GAMEO - User contributions [en]

Güldene Aepffel in Silbern Schalen

2025-04-21T16:52:08Z

EricBradley: Updated link to digitized edition

[[File:GuldeneColophon1742.jpg|300px|thumb|right|''Death's head colophon in

Güldene Aepffel (1742)

MAO photo. '']] Güldene Aepffel in Silbern Schalen, oder schöne und nützliche Worte und Wahrheiten zur Gottseligkeit, a devotional book of the [[Swiss Brethren|Swiss-Mennonite Brethren]], most likely of the "Reist Leut" (see Reist, Hans), of which three editions are known: 1702 and 1742 (both printed in [[Basel (Switzerland)|Basel]], although the city is not named), and 1745 printed at Ephrata, [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]]. It is a 500-page book, apparently intended for devotional and edificatory purposes, trying to revive the spirit of the early [[Anabaptism|Anabaptists]]. The anonymous compiler (who used for his title Proverbs 25:11) combined in it two very different materials. Part I (403 pages) contains a number of writings of 16th-century Anabaptists: (1) the writings of [[Sattler, Michael (d. 1527)|Michael Sattler]] and the story of his martyrdom (1527); (2) the very popular Confessio of [[Imbroich, Thomas von (1533-1558)|Thomas of Imbroich]] (d. 1558); (3) "Ein Testament von einer frommen Liebhaberin Gottes," by Soetgen van Houte (d. 1569); (4) eleven epistles by the Anabaptist martyr [[Matthias Servaes von Ottenheim (1536-1565)|Matthias Servaes]] (d. 1565), together with (5) two epistles by another martyred brother [[Koch, Konrad (d. 1565)|Conrad Koch]] (1565). All these documents are introduced by long and very moving prefaces, likewise of 16th-century origin, thus proving that these materials were simply reprints of old contemporary pamphlets which had been circulating among the brethren ever since the beginning. Now they were combined into one book to provide the persecuted Swiss Brethren with readings which could strengthen them in their tribulations. Part II (94 pages) contains material of much later origin: (a) the [[Dordrecht Confession of Faith (Mennonite, 1632)|Dordrecht Confession of Faith]] (1632), reprinted after the manual of [[Sittert, Tieleman Tielen van (d. 1664) |T. T. van Sittert]] (but including revisions and editions of Sittert's text including an article on the Holy Spirit); and {b) "Several Christian Prayers" (apparently likewise taken from the 1664 manual but originating with [[Clock, Leenaert (d. after 1638)|Leenaert Clock]], 1625) enlarged by some more pieces of unknown origin, showing a pietistic slant (pp. 72-94).

The intention of the compiler and editor becomes apparent from his own preface, ". . . It is true that external peace makes the number of those who profess Christian faith increase. But it is also true that at such times of ease for the flesh Satan insinuates to man all sorts of evil suggestions. So depraved is human nature that it cannot endure good days of ease. . . ." And thus he calls for a return to the genuine Christian way of the forefathers, to the idea of the "suffering church" in which faith and steadfastness have to be evidenced. —Part II does not show quite the same spirit, presenting material which originated 80 to 100 years later. The Anabaptists had no written or printed prayers, but now a collection of 19 prayers is introduced with these words, ". . . My intention is only this that I might help a little those who are unskilled in prayer . . ." (see [[Mennonite Prayer Books|Prayer-books]]) .

[[File:Guldene_Aeppfle_1745_tp.jpg|300px|thumb|right|''Title page of 1745 Ephrata edition. '']] The book is one of the best of the Mennonite devotional literature of the middle and later period. It offers "words and truths unto godliness," partly to revive the old spirit but partly also to meet the needs of the new piety just coming up around 1700 (see [[Pietism|Pietism]]). Bishop Henry Funk had the book reprinted in Pennsylvania, most likely with similar intentions and out of the same spirit. Even though no further edition came out until 1995 (and an English translation in 1999), the many old copies found in Mennonite homes in America prove the great popularity of the book. In Europe things were different: the [[Mechel, Von (Publishing House)|von Mechel publishing house]] in Basel was still advertising the 1742 edition in 1822. Later the book was completely forgotten and is today exceedingly rare.
= Bibliography =
Güldene Aepffel in silbern Schalen. Walnut Creek, Ohio: Verlegt durch einem Liebhaber Gottes Worts, 1995.

Imbroich, Thomas von, Konrad Koch, Matthias Servaes, Leonard Gross, and Elizabeth Horsch Bender. Golden Apples in Silver Bowls: The Rediscovery of Redeeming Love : Translation from the Original German. Mennonite sources and documents, no. 6. Lancaster, Pa: Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, 1999.

Friedmann, Robert. Mennonite Piety Through the Centuries. Scottdale, Pa.: Mennonite Publishing House, 1949: See Index.

Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. ''Mennonitisches Lexikon'', 4 vols. Frankfurt & Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe; Schneider, 1913-1967: II, 197 f.
= Additional Information =
The 1745 Ephrata edition is available in full electronic text at: [https://www.google.com/books/edition/G%C3%BCldene_Aepffel_in_silbern_Schalen_oder/KHMOAAAAQAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1 http://books.google.ca/books?id=KHMOAAAAQAAJ]
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 2, pp. 609-610|date=1956|a1_last=Friedmann|a1_first=Robert|a2_last=|a2_first=}}

Urteil von dem Schwert, Das

2025-03-24T21:16:43Z

EricBradley:

Das Urteil von dem Schwert was an important early Moravian [[Anabaptism|Anabaptist]] writing of 1529, discovered in manuscript form in [[Switzerland|Switzerland]] in 1951, written by [[Adler, Clemens (d. 1536)|Clemens Adler]]. A typescript transcription of the manuscript (Kopie eines Handschriftenbandes von Liedern & Glaubensartikel der Täufer) was created in 1955 by Samuel Geiser at Harold S. Bender's request, with copies placed in the Goshen College Mennonite Historical Library and Mennonitische Forschungsstelle (the later now at the Mennonitengemeinde Weierhof).
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 4, p. 1132|date=1959|a1_last=Bender|a1_first=Harold S|a2_last=|a2_first=}}

Urteil von dem Schwert, Das

2025-03-24T21:15:45Z

EricBradley: Update on location of typeset

Das Urteil von dem Schwert was an important early Moravian [[Anabaptism|Anabaptist]] writing of 1529, discovered in manuscript form in [[Switzerland|Switzerland]] in 1951, written by [[Adler, Clemens (d. 1536)|Clemens Adler]]. A typescript transcription of the manuscript was created in 1955 by Samuel Geiser at Harold S. Bender's request, with copies placed in the Goshen College Mennonite Historical Library and Mennonitische Forschungsstelle (the later now at the Mennonitengemeinde Weierhof).
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 4, p. 1132|date=1959|a1_last=Bender|a1_first=Harold S|a2_last=|a2_first=}}

Güldene Aepffel in Silbern Schalen

2025-02-24T15:58:10Z

EricBradley: Clarification on the additional materials in Guldene Aepffel

[[File:GuldeneColophon1742.jpg|300px|thumb|right|''Death's head colophon in

Güldene Aepffel (1742)

MAO photo. '']] Güldene Aepffel in Silbern Schalen, oder schöne und nützliche Worte und Wahrheiten zur Gottseligkeit, a devotional book of the [[Swiss Brethren|Swiss-Mennonite Brethren]], most likely of the "Reist Leut" (see Reist, Hans), of which three editions are known: 1702 and 1742 (both printed in [[Basel (Switzerland)|Basel]], although the city is not named), and 1745 printed at Ephrata, [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]]. It is a 500-page book, apparently intended for devotional and edificatory purposes, trying to revive the spirit of the early [[Anabaptism|Anabaptists]]. The anonymous compiler (who used for his title Proverbs 25:11) combined in it two very different materials. Part I (403 pages) contains a number of writings of 16th-century Anabaptists: (1) the writings of [[Sattler, Michael (d. 1527)|Michael Sattler]] and the story of his martyrdom (1527); (2) the very popular Confessio of [[Imbroich, Thomas von (1533-1558)|Thomas of Imbroich]] (d. 1558); (3) "Ein Testament von einer frommen Liebhaberin Gottes," by Soetgen van Houte (d. 1569); (4) eleven epistles by the Anabaptist martyr [[Matthias Servaes von Ottenheim (1536-1565)|Matthias Servaes]] (d. 1565), together with (5) two epistles by another martyred brother [[Koch, Konrad (d. 1565)|Conrad Koch]] (1565). All these documents are introduced by long and very moving prefaces, likewise of 16th-century origin, thus proving that these materials were simply reprints of old contemporary pamphlets which had been circulating among the brethren ever since the beginning. Now they were combined into one book to provide the persecuted Swiss Brethren with readings which could strengthen them in their tribulations. Part II (94 pages) contains material of much later origin: (a) the [[Dordrecht Confession of Faith (Mennonite, 1632)|Dordrecht Confession of Faith]] (1632), reprinted after the manual of [[Sittert, Tieleman Tielen van (d. 1664) |T. T. van Sittert]] (but including revisions and editions of Sittert's text including an article on the Holy Spirit); and {b) "Several Christian Prayers" (apparently likewise taken from the 1664 manual but originating with [[Clock, Leenaert (d. after 1638)|Leenaert Clock]], 1625) enlarged by some more pieces of unknown origin, showing a pietistic slant (pp. 72-94).

The intention of the compiler and editor becomes apparent from his own preface, ". . . It is true that external peace makes the number of those who profess Christian faith increase. But it is also true that at such times of ease for the flesh Satan insinuates to man all sorts of evil suggestions. So depraved is human nature that it cannot endure good days of ease. . . ." And thus he calls for a return to the genuine Christian way of the forefathers, to the idea of the "suffering church" in which faith and steadfastness have to be evidenced. —Part II does not show quite the same spirit, presenting material which originated 80 to 100 years later. The Anabaptists had no written or printed prayers, but now a collection of 19 prayers is introduced with these words, ". . . My intention is only this that I might help a little those who are unskilled in prayer . . ." (see [[Mennonite Prayer Books|Prayer-books]]) .

[[File:Guldene_Aeppfle_1745_tp.jpg|300px|thumb|right|''Title page of 1745 Ephrata edition. '']] The book is one of the best of the Mennonite devotional literature of the middle and later period. It offers "words and truths unto godliness," partly to revive the old spirit but partly also to meet the needs of the new piety just coming up around 1700 (see [[Pietism|Pietism]]). Bishop Henry Funk had the book reprinted in Pennsylvania, most likely with similar intentions and out of the same spirit. Even though no further edition came out until 1995 (and an English translation in 1999), the many old copies found in Mennonite homes in America prove the great popularity of the book. In Europe things were different: the [[Mechel, Von (Publishing House)|von Mechel publishing house]] in Basel was still advertising the 1742 edition in 1822. Later the book was completely forgotten and is today exceedingly rare.
= Bibliography =
Güldene Aepffel in silbern Schalen. Walnut Creek, Ohio: Verlegt durch einem Liebhaber Gottes Worts, 1995.

