” • After being defeated, he was After being defeated he was tortured and killed • Before his death, he Before his death he supposedly recanted
Caspar Schwenckfeld (1489–Dec. 10, 1561) Influenced by Luther and • Influenced by Luther, and also Münzer and Karlstadt • Rejected infant baptism, Rejected infant baptism, Lutheran communion, war, denominations, etc. • Instead of “Real Presence,” taught a “Spiritual Presence” (that believers feed on Christ spiritually) • Followers are known as F ll k Schwenckfelders (in PA, USA)
Zwickau prophets • From the town of Zwickau in Saxony • Led by Nicholas Storch L d b Ni h l S h (along with Markus Stubner) ( l i hM k S b ) • Attempted to bring spiritual change through political means (setting up a theocracy) ( tti th ) • Claimed to be acting under the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit and in keeping with eschatological events Holy Spirit and in keeping with eschatological events • Rejected infant baptism (and so associated with all Anabaptists) • Storch and Stubner arrived in Wittenberg in 1521, but were removed by Luther when he returned from were removed by Luther when he returned from Wartburg in 1522
Melchior Hoffman (c. 1495 – 1543) Influenced by Luther • Influenced by Luther • Lay evangelist/preacher, but with radical tendencies but with radical tendencies • Held a Zwinglian view of the Lord’s Table • Rebaptized in 1530 • Predicted that Christ would return in 1533 and establish New Jerusalem in Strassborg • Died in prison in 1543
Jan Matthys (d. April, 1534) Converted by Melchior • Converted by Melchior Hoffman in the 1520s • Identified Münster Identified Münster as as the New Jerusalem • Taught adult Taught adult‐baptism baptism in in Münster • Died in battle against Died in battle against the former bishop of Münster in 1534
John of Leiden (c. 1509–1536) Disciple of Jan Matthys • Disciple of Jan Matthys • Political leader in Münster from 1534 to 1535 from 1534 to 1535 • Set up a theocracy there; reportedly communistic reportedly communistic and polygamous • After Münster fell to Franz von Waldeck, John of Leiden was captured, tortured, and killed
Münster Rebellion • Ten years after the Peasants’ War (1524/25 vs. 1532–35) • Attempt made to establish a theocratic kingdom at Münster • John of Leiden was made king and declared himself a descendant of David f • His army was defeated in J June, 1535 and he was tortured 1535 d h t t d and killed (his remains being allowed to rot in a cage) allowed to rot in a cage) • Tainted Anabaptist movement
Menno Simons (1496–Jan. 25, 1561) • Trained as a Catholic priest • Began to study the Bible over the Communion issue • His brother Peter was martyred in 1535 •In 1536, he fully embraced the Anabaptist position • Emphasized separation from the world; pacifism • Followers known as F ll k “Mennonites”
Swiss Brethren • Disciples of Ulrich Zwingli • Considered by most to be the fountainhead of the C id d b b h f i h d f h Anabaptist movement • Key issues: baptism and separation of church and state K i b ti d ti f h h d t t • Key figures include: • George Blaurock G Bl k • Felix Manz • Conrad Grebel C dG b l • Balthaiser Hubmaier • Menno Simmons
George Blaurock (1491 – Sep. 6, 1529) g g • Aligned with Zwingli’s more radical followers; desired to follow only what the Bible prescribed • Rejected the Mass, Infant Baptism, religious images l • Expelled from Zurich when Felix Manz h F li M was executed • Burned at the stake two Burned at the stake two years later (in Italy)
Felix Manz (c. 1498–Jan. 5, 1527) • Follower of Ulrich Zwingli but later Zwingli, but later became dissatisfied with Zwingli’s g slowness to enact reforms in Zurich • One of the first to be baptized, with Grebel and Blaurock • Was executed by drowning, on account of his “baptism” W t db d i t f hi “b ti ”
Conrad Grebel (c. 1498–1526) • Born into a prominent Swiss family • Disciple of Zwingli and friend to Felix Manz and other radicals • Considered the “Father of h “ h f the Anabaptists,” though he died in his late twenties died in his late twenties • Performed the first adult baptism (on Blaurock) baptism (on Blaurock) • Died of natural causes
