Dutch Anabaptism: Origin, Spread, Life and Thought (1450-1600)

ISBN-13: 9789401501316 / Angielski / Miękka / 1968 / 303 str.

Cornelius Krahn

Opis

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 hwnanistically- influenced 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), (B. Rothmann), Strassburg (Bucer, Capito), Zurich (Zwingli), Munster and Emden led to the introduction of Anabaptism in the Low Coun- tries by Melchior Hofmann, coming from Strassburg in 1530.

Spis treści

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 (1517–1530).- 1. Channels of Communication.- 2. From Antwerp to Wassenberg.- 3. Cologne and Münster.- 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 Zürich.- 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.- 3. Strassburg: A Haven of Dissenters.- 4. A Champion of Anabaptism.- B. The Anabaptist Apostle to the North.- 1. The Sacramentarian Background.- 2. The Great Commission.- 3. The Sign of the Covenant.- 4. In the City Chosen by God.- 5. The Trial of the Prophet.- 6. Hofmann and the Melchiorites.- 7. Basic Views.- V. Anabaptism at the Crossroads.- A. In Search of the City of God.- 1. Centers of Melchioritism.- 2. The Spread of Melchioritism.- 3. Some Views of the Melchiorites.- 4. The Eschatological Hope and Persecution.- B. Münster: The New Jerusalem.- 1. The City of God.- 2. Life in the New Jerusalem.- 3. Münster and the Netherlands.- 4. Menno and Münster.- 5. The Battle of the New Jerusalem.- 6. The Fall of the Kingdom.- VI. Gathering a Christian Fellowship.- A. Sifting and Gathering.- 1. Appraising Differences.- 2. A Leadership Emerges.- 3. A Refuge in East Friesland.- 4. A Lasco and the Anabaptists.- 5. In the Pincers of Charles V.- 6. Anabaptism in the Liege-Cologne Area.- B. The Covenanted Church of God.- 1. The Renewal of the Covenant.- 2. David Joris: Spiritualizing Tendencies.- 3. Adam Pastor: Christological Issues.- 4. The Covenanters in the Arena.- 5. Letters from Prison.- 6. The Theology of Witnessing Laymen.- VII. Growth and Molding of the Brotherhood.- A. From Antwerp to Danzig.- 1. The Final Struggle in the South.- 2. A Refuge in the North.- 3. The Escape: London and Danzig.- 4. The Hanseatic Cities, Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg.- B. Defining and Defending the Faith.- 1. Wismar: Agreements and Disagreements.- 2. “Without Spot and Wrinkle”.- 3. Relationship to the German Mennonites.- 4. The Struggle for Religious Freedom.- 5. Literary Duels and Religious Disputations.- VIII. Conclusion.- 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.- Footnotes.- I. The Low Countries During the Middle Ages.- II. The Dawn of a New Day.- III. The Evangelical Sacramentarian Reformation.- W. 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.