DUTCH ANABAPTISM ORIGIN, SPREAD, LIFE AND THOUGHT CORNELIUS KRAHN ( ) MAR TIN USN IJ H 0 F F - THE HAG U E

Transcription

1 Krahn's book presents an area and a total view of Dutch Anabaptist origin and development not found elsewhere in one monograph. He has investigated all roots of thought, which culminated in the origin of Dutch Anabaptism by investigating not only the native Dutch movements, but also the influences coming from such centers as Wittenberg, Zurich, Strassburg, Antwerp, Emden, Cologne, and Munster. His book deals with tile background, origin, life, thought and spread of Anabaptism from and covers an area between Antwerp and Danzig; Cologne and London. The author, Cornelius Krahn, was born in Russia and studied church history at Berlin, Bonn, Amsterdam, and Heidelberg, where he received his Th.D. degree on the basis of a dissertation dealing with Menno Simons and the Anabaptist view of the church (1936). Since 1937 Krahn has taught Mennonite history, life and thought in the U.S.A. He is co editor of the,\i{mnonite Eneyclopedia, editor of Mennonite Life (since 1946) and Director of the Bethel College Historical Library, which he built up and used for his research. He spent the years and primarily in the Netherlands in research on Dutch Anabaptism and its background.

2 DUTCH ANABAPTISM

3 DUTCH ANABAPTISM ORIGIN, SPREAD, LIFE AND THOUGHT ( ) by CORNELIUS KRAHN MAR TIN USN IJ H 0 F F - THE HAG U E

4 ISBN ISBN "9-0 (ebook) DOl / <) by Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, Netherlands All rights reserved, including the right to translate or to reproduce this book or paris thereof in any form

5 To Hilda Marianne, Karla, Cornelia

6 CONTENTS Preface I. The Low Countries During the Middle Ages 1. The Geographic and Ethnic Background 2. The Political Constellations 3. The Cultural Life 4. The Religious Life 5. Faith, Life, and Leaders 6. Asceticism and Monasticism 7. The Administration of the Church II. The Dawn of a New Day A. The Soil and the Seed 1. The Devotio Moderna 2. From Mysticism to Humanism 3. Desiderius Erasmus 4. The Role of Drama B. In the Embrace of a World Revolution ( ) 1. Channels of Communication 2. From Antwerp to Wassenberg 3. Cologne and Miinster 4. East Friesland 5. The Range of the Reformation III. The Evangelical Sacramentarian Reformation A. From Sacrament to Symbol 1. The Catholic Tradition 2. Christian Humanism 3. Wittenberg and Ziirich B. The Evangelical Movement 1. Faith and Witness 2. Literary Stimulation 3. Spread and Growth 4. Inquisition by Church and State IV. Melchior Hofmann: A Prophetic Layman A. From Wittenberg to Strassburg 1. Luther's Messenger 2. Under Kings and Dukes VII

7 VIII CONTENTS 3. Strassburg: A Haven of Dissenters A Champion of Anabaptism 89 B. The Anabaptist Apostle to the North The Sacramentarian Background The Great Commission The Sign of the Covenant In the City Chosen by God The Trial of the Prophet Hofmann and the Me1chiorites Basic Views 112 V. Anabaptism at the Crossroads 118 A. In Search of the City of God Centers of Me1chioritism The Spread of Me1chioritism Some Views of the Me1chiorites The Eschatological Hope and Persecution 129 B. Munster: The New Jerusalem The City of God Life in the New Jerusalem Munster and the Netherlands Menno and Munster The Battle of the New Jerusalem The Fall of the Kingdom 158 VI. Gathering a Christian Fellowship 165 A. Sifting and Gathering Appraising Differences A Leadership Emerges A Refuge in East Friesland A Lasco and the Anabaptists In the Pincers of Charles V Anabaptism in the Liege Cologne Area 182 B. The Covenanted Church of God The Renewal of the Covenant David Joris: Spiritualizing Tendencies Adam Pastor: Christological Issues The Covenanters in the Arena Letters from Prison The Theology of Witnessing Laymen 203 VII. Growth and Molding of the Brotherhood 207 A. From Antwerp to Danzig The Final Struggle in the South A Refuge in the North The Escape: London and Danzig The Hanseatic Cities, Schleswig Holstein and Mecklenburg 220 B. Defining and Defending the Faith Wismar: Agreements and Disagreements "Without Spot and Wrinkle" 233

