Transcript The Anabaptist or Re-baptizers The Departure from Zwingli

The Anabaptist or Re-baptizers
The Departure from Zwingli
Read textbook page 33, 34
Zwingli was a Charismatic
leader and because of his
intelligence and ability to
communicate he soon had a
small group of dedicated men as
his disciples
But what Zwingli believed and
what he practiced was sometimes
not the same thing. This lag in
implementation of Zwingli’s
doctrine into practice was due to
Zwingli operating church with the
city council as overseer or as
Bishop (practically)
The Departure from Zwingli
There was an inability to live his convictions
because they were wed to the state along with his
dishonesty (like being married for 2 years before
announcing it, and his misstatements of facts
concerning those he did not like).
This weakness in Zwingli was met with disgust form
Zwingli’s disciples especially his reversal of his
stand on believer’s baptism back to infant baptism for
political reasons more than any reasoned scriptural
reasons.
The decision was made to be obedient to the
teaching of the New Testament and perform a
“believers” baptism.
The Departure from Zwingli
About 12 men gathered at the home of Felix Manz and Grebel
baptized Blaurock (textbook says at the town square in Zurich—
Estep & Stitzinger say at Manz’s home) the date was January 21,
1525
Read in Estep page 13, 14
These “brethren” as they called themselves came under open
attack from Zwingli. The city council orders these men to:
Baptize their children by the 8th day from birth
The “brethren” were forbidden to meet privately for Bible study
Banishment from Zurich would be the punishment for
disobedience
In February Brebel, Manz & Blaurock were banished from Zurich
The Departure from Zwingli
William Estep in “The Anabaptist
Story” page 18 says: The decision
of Conrad Grebel to refuse to
accept the jurisdiction of the Zurich
Council over the Zurich church,
however obscure it was, marks the
beginning of the free church
movement.”
The banishment of these three
men sparked a pamphlet war.
Balthasar Hubmaier now joins with
the ousted “Brethren”.
Conrad Grebel
The Departure from Zwingli
March 1526 Zwingli influenced the City
Council to issue the death penalty for rebaptism.
Zwingli now writes (On Baptism) 1525
(Refutation of the Tricks of the Anabaptists)
July 1527 The word was out “He who dips
shall be dipped” also called the 3 baptism
(usually drowning)
Eberli Bolt was the 1st martyr of the Swiss
Brethren. May 1525 by RCC
The Departure from Zwingli
Felix Manz was
arrested and drowned
1527 1st martyr by
Protestant hands
Blaurock, imprisoned,
beaten and burned at
the stake in 1529
Sattle’s tongue was
removed and burned at
the stake 1527 (more
later)
Felix Manz
The Departure from Zwingli
Hubmaier was arrested,
tortured and burned at
the stake 1528
Zwingli approves and the
City Council does the
executions
After the banishment from
Zurich the Anabaptist
were a people without a
country or city (with the
possible exception of
Munster)
Old Anabaptist
drawing
Three Life Sketches
Michael Sattler, Balthaser Hubmaier, and
Menno Simons
Michael Sattler 1490-1527
Born in Staufien, near
Freiburg, Germany about
1490
Sattler was probably
present at the 2nd
Disputation in Zurich with
Zwingli
Sattler in February 1527
presided over the
Schleitheim Disputation
and probably wrote the
Confession.
Michael Sattler
Michael Sattler
Soon after Austrian
authorities in Rottenburg
arrested Sattler and his wife
and found him in
possession of the
Schleitheim Confession
along with other documents
of the Anabaptist
The trial was an emotionally
charged circus but Sattler
kept his cool
During the trial Sattler’s wife
comforted him and urged
him to remain faithful
Michael Sattler
For the crime of his commitment to Anabaptism the
sentence read as follows:
“Michael Sattler shall be committed to the
executioner. The later shall take him to the square and
there first cut out his tongue, and then tie him fast to
a wagon and there with glowing tongs twice tear
pieces from his body, then on the way to the site of
execution five times more as above then burn his
body to powder as an arch-heretic.” William Estep
“The Anabaptist Story” pg 57
The executioners did not fully cut out Sattler’s tongue
and he was heard praying for his captors on the way
to the stake
Michael Sattler
After the cords holding
his hands burned off
Sattler gave 2 fingers
up—sign to indicate that
martyrdom was bearable
After torture and every
attempt to secure a
recantation from Sattler’s
faithful wife had failed
she was drowned 8 days
later in the Neckar River
Balthaser Hubmaier 1480-1528
Probably the premier
theologian of the
Anabaptists. “Hubmaier
could well have excelled
Calvin if he had lived” Prof.
James Stitzinger, The
Master’s Seminary notes
page 178
Born 1480 in Freiburg near
Augsburg
Educated at the Latin School
in Augsburg later received a
B.A. at Freiburg then his
Doctorate at Ingolstadt in
1512
Balthaser Hubmaier 1480-1528
Dr. Eck, a humanist, had high
praise for this promising
student.