Balthaser Hubmaier (c. 1480–Mar. 10, 1528) p , • An excellent preacher, ministered in Austria g • Met with Ulrich Zwingli in 1523; in Zurich he defended obedience to the Scriptures • Abandoned infant baptism; baptized in April, 1525 • Fled to Zurich to escape Austrian police, but was arrested and tortured in Zurich arrested and tortured in Zurich • Later executed in Vienna
Reformed Response • Opposed any kind of armed revolt • Opposed adult baptism • Opposed the separation of church and state • Saw Anabaptists as dangerous, theologically and politically and politically • Responded with violence against the Anabaptists • In many cases, distorted their views in order to In many cases distorted their views in order to prosecute them
Anabaptist Persecution
Michael Servetus (1511–1553) g • Taught that Jesus was a manifestation of God and not a separate divine Person • Condemned by Geneva council for denying the Trinity and Infant Baptism • Burned at the stake • Seen by some modern anti‐Trinitarian groups as a spiritual ancestor
A Final Thought The Anabaptists died for issues they The Anabaptists died for issues they believed the New Testament clearly taught, such as Believer’ss Baptism and the such as Believer Baptism and the separation of church and state. How important should we regard those issues in church ministry today?
Radical Reformers • Anti‐Trinitarian Rationalists (Michael Servetus) A ti T i it i R ti li t (Mi h l S t ) • Spiritual Mystics (Casper Schwenckfeld) • Political Fanatics P liti l F ti • Zwickau Prophets (Nicholas Storch) • Jan Matthys h • John of Leiden • Thomas Müntzer • Münster Rebellion • Swiss Brethren
Andreas Karlstadt (c. 1486–Dec 24, 1541) y • Fellow faculty member with Luther at Wittenberg • Preached while Luther was at Wartburg; encouraged the removal of icons •Luther later opposed him as a radical, though Karlstadt denounced violence • Ended up at the University of Basel until his death • Anticipated many Anabaptist ideas
Ulrich von Hutton (1488–1523) • Follower of Luther who advocated military force • Studied theology at University of Greifswald • Leader of the Imperial Knights of the Holy Roman Empire • Led the Knights Revolt of 1522 and was defeated • Later tried to convince Erasmus to join Reformation
Thomas Müntzer (c. 1488–May 27, 1525) • German radical reformer German radical reformer who turned against Luther • Early leader of the Peasant Early leader of the Peasant’ss Rebellion in Germany • Battle cry was Battle cry was “All All things are things are in common” • After being defeated, he was After being defeated he was tortured and killed • Before his death, he Before his death he supposedly recanted
Caspar Schwenckfeld (1489–Dec. 10, 1561) Influenced by Luther and • Influenced by Luther, and also Münzer and Karlstadt • Rejected infant baptism, Rejected infant baptism, Lutheran communion, war, denominations, etc. • Instead of “Real Presence,” taught a “Spiritual Presence” (that believers feed on Christ spiritually) • Followers are known as F ll k Schwenckfelders (in PA, USA)
Zwickau prophets • From the town of Zwickau in Saxony • Led by Nicholas Storch L d b Ni h l S h (along with Markus Stubner) ( l i hM k S b ) • Attempted to bring spiritual change through political means (setting up a theocracy) ( tti th ) • Claimed to be acting under the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit and in keeping with eschatological events Holy Spirit and in keeping with eschatological events • Rejected infant baptism (and so associated with all Anabaptists) • Storch and Stubner arrived in Wittenberg in 1521, but were removed by Luther when he returned from were removed by Luther when he returned from Wartburg in 1522
Melchior Hoffman (c. 1495 – 1543) Influenced by Luther • Influenced by Luther • Lay evangelist/preacher, but with radical tendencies but with radical tendencies • Held a Zwinglian view of the Lord’s Table • Rebaptized in 1530 • Predicted that Christ would return in 1533 and establish New Jerusalem in Strassborg • Died in prison in 1543