8 VIII. Conclusion Footnotes CONTENTS 3. Relationship to the Gennan Mennonites 4. The Struggle for Religious Freedom 5. Literary Duels and Religious Disputations 1. In the Context of the Reformation 2. The Swiss and Dutch Anabaptists 3. At the Crossroads 4. Covenanters of Christ 5. The Ministry and the Ordinances 6. The Disciplined Brotherhood 7. The Christian and his Citizenship 8. Lasting Contributions I. The Low Countries During the Middle Ages II. The Dawn of a New Day III. The Evangelical Sacramentarian Reformation IV. Melchior Hofmann: A Prophetic Layman V. Anabaptism at the Crossroads VI. Gathering a Christian Fellowship VII. Growth and Molding of the Brotherhood VIII. Conclusion Selected Bibliography Index IX

9 ABBREVIATIONS Amstel AfR BMHG BRN CW DB Elsass JGKAE LCC LFR ME ML MQR MSB NAK OPera QGT VfR WZ Jaarboek van het Genootschap Amstelodamum Archiv fiir Re!ormationsgeschichte Bijdragen en Mededeelingen van het Hist. Genootschap te Utrecht Bibliotheca Reformatoria Neerlandica Complete Writings by Menno Simons Doopsgezinde Bijdragen Elsass, I. Teil und II. Teil (Quellen zur Geschichte der Taufer, VII) Jahrbuch der Gesellschaft fiir bi/dende Kunst und vaterlandische Altertumer zu Emden Library of Christian Classics Linker Fliigel der Reformation (H. Fast) Mennonite Encyclopedia Mennonite Life Mennonite Quarterly Review Bibliography of Menno Simons (Irvin B. Horst) Nederlandsch Archie! voor Kerkgeschiedenis OPera omnia theologica... van Menno Symons (1681) Quellen zur Geschichte der Taufer Verein fur Re!ormationgeschichte Westfalische Zeitschrift fur vaterlandische Geschichte und Altertumskunde

10 PREFACE This book features Anabaptism of the Low Countries from its earliest traceable beginnings to the end of the sixteenth century. The major part of the book is devoted to the hundred years preceding the death of Menno Simons in 1561, after whom the Anabaptists received the name, Mennonites. A decade later the Netherlands gained independence and the Anabaptists were granted relative freedom. Prior to this Dutch Anabaptist refugee settlements and churches had been established along the North Sea and the Baltic Coast from Emden and Hamburg Altona up to the mouth of the Vistula River. The roots of Dutch Anabaptism, similar to those of the Dutch Reformed Church, can be found in the native soil and were nourished and stimulated from near and far. The emerging hwnanisticallyinfluenced Sacramentarian movement of the Low Countries modified and spiritualized the meaning of the remaining two sacraments, baptism and the Lord's supper. Dutch mysticism, the Brethren of Common Life, Erasmian hwnanism, the chambers of rhetoric, and the ties with Wittenberg (Luther, Karlstadt, Muntzer), Cologne (Westerburg), Munster (B. Rothmann), Strassburg (Bucer, Capito), Zurich (Zwingli), and Emden led to the introduction of Anabaptism in the Low Countries by Melchior Hofmann, coming from Strassburg in After the first decisive and troubled years, such men as Menno Simons and Dirk Philips came into leadership and consolidated the movement. Many suffered persecution and death up to the 1570's, when the Netherlands gained independence. During the following decades the persecuted Anabaptists, who had contributed to a radical reformation in the Netherlands, had to work out a relationship with the emerging Reformed Church on a local and national level. They did this in discussions and disputations, and literary dialogues. Throughout the featuring of these events, the basic Anabaptist views, such as the effort to establish a truly Christian fellowship or church

11 inspired by an eschatological hope and the practice of Christian discipleship, were constantly kept in mind. Special appreciation is expressed to those who inspired and helped with the writing and shaping of this book based on numerous sources listed in the 25-page footnotes. Mention should also be made that this research was made possible through a leave from Bethel College ( ), a Social &ience Research Council Fellowship and grants from the American Philosophical Society ( and 1966). Among the libraries and archives most extensively used were the Bethel College Historical Library and Archives (which has most of the books and archival materials used), the Archives and Library of the Mennonite Church of Amsterdam and the University Library of Amsterdam. The Free Lutheran Theological Seminary Library of Oberusel, Germany, was also a help. Berneil Mueller deserves special mention for styling the manuscript, and Irvin B. Horst (Amsterdam) for checking the manuscript in regard to factual information. Recognition is also due to the late N. van der Zijpp (Rotterdam) and J. P. Jacobszoon (Haarlem), who read parts of the manuscript. Special appreciation is due to H. W. Meihuizen (The Hague), who kindly read the page proofs of the book and made many helpful suggestions. Many others gave invaluable service imperative for the production of the book. The Footnotes starting on page 263 present a record of all sources used, while the Selected Bibliography at the end points out only a few of the major books and sources. The detailed Index should prove helpful to locate the desired information more easily. Many of the quotations in the text are translations by the author from Dutch and German books and other sources. Bethel College North Newton, Kansas Christmas, 1967 Cornelius Krahn