Grossmann, Kaspar (1495-1545)
Kaspar Grossmann (Megander), born 1495 in Zürich, was early a zealous follower of Zwingli. Called to Bern in 1528, he, as a strict Zwinglian, rejected Bucer's mediation on the communion and therefore returned to Zürich as archdeacon and canon at the cathedral. He died 18 August 1545. Conrad Grebel said at his cross-examination in 1525, that Grossmann was also of his opinion, but dared not speak out before Zwingli. This was probably not entirely correct. At the disputation of 6-8 November Grossmann, Leo Judae, and Zwingli defended Zwingli's theses against the Anabaptists. In Bern he frequently had to take a position on the Anabaptist question with other preachers. On 19 April 1531 he took part in the disputation with Hans Pfistermeyer of Aarau at Bern, and from 1-9 July 1532, with Haller and Hofmeister at Zofingen. Both disputations have been preserved in print, but the speakers are designated merely as "Prädikant" or "Täufer," hence it is impossible to determine the personal attitude of the individual preachers. After the disputation Grossmann was appointed to examine the records with the other preachers in Aarau and then have them printed by Froschauer in Zürich. In his Catechism of 1536 he interprets baptism entirely in accord with Zwingli's idea, probably because of the need to formulate a clear position against the Anabaptists. In his numerous letters to Zwingli and later to Bullinger he does not mention Anabaptists.
Bibliography
Egli, Emil in Realencyclopedie für Protestantische Theologie and Kirche, J. J. Herzog and Albert Hauck, ed. 24 vols. 3rd ed. Leipzig: J. H. Hinrichs, 1896-1913: XII, 501 ff.
Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. Mennonitisches Lexikon, 4 vols. Frankfurt & Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe; Schneider, 1913-1967: II, 189.
Köhler, W. and O. Farner, ed. Zwingli Werke X (1929): 137, note 1.
Steele, R. and G. Tobler. Aktensammlung zur Geschichte der Berner Reformation. Bern, 1923.
| Author(s) | Leonhard von Muralt |
|---|---|
| Date Published | 1956 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Muralt, Leonhard von. "Grossmann, Kaspar (1495-1545)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1956. Web. 18 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Grossmann,_Kaspar_(1495-1545)&oldid=146452.
APA style
Muralt, Leonhard von. (1956). Grossmann, Kaspar (1495-1545). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 18 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Grossmann,_Kaspar_(1495-1545)&oldid=146452.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, p. 600. All rights reserved.
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