Imbroich, Thomas von, Konrad Koch, Matthias Servaes, Leonard Gross, and Elizabeth Horsch Bender. Golden Apples in Silver Bowls: The Rediscovery of Redeeming Love : Translation from the Original German. Mennonite sources and documents, no. 6. Lancaster, Pa: Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, 1999.

Friedmann, Robert. Mennonite Piety Through the Centuries. Scottdale, Pa.: Mennonite Publishing House, 1949: See Index.

Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. ''Mennonitisches Lexikon'', 4 vols. Frankfurt & Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe; Schneider, 1913-1967: II, 197 f.
= Additional Information =
The 1745 Ephrata edition is available in full electronic text at: [http://books.google.ca/books http://books.google.ca/books?id=KHMOAAAAQAAJ]
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 2, pp. 609-610|date=1956|a1_last=Friedmann|a1_first=Robert|a2_last=|a2_first=}}

Quellen zur Geschichte der Täufer

2025-02-17T16:44:23Z

EricBradley: Internet Archive link added

Quellen zur Geschichte der Täufer (before 1940, Wiedertäufer), a series of possibly fifteen volumes of [[Anabaptism|Anabaptist]] archival sources, published by the German Society for Reformation History (Verein für Reformationsgeschichte [VRG]) in its series Quellen und Forschungen zur Reformationsgeschichte beginning in 1930. The series was planned and its preparation directed by the Kommission zur Erforschung des Tãufertums (Commission for Anabaptist Research) appointed by the VRG in 1920. To date the following volumes have appeared:

<ul><li>I. [https://archive.org/details/QuellenZurGeschichteDerWiedertaeuferBossertWuerttemberg/page/n13/mode/2up Herzogtum Württemberg (1930) 1199 pp.], edited by Gustav Bossert Sr., completed by his son, Gustav Bossert Jr.;

</li><li>II. [https://archive.org/details/bayernnachdruckm0016scho Markgraftum Brandenburg (Bayern, I. Abteilung) (1934)] 375 pp., Karl Schornbaum, editor;

</li><li>III. Glaubenszeugnisse oberdeutscher Taufgesinnter I ( 1938) 270 pp., Lydia Müller, editor;

</li><li>IV. Baden und Pfalz (1951) 574 pp., Manfred Krebs, editor;

</li><li>V. [https://archive.org/details/bayernnachdruckm0023scho/page/n7/mode/2up Bayern, II. Abteilung (1951) 314 pp.], Karl Schornbaum, editor;

</li></ul> <ul><li>VI. Strasbourg I (1958) 500 pp., edited by Karl Adam, J. Rott, and Manfred Krebs. </li></ul> Volumes in preparation include:

<ul><li>Strasbourg II (Adam, Rott);

</li><li>Alsace (Adam, Rott);

</li><li>Glaubenszeugnisse II (Müller, Robert Friedmann);

</li><li>Epistel der Hutterischen Brüder (Friedmann);

</li><li>Württemberg II;

</li><li>Niederrhein (G. Goeters).

</li></ul> A volume on Silesia was assigned to Theodor Wotschke (Breslau) before the war, but nothing has been delivered. Unassigned as yet are three more volumes on [[Bayern Federal State (Germany)|Bavaria]] including such important places as Augsburg and Nürnberg. The section on [[Switzerland|Switzerland]], originally assigned to Leonhard von Muralt, was withdrawn from the German series, and was published as a Swiss series of 4-6 volumes, Quellen zur Geschichte der Täufer in der Schweiz, of which I. Zürich (1952) 428 edited by L. von Muralt and Walter Schmid, had appeared by the late 1950s. Additional volumes planned at the time included Berner Gespräch of 1538, Canton Bern, Basel, and Ostschweiz. The volume on Hesse, Wiedertäuferakten 1527-1626, 574 pp., edited by [[Köhler, Walther (1870-1946)|Walther Köhler]], Walter Sohm, Theodor Sippell, and Günther Franz (1951), appeared in Volume IV of Urkundliche Quellen zur hessischen Reformationsgeschichte, which was Volume XI of Veröffentlichungen der Historischen Kommission für Hessen und Waldeck. For a report on other Anabaptist source publications see [[Historiography: Anabaptist|Historiography: Anabaptist]].

The VRG, a German learned society founded in 1883, undertook in the period following [[World War (1914-1918)|World War I]] the publication of all the documents in the German language area of Europe bearing on the history of the Anabaptist movement from its beginning in 1525 down to the [[Thirty Years' War (1618-1648)|Thirty Years’ War]] (1618). This great undertaking was made possible by the grant of a generous subsidy from the Prussian state. Attempts to secure financial support in America failed. Unfortunately the inflation of the German currency in 1922-23 reduced the amount of the subsidy so much that the project was handicapped from the beginning. In spite of this, the editors for the various projected volumes were chosen and the majority of assignments completed before [[World War (1939-1945) - Germany|World War II]], although only three volumes were actually published. Only one of these, Vol. I, Herzogtum Württemberg, prepared by Gustav Bossert, a stately volume published in 1930, appeared in full size according to plan with documents in extenso and full indices, although even this volume was not exhaustive. Volumes II and III, published in 1934 and 1938, appeared largely in extract form, and with meager indexing. Four additional Täuferakten volumes had been largely completed in manuscript before World War II, but not published since even the reduced subsidy from the Prussian state was finally canceled, and the resources of the VRG were too slender to continue without outside help, which was not forthcoming in adequate amount although the [[Mennonitischer Geschichtsverein (Germany)|Mennonite Historical Society]] (Mennonitischer Geschichtsverein [MGV], founded by [[Hege, Christian (1869-1943)|Christian Hege]]) made a small annual cash grant of 200 Marks for this purpose from 1937 to 1942. The publisher of the first three volumes, M. Hensius-Paul Eger Nachfolger in Leipzig, who was the publisher for all the publications of the VRG, being now in the Russian Zone and operating only on a restricted basis, surrendered his publication rights in 1947.