1521 became pastor of a small
church in Waldshut (RCC)
soon after arrival he began to
study Paul’s epistles and read
Martin Luther
At the 2nd Disputation with
Zwingli he published a paper of
18 Articles to reform the town
of Waldshut. They were not
accepted and he was forced to
leave the church as pastor
Waldshut Germany
Balthaser Hubmaier 1480-1528
Married in 1523 Elizabeth Huglline
1525 Began to write strong
statements on his new-found position
of Believer’s Baptism. He was
baptized in 1525 and in that same
month baptized over 300 others.
Hubmaier was driven out of Waldshut
by Ferdinand of Austria. He then
became pastor of a strong church in
Nikolsburg June 1526. During his
pastorate the church grew to over
6,000 members. He also at this time
began to write against the radical
fringe of the Anabaptist.
Nikolsburg (Mikulov)
Czech Republic
Balthaser Hubmaier 1480-1528
He was arrested in August 1527 and was
burned at the stake in March 1528. His wife
was drowned 3 days later.
Short but influential ministry. Sometimes he
lacked courage and recanted temporarily.
Hubmaier’s Doctrine
Man is saved (regenerate) after he responds to the
general call of God by (his own) faith – non-Calvinist
Believer’s baptism is the formal means by which a
believer commits himself to a life of obedience
Separation of church and state
Communion is a memorial
Priesthood of each believer
No purgatory, images or pictures
A Christian could hold an office in the government.
Menno Simons 1496-1561
Born in the province of
Friesland in 1496
Became a RCC priest
in 1524 at age 28
After reading Luther he
began to struggle with
the authority of the RCC
as opposed to the Bible
Menno remained in the
RCC until 1536 while
still a priest he began to
refute the writings of the
radical fringe Anabaptist
Menno Simons 1496-1561
In late 1536 he left the RCC and was promptly
baptized. He had struggled with this decision
for 9 years
Menno had a prolonged ministry among the
Anabaptists. Many of his writings are still
around.
Menno had a keen sense of danger and moved
many times during his life sometimes escaping
hour before the authorities arrived
Menno Simons 1496-1561
This outstanding
leader of the Dutch
Anabaptists was
very helpful for the
later survival of the
Mennonites who
trace their origin to
him.
Menno Simons
Salvation by repentance and faith. Menno had a defective
Christology: He held that Christ’s physical nature was created
by the Holy Spirit within the body of Mary. Meaning that Christ
had a “celestial flesh”.
Menno held to believer’s baptism by immersion but would
allow for affusion if circumstances prevented immersion.
The Lord’s supper was a memorial
“The Ban” the was strong discipline of believers out of love
(complete social isolation) to protect the church from corruption
and to cause the sinning brother to repent
Voluntarism—church ought to be spiritually independent of
the state
Very strict qualifications for a pastor. (Menno himself was a
man of sterling character)
Died a natural death in 1561
The Radical Fringe
In Switzerland and Austria,
persecution of the Anabaptist
began as soon as they
began to speak out
August 20, 1527 Ferdinand I
of Austria issued a mandate
against the “heretics and
sectarians” because of their
misuse of theology in rebaptism
Hubmaier was one of the
first to be of his victims
After the Edict by Ferdinand
and the closing of Zurich the
Anabaptists scattered to 4
winds.
Ferdinand I of Austria
The Kingdom of Munster
1534-1535
Munster was the capitol city of Westphalia,
Germany
This city became a center for radical social
reformers. Munster became known as “The New
Jerusalem”
Melchior Hofman predicted that the Lord would
return to Strasburg in 1533. After he did not return to
Strasburg people then gathered at Munster where
there was a measure of tolerance.
The Kingdom of Munster
Jan Matthys claimed to be one of the two
witnesses of Revelation. He helped overthrow
the city and set up their own town council Feb
9, 1534. The city was seized and all who
refused baptism where cast out.
After the death of Jan Matthys and many of
his army, Jan Van Leyden took over. Due to
the now smaller number of men Van Leyden
okays polygamy that later turns to gross
immorality
The city was taken by the army of
Westphalia. The news of the corruption and
the association with other Anabaptists
severely increases persecution of Anabaptists
in other regions. People unfairly lumped the
radical fringe in with reasonable Anabaptists.
Jan Matthys
Anabaptist Doctrine
Evangelical Anabaptist
Separation of church and state
Practiced voluntarism
Believer’s baptism
Regeneration required for membership
in the church
Bible as sole authority
Evangelical Anabaptist
Purity and church discipline
Against the use of the sword
Against the use of an oath
Weak on prophetic views
Against their brethren holding the office
of magistrate
Salvation in Christ alone (sola Christos)
Radical Anabaptist
Amalgamate of church and state
Use of force
Practiced rebaptism as a covenant with the
church & state
New revelation by dreams and visions
Use of the oath
Extreme views on eschatology (setting dates)
Advocated takeover of city government
Salvation is in the conformity to the
political/social/religious agenda