Jan Matthys (d. April, 1534) Converted by Melchior • Converted by Melchior Hoffman in the 1520s • Identified Münster Identified Münster as as the New Jerusalem • Taught adult Taught adult‐baptism baptism in in Münster • Died in battle against Died in battle against the former bishop of Münster in 1534
John of Leiden (c. 1509–1536) Disciple of Jan Matthys • Disciple of Jan Matthys • Political leader in Münster from 1534 to 1535 from 1534 to 1535 • Set up a theocracy there; reportedly communistic reportedly communistic and polygamous • After Münster fell to Franz von Waldeck, John of Leiden was captured, tortured, and killed
Münster Rebellion • Ten years after the Peasants’ War (1524/25 vs. 1532–35) • Attempt made to establish a theocratic kingdom at Münster • John of Leiden was made king and declared himself a descendant of David f • His army was defeated in J June, 1535 and he was tortured 1535 d h t t d and killed (his remains being allowed to rot in a cage) allowed to rot in a cage) • Tainted Anabaptist movement
Menno Simons (1496–Jan. 25, 1561) • Trained as a Catholic priest • Began to study the Bible over the Communion issue • His brother Peter was martyred in 1535 •In 1536, he fully embraced the Anabaptist position • Emphasized separation from the world; pacifism • Followers known as F ll k “Mennonites”
Swiss Brethren • Disciples of Ulrich Zwingli • Considered by most to be the fountainhead of the C id d b b h f i h d f h Anabaptist movement • Key issues: baptism and separation of church and state K i b ti d ti f h h d t t • Key figures include: • George Blaurock G Bl k • Felix Manz • Conrad Grebel C dG b l • Balthaiser Hubmaier • Menno Simmons
George Blaurock (1491 – Sep. 6, 1529) g g • Aligned with Zwingli’s more radical followers; desired to follow only what the Bible prescribed • Rejected the Mass, Infant Baptism, religious images l • Expelled from Zurich when Felix Manz h F li M was executed • Burned at the stake two Burned at the stake two years later (in Italy)
Felix Manz (c. 1498–Jan. 5, 1527) • Follower of Ulrich Zwingli but later Zwingli, but later became dissatisfied with Zwingli’s g slowness to enact reforms in Zurich • One of the first to be baptized, with Grebel and Blaurock • Was executed by drowning, on account of his “baptism” W t db d i t f hi “b ti ”
Conrad Grebel (c. 1498–1526) • Born into a prominent Swiss family • Disciple of Zwingli and friend to Felix Manz and other radicals • Considered the “Father of h “ h f the Anabaptists,” though he died in his late twenties died in his late twenties • Performed the first adult baptism (on Blaurock) baptism (on Blaurock) • Died of natural causes
Balthaser Hubmaier (c. 1480–Mar. 10, 1528) p , • An excellent preacher, ministered in Austria g • Met with Ulrich Zwingli in 1523; in Zurich he defended obedience to the Scriptures • Abandoned infant baptism; baptized in April, 1525 • Fled to Zurich to escape Austrian police, but was arrested and tortured in Zurich arrested and tortured in Zurich • Later executed in Vienna
Reformed Response • Opposed any kind of armed revolt • Opposed adult baptism • Opposed the separation of church and state • Saw Anabaptists as dangerous, theologically and politically and politically • Responded with violence against the Anabaptists • In many cases, distorted their views in order to In many cases distorted their views in order to prosecute them
Anabaptist Persecution
Michael Servetus (1511–1553) g • Taught that Jesus was a manifestation of God and not a separate divine Person • Condemned by Geneva council for denying the Trinity and Infant Baptism • Burned at the stake • Seen by some modern anti‐Trinitarian groups as a spiritual ancestor
A Final Thought The Anabaptists died for issues they The Anabaptists died for issues they believed the New Testament clearly taught, such as Believer’ss Baptism and the such as Believer Baptism and the separation of church and state. How important should we regard those issues in church ministry today?