When it became fully clear after the close of World War II that the VRG would be unable to continue and complete the original Täuferakten undertaking, the MGV, encouraged by the prospect of American Mennonite financial aid and stimulated by the initiative and urgings of [[Teufel, Eberhard (1884-1957)|Eberhard Teufel]] of Stuttgart, decided at its annual meeting in May 1948 to undertake the project with the consent and co-operation of the VRG. The procedure set up by the MGV for the revived Täuferakten project was the creation of a Täuferakten-Kommission (TAK) to be composed of three representatives of the MGV and two of the VRG. The two societies function as joint publishers of the remainder of the series beginning with Volume IV. The VRG will make available all its completed manuscripts, and the MGV will endeavor to furnish the necessary finances through its American Mennonite connections. This is being done by direct subsidy contributions by the Historical Commissions of the two largest Mennonite bodies in North America, the [[Mennonite Church (MC)|Mennonite Church]] (MC) and the [[General Conference Mennonite Church (GCM)|General Conference Mennonite Church]], and by subsidy purchases of 200 copies per edition by the [[Mennonite Publishing House (Scottdale, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mennonite Publishing House]], Scottdale, Pennsylvania. All net profits from sales are pledged to further publications in the series.

The TAK was formally organized at a meeting in Heidelberg on 5 July 1948, as follows: chairman [[Crous, Ernst (1882-1967)|Ernst Crous]] (MGV), vice-chairman Heinrich Bornkamm (VRG), secretary Eberhard Teufel (MGV), treasurer [[Bender, Harold Stauffer (1897-1962)|H. S. Bender]] (MGV). Later [[Krahn, Cornelius (1902-1990)|Cornelius Krahn]] and Manfred Krebs were added. Upon the death of Eberhard Teufel in 1957, [[Fast, Heinold (1929-2015)|Heinold Fast]] was elected secretary.

The publication of the Anabaptist documents of the 16th century as envisaged in the above plans is an enterprise of the greatest importance not only to Anabaptist historiography but to church history as a whole. After centuries of neglect and even abuse, the Anabaptist movement is coming into its own in the modern understanding of the history of the Christian Church particularly in the [[Reformation, Protestant|Reformation]] period. The comprehensive and exhaustive account of the movement which is so urgently needed and which is essential for a final evaluation of Anabaptism awaits the publication of these documents and other source materials.
= Bibliography =
Bainton, Roland H. "Anabaptist Source Materials." Mennonite Life VIII (1953): 69 and following.

Bender, H. S. "The Täufer-Akten Publication Series of the Society for Reformation History." ''Mennonite Quarterly Review'' XXIII (1949): 48-52.

Eisenbeis, Walter. "Anabaptist Sources and Research." Mennonite Life XII (1957): 69 and following.

Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. ''Mennonitisches Lexikon'', 4 vols. Frankfurt & Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe: Schneider, 1913-1967: v. III, 417 f.
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 4, pp. 237-238|date=1959|a1_last=Bender|a1_first=Harold S|a2_last=|a2_first=}}

Quellen zur Geschichte der Täufer

2025-02-17T16:41:49Z

EricBradley: Link to Internet Archive copy

Quellen zur Geschichte der Täufer (before 1940, Wiedertäufer), a series of possibly fifteen volumes of [[Anabaptism|Anabaptist]] archival sources, published by the German Society for Reformation History (Verein für Reformationsgeschichte [VRG]) in its series Quellen und Forschungen zur Reformationsgeschichte beginning in 1930. The series was planned and its preparation directed by the Kommission zur Erforschung des Tãufertums (Commission for Anabaptist Research) appointed by the VRG in 1920. To date the following volumes have appeared:

<ul><li>I. [https://archive.org/details/QuellenZurGeschichteDerWiedertaeuferBossertWuerttemberg/page/n13/mode/2up Herzogtum Württemberg (1930) 1199 pp.], edited by Gustav Bossert Sr., completed by his son, Gustav Bossert Jr.;

</li><li>II. [https://archive.org/details/bayernnachdruckm0016scho Markgraftum Brandenburg (Bayern, I. Abteilung) (1934)] 375 pp., Karl Schornbaum, editor;

</li><li>III. Glaubenszeugnisse oberdeutscher Taufgesinnter I ( 1938) 270 pp., Lydia Müller, editor;

</li><li>IV. Baden und Pfalz (1951) 574 pp., Manfred Krebs, editor;

</li><li>V. Bayern, II. Abteilung (1951) 314 pp., Karl Schornbaum, editor;

</li></ul> <ul><li>VI. Strasbourg I (1958) 500 pp., edited by Karl Adam, J. Rott, and Manfred Krebs. </li></ul> Volumes in preparation include:

<ul><li>Strasbourg II (Adam, Rott);

</li><li>Alsace (Adam, Rott);

</li><li>Glaubenszeugnisse II (Müller, Robert Friedmann);

</li><li>Epistel der Hutterischen Brüder (Friedmann);

</li><li>Württemberg II;

</li><li>Niederrhein (G. Goeters).

</li></ul> A volume on Silesia was assigned to Theodor Wotschke (Breslau) before the war, but nothing has been delivered. Unassigned as yet are three more volumes on [[Bayern Federal State (Germany)|Bavaria]] including such important places as Augsburg and Nürnberg. The section on [[Switzerland|Switzerland]], originally assigned to Leonhard von Muralt, was withdrawn from the German series, and was published as a Swiss series of 4-6 volumes, Quellen zur Geschichte der Täufer in der Schweiz, of which I. Zürich (1952) 428 edited by L. von Muralt and Walter Schmid, had appeared by the late 1950s. Additional volumes planned at the time included Berner Gespräch of 1538, Canton Bern, Basel, and Ostschweiz. The volume on Hesse, Wiedertäuferakten 1527-1626, 574 pp., edited by [[Köhler, Walther (1870-1946)|Walther Köhler]], Walter Sohm, Theodor Sippell, and Günther Franz (1951), appeared in Volume IV of Urkundliche Quellen zur hessischen Reformationsgeschichte, which was Volume XI of Veröffentlichungen der Historischen Kommission für Hessen und Waldeck. For a report on other Anabaptist source publications see [[Historiography: Anabaptist|Historiography: Anabaptist]].

The VRG, a German learned society founded in 1883, undertook in the period following [[World War (1914-1918)|World War I]] the publication of all the documents in the German language area of Europe bearing on the history of the Anabaptist movement from its beginning in 1525 down to the [[Thirty Years' War (1618-1648)|Thirty Years’ War]] (1618). This great undertaking was made possible by the grant of a generous subsidy from the Prussian state. Attempts to secure financial support in America failed. Unfortunately the inflation of the German currency in 1922-23 reduced the amount of the subsidy so much that the project was handicapped from the beginning. In spite of this, the editors for the various projected volumes were chosen and the majority of assignments completed before [[World War (1939-1945) - Germany|World War II]], although only three volumes were actually published. Only one of these, Vol. I, Herzogtum Württemberg, prepared by Gustav Bossert, a stately volume published in 1930, appeared in full size according to plan with documents in extenso and full indices, although even this volume was not exhaustive. Volumes II and III, published in 1934 and 1938, appeared largely in extract form, and with meager indexing. Four additional Täuferakten volumes had been largely completed in manuscript before World War II, but not published since even the reduced subsidy from the Prussian state was finally canceled, and the resources of the VRG were too slender to continue without outside help, which was not forthcoming in adequate amount although the [[Mennonitischer Geschichtsverein (Germany)|Mennonite Historical Society]] (Mennonitischer Geschichtsverein [MGV], founded by [[Hege, Christian (1869-1943)|Christian Hege]]) made a small annual cash grant of 200 Marks for this purpose from 1937 to 1942. The publisher of the first three volumes, M. Hensius-Paul Eger Nachfolger in Leipzig, who was the publisher for all the publications of the VRG, being now in the Russian Zone and operating only on a restricted basis, surrendered his publication rights in 1947.

When it became fully clear after the close of World War II that the VRG would be unable to continue and complete the original Täuferakten undertaking, the MGV, encouraged by the prospect of American Mennonite financial aid and stimulated by the initiative and urgings of [[Teufel, Eberhard (1884-1957)|Eberhard Teufel]] of Stuttgart, decided at its annual meeting in May 1948 to undertake the project with the consent and co-operation of the VRG. The procedure set up by the MGV for the revived Täuferakten project was the creation of a Täuferakten-Kommission (TAK) to be composed of three representatives of the MGV and two of the VRG. The two societies function as joint publishers of the remainder of the series beginning with Volume IV. The VRG will make available all its completed manuscripts, and the MGV will endeavor to furnish the necessary finances through its American Mennonite connections. This is being done by direct subsidy contributions by the Historical Commissions of the two largest Mennonite bodies in North America, the [[Mennonite Church (MC)|Mennonite Church]] (MC) and the [[General Conference Mennonite Church (GCM)|General Conference Mennonite Church]], and by subsidy purchases of 200 copies per edition by the [[Mennonite Publishing House (Scottdale, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mennonite Publishing House]], Scottdale, Pennsylvania. All net profits from sales are pledged to further publications in the series.

The TAK was formally organized at a meeting in Heidelberg on 5 July 1948, as follows: chairman [[Crous, Ernst (1882-1967)|Ernst Crous]] (MGV), vice-chairman Heinrich Bornkamm (VRG), secretary Eberhard Teufel (MGV), treasurer [[Bender, Harold Stauffer (1897-1962)|H. S. Bender]] (MGV). Later [[Krahn, Cornelius (1902-1990)|Cornelius Krahn]] and Manfred Krebs were added. Upon the death of Eberhard Teufel in 1957, [[Fast, Heinold (1929-2015)|Heinold Fast]] was elected secretary.

The publication of the Anabaptist documents of the 16th century as envisaged in the above plans is an enterprise of the greatest importance not only to Anabaptist historiography but to church history as a whole. After centuries of neglect and even abuse, the Anabaptist movement is coming into its own in the modern understanding of the history of the Christian Church particularly in the [[Reformation, Protestant|Reformation]] period. The comprehensive and exhaustive account of the movement which is so urgently needed and which is essential for a final evaluation of Anabaptism awaits the publication of these documents and other source materials.
= Bibliography =
Bainton, Roland H. "Anabaptist Source Materials." Mennonite Life VIII (1953): 69 and following.

Bender, H. S. "The Täufer-Akten Publication Series of the Society for Reformation History." ''Mennonite Quarterly Review'' XXIII (1949): 48-52.

Eisenbeis, Walter. "Anabaptist Sources and Research." Mennonite Life XII (1957): 69 and following.

Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. ''Mennonitisches Lexikon'', 4 vols. Frankfurt & Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe: Schneider, 1913-1967: v. III, 417 f.
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 4, pp. 237-238|date=1959|a1_last=Bender|a1_first=Harold S|a2_last=|a2_first=}}

Quellen zur Geschichte der Täufer

2025-02-17T16:36:25Z

EricBradley: Internet Archive link added

Quellen zur Geschichte der Täufer (before 1940, Wiedertäufer), a series of possibly fifteen volumes of [[Anabaptism|Anabaptist]] archival sources, published by the German Society for Reformation History (Verein für Reformationsgeschichte [VRG]) in its series Quellen und Forschungen zur Reformationsgeschichte beginning in 1930. The series was planned and its preparation directed by the Kommission zur Erforschung des Tãufertums (Commission for Anabaptist Research) appointed by the VRG in 1920. To date the following volumes have appeared:

<ul><li>I. [https://archive.org/details/QuellenZurGeschichteDerWiedertaeuferBossertWuerttemberg/page/n13/mode/2up Herzogtum Württemberg (1930) 1199 pp.], edited by Gustav Bossert Sr., completed by his son, Gustav Bossert Jr.;

</li><li>II. Markgraftum Brandenburg (Bayern, I. Abteilung) (1934) 375 pp., Karl Schornbaum, editor;

</li><li>III. Glaubenszeugnisse oberdeutscher Taufgesinnter I ( 1938) 270 pp., Lydia Müller, editor;

</li><li>IV. Baden und Pfalz (1951) 574 pp., Manfred Krebs, editor;

</li><li>V. Bayern, II. Abteilung (1951) 314 pp., Karl Schornbaum, editor;

</li></ul> <ul><li>VI. Strasbourg I (1958) 500 pp., edited by Karl Adam, J. Rott, and Manfred Krebs. </li></ul> Volumes in preparation include:

<ul><li>Strasbourg II (Adam, Rott);

</li><li>Alsace (Adam, Rott);

</li><li>Glaubenszeugnisse II (Müller, Robert Friedmann);

</li><li>Epistel der Hutterischen Brüder (Friedmann);

</li><li>Württemberg II;

</li><li>Niederrhein (G. Goeters).

</li></ul> A volume on Silesia was assigned to Theodor Wotschke (Breslau) before the war, but nothing has been delivered. Unassigned as yet are three more volumes on [[Bayern Federal State (Germany)|Bavaria]] including such important places as Augsburg and Nürnberg. The section on [[Switzerland|Switzerland]], originally assigned to Leonhard von Muralt, was withdrawn from the German series, and was published as a Swiss series of 4-6 volumes, Quellen zur Geschichte der Täufer in der Schweiz, of which I. Zürich (1952) 428 edited by L. von Muralt and Walter Schmid, had appeared by the late 1950s. Additional volumes planned at the time included Berner Gespräch of 1538, Canton Bern, Basel, and Ostschweiz. The volume on Hesse, Wiedertäuferakten 1527-1626, 574 pp., edited by [[Köhler, Walther (1870-1946)|Walther Köhler]], Walter Sohm, Theodor Sippell, and Günther Franz (1951), appeared in Volume IV of Urkundliche Quellen zur hessischen Reformationsgeschichte, which was Volume XI of Veröffentlichungen der Historischen Kommission für Hessen und Waldeck. For a report on other Anabaptist source publications see [[Historiography: Anabaptist|Historiography: Anabaptist]].

The VRG, a German learned society founded in 1883, undertook in the period following [[World War (1914-1918)|World War I]] the publication of all the documents in the German language area of Europe bearing on the history of the Anabaptist movement from its beginning in 1525 down to the [[Thirty Years' War (1618-1648)|Thirty Years’ War]] (1618). This great undertaking was made possible by the grant of a generous subsidy from the Prussian state. Attempts to secure financial support in America failed. Unfortunately the inflation of the German currency in 1922-23 reduced the amount of the subsidy so much that the project was handicapped from the beginning. In spite of this, the editors for the various projected volumes were chosen and the majority of assignments completed before [[World War (1939-1945) - Germany|World War II]], although only three volumes were actually published. Only one of these, Vol. I, Herzogtum Württemberg, prepared by Gustav Bossert, a stately volume published in 1930, appeared in full size according to plan with documents in extenso and full indices, although even this volume was not exhaustive. Volumes II and III, published in 1934 and 1938, appeared largely in extract form, and with meager indexing. Four additional Täuferakten volumes had been largely completed in manuscript before World War II, but not published since even the reduced subsidy from the Prussian state was finally canceled, and the resources of the VRG were too slender to continue without outside help, which was not forthcoming in adequate amount although the [[Mennonitischer Geschichtsverein (Germany)|Mennonite Historical Society]] (Mennonitischer Geschichtsverein [MGV], founded by [[Hege, Christian (1869-1943)|Christian Hege]]) made a small annual cash grant of 200 Marks for this purpose from 1937 to 1942. The publisher of the first three volumes, M. Hensius-Paul Eger Nachfolger in Leipzig, who was the publisher for all the publications of the VRG, being now in the Russian Zone and operating only on a restricted basis, surrendered his publication rights in 1947.

When it became fully clear after the close of World War II that the VRG would be unable to continue and complete the original Täuferakten undertaking, the MGV, encouraged by the prospect of American Mennonite financial aid and stimulated by the initiative and urgings of [[Teufel, Eberhard (1884-1957)|Eberhard Teufel]] of Stuttgart, decided at its annual meeting in May 1948 to undertake the project with the consent and co-operation of the VRG. The procedure set up by the MGV for the revived Täuferakten project was the creation of a Täuferakten-Kommission (TAK) to be composed of three representatives of the MGV and two of the VRG. The two societies function as joint publishers of the remainder of the series beginning with Volume IV. The VRG will make available all its completed manuscripts, and the MGV will endeavor to furnish the necessary finances through its American Mennonite connections. This is being done by direct subsidy contributions by the Historical Commissions of the two largest Mennonite bodies in North America, the [[Mennonite Church (MC)|Mennonite Church]] (MC) and the [[General Conference Mennonite Church (GCM)|General Conference Mennonite Church]], and by subsidy purchases of 200 copies per edition by the [[Mennonite Publishing House (Scottdale, Pennsylvania, USA)|Mennonite Publishing House]], Scottdale, Pennsylvania. All net profits from sales are pledged to further publications in the series.

The TAK was formally organized at a meeting in Heidelberg on 5 July 1948, as follows: chairman [[Crous, Ernst (1882-1967)|Ernst Crous]] (MGV), vice-chairman Heinrich Bornkamm (VRG), secretary Eberhard Teufel (MGV), treasurer [[Bender, Harold Stauffer (1897-1962)|H. S. Bender]] (MGV). Later [[Krahn, Cornelius (1902-1990)|Cornelius Krahn]] and Manfred Krebs were added. Upon the death of Eberhard Teufel in 1957, [[Fast, Heinold (1929-2015)|Heinold Fast]] was elected secretary.

The publication of the Anabaptist documents of the 16th century as envisaged in the above plans is an enterprise of the greatest importance not only to Anabaptist historiography but to church history as a whole. After centuries of neglect and even abuse, the Anabaptist movement is coming into its own in the modern understanding of the history of the Christian Church particularly in the [[Reformation, Protestant|Reformation]] period. The comprehensive and exhaustive account of the movement which is so urgently needed and which is essential for a final evaluation of Anabaptism awaits the publication of these documents and other source materials.
= Bibliography =
Bainton, Roland H. "Anabaptist Source Materials." Mennonite Life VIII (1953): 69 and following.

Bender, H. S. "The Täufer-Akten Publication Series of the Society for Reformation History." ''Mennonite Quarterly Review'' XXIII (1949): 48-52.

Eisenbeis, Walter. "Anabaptist Sources and Research." Mennonite Life XII (1957): 69 and following.

Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. ''Mennonitisches Lexikon'', 4 vols. Frankfurt & Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe: Schneider, 1913-1967: v. III, 417 f.
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Dalen, Jacob Cornelisz van (1608-1664)

2025-02-13T17:39:32Z

EricBradley: Corrected spelling and added link to Onciersel en cieraet vande godtsalige vrouwen

Jacob Cornelisz van Dalen, born 1608 at Rotterdam and died 1664, was a noted Mennonite surgeon and preacher of the [[Waterlanders|Waterlanders]] at [[Amsterdam (Noord-Holland, Netherlands)|Amsterdam]], 1639-1662. Operations he performed on facial abscesses are described and illustrated by C. E. Daniels in Een Domine-Operateur in de zeventiende eeuw. He became involved in a dispute with Reinier Wybrands and later with [[Hendriksz, Joost (1592-1644)|Joost Hendricks]]. He collaborated with [[Schuere, Denys van der (d. 1673)|Denys van der Schure]] in writing Korte verthooninge van de onware beschuldingen (1640), which was answered in the following year by Joost Hendricks. In 1652 he wrote ''[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Onciersel_en_cieraet_vande_godtsalige_vr/bbhmAAAAcAAJ?hl=en Onciersel en Cieraet vande Godtsalige vrouwen],'' opposing fashion and championing very simple dress. In 1662 he wrote Spiegel der Dischgenooten Christi (repr. 1729) with an important foreword, a communion sermon which was reprinted in 1729 in [[Maatschoen, Gerardus (d. 1751)|G. Maatschoen's]] appendix to [[Schijn, Herman (1662-1727)|Schijn's]] Gesch. der Mennoniten (Amsterdam, 1745) 289-320. In addition to these he published Betragtinge over het Onze Vader, Zes predikatiën over het Lijden van Jezus Christus, and Christelijke Betrachtingen.
= Bibliography =
Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. Mennonitisches Lexikon., 4 v. Frankfurt & Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe: Schneider, 1913-1967: v. I, 386.

Visscher, H. and L. A. van Langeraad. Biographisch Woordenboek von Protestantsche Godgeleerden in Nederland. The Hague, 1903- : II, 352 f.
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Imbroich, Thomas von (1533-1558)

2025-02-11T18:58:33Z

EricBradley: Clarified Ausbund edition of Imbroich confession

Thomas von Imbroich (Imbroek) was an [[Anabaptism|Anabaptist]] martyr, also known as Thomas Drucker or Thomas of Truden, b. 1533 probably in the village of Imgenbroich, [[Germany|Germany]], five hours from [[Aachen (Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany)|Aachen]], hence his name Imbroich. By trade he was a printer of books, came to Cologne in 1554, joined the Anabaptists there, and became an outstanding leader of the Mennonites of the Lower Rhine area. On 23 December 1557 he was arrested and after repeated cross-examination, cruel torture, and vain attempts to convert him was beheaded on 5 March 1558, at the age of 25 years (not 5 May as stated in [[Braght, Tieleman Jansz van (1625-1664)|van Braght's]] [[Martyrs' Mirror|Martyrs' Mirror]]).

In prison Thomas wrote a confession of his faith to make his belief clear to the judges of the [[Inquisition|Inquisition]]. A copy of his manuscript was smuggled out to his brethren, and was apparently immediately printed and widely circulated in the next years. The "confession" deals primarily with [[Baptism|baptism]], and is unusually rich and deep in its exposition of the Scriptures opposing [[Infant Baptism|infant baptism]]. It reveals its author as thoroughly familiar with [[Menno Simons (1496-1561)|Menno Simons]], under some influence of [[Hoffman, Melchior (ca. 1495-1544?) |Melchior Hoffman]], and acquainted with the Church Fathers as well as some more recent literature. He was not willing to accept the theological explanations of the Protestant leaders nor of the Catholic scholastic writers, but accepted as truth only the words of the Gospel. His logical clarity made his book an important weapon in the great struggle of the Anabaptists with the state churches.

Felix Reichmann has made a careful study of the printing of the confession in "An Early Edition of Thomas von Imbroich" (Mennonite Quarterly Review) in which he holds that the first edition was printed between 1560 and 1600, probably in [[Alsace (France)|Alsace]], though it might have been in Cologne. The Duke of Jülich published an edict against Anabaptist books, dated 9 March 1560, which [[Bullinger, Heinrich (1504-1575)|Heinrich Bullinger]], in a letter of 1562, states was directed specifically against the Imbroich book. Bullinger refers to the great influence of Thomas, which must have been continued through the publication of his confession.

The full title of this first edition of the Imbroich Confession is as follows: Ein schőne bekanntnus eines frommen und Gottliebenden Christen samt etlichen Sendbrieffen und Christliche Ermanungen auss heiliger Schrift seiner Hausfrauen und Brűdern auss der Gefängnus geschrieben. Mit kurtzem und doch wahrhafftigen anzeigungen wie er seinen Glauben durch krafft Gottes (zu Cőlln am Reyn) Anno 1558. den 5. Mertz beständig mit seinem blut bezeugt hat allen Christen und Gottesfűrchtigen gantz nűtzlich und trőstlich zu lesen und zu hőren. Esaje am 59. Cap. . . . n.p., n.d. (copy in the Landis Valley Museum, Lancaster, [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]]; an early reprint in the [[Mennonite Historical Library (Goshen, Indiana, USA)|Mennonite Historical Library (Goshen, Indiana]]). A Dutch translation was published at [[Ghent (Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium)|Ghent]] in 1579 (copy in [[Amsterdam Mennonite Library (Bibliotheek en Archief van de Vereenigde Doopsgezinde Gemeente te Amsterdam)|Amsterdam Mennonite Library]]). The Martyrs' Mirror of 1660 contains a partial reprint. Gűldene Aepfel in Silbern Schalen (European editions 1702, 1742; Ephrata, Pennsylvania, edition in 1745) contains the confession and the epistles complete. The [[Ausbund|Ausbund]], beginning with the 1742 Germantown edition, contains the confession without the preface or concluding epistles. This brief form was reprinted as a tract about 1922 by an unknown Amish publisher.

Thomas also wrote seven epistles (Sendbriefe), some of which are quite extensive, which were published with his confession. They bear witness to a rare confidence in God and a willingness to die, and contain a wealth of Biblical admonition. Hymn No. 23 in the Ausbund, "Would you hear what happened in the year fifty-seven," tells the story of Thomas and his martyrdom in 25 stanzas, but was probably not written by him. It appeared at least as early as between 1563 and 1565 in a Mennonite hymnbook, entitled [[Schon Gesangbüchlein|Ein schon Gesangbuchlein Geistlicher Lieder]]. It appeared first in the Ausbund in the 1583 edition. Wolkan (Lieder, 99) says it was translated from a Dutch original which he found in the Hamburg Stadtbibliothek, and was written by a Dutch Mennonite. It does appear, however, in the first edition of the German book containing Thomas' confession, ca. 1560, as "Ein New Lied."
= Bibliography =
Bax, Willem. Het protestantisme in het bisdom Luik en vooral te Maastricht. s-Gravenhage: Nijhoff, 1937-1941: 303-306.

Braght, Thieleman J. van. Het Bloedigh Tooneel of Martelaers Spiegel der Doopsgesinde of Weereloose Christenen, Die om 't getuygenis van Jesus haren Salighmaker geleden hebben ende gedood zijn van Christi tijd of tot desen tijd toe. Den Tweeden Druk. Amsterdam: Hieronymus Sweerts, 1685: Part I, 402-407; Part II, 196-200.

Braght, Thieleman J. van. The Bloody Theatre or Martyrs' Mirror of the Defenseless Christians Who Baptized Only upon Confession of Faith and Who Suffered and Died for the Testimony of Jesus Their Saviour . . . to the Year A.D. 1660. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1951: 367-371, 378-382. Available online at: [http://www.homecomers.org/mirror/index.htm http://www.homecomers.org/mirror/index.htm]

Doopsgezinde Bijdragen (1898): 108.

Haeghen, Ferdinand van der., Thomas Arnold and R. Vanden Berghe. Bibliographie des Martyrologes Protestants Néerlandais. II. Receuils. The Hague: M. Nijhoff, 1890: I, 193-203.

Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. ''Mennonitisches Lexikon'', 4 vols. Frankfurt & Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe: Schneider, 1913-1967: v. II, 409.

Müller, Ernst. Geschichte der Bernischen Täufer. Frauenfeld: Huber, 1895. Reprinted Nieuwkoop : B. de Graaf, 1972: 104.

Reichmann, Felix. "An Early Edition of Thomas von Imbroich." ''Mennonite Quarterly Review'' 6 (1942): 99-107.

Rembert, Karl. Die "Wiedertäufer" im Herzogtum Jülich. Berlin: R. Gaertners Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1899: 439 ff.

Scheibler, Walter. Geschichte der Evangelischen Gemeinde Monschau, 1520-1939. Aachen [West Germany]: G. Rehnisch, 1939: 22-24.

Schirokauer, Arno. "Der Druckort der Schriften des Thomas von Imbroich." Modern Language Notes (1943): 346-350.

Wolkan, Rudolf. Die Lieder der Wiedertäufer. Berlin, 1903. Reprinted Nieuwkoop: B. De Graaf, 1965: 48, 99.
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[[Category:Persons]]
[[Category:Sixteenth Century Anabaptist Martyrs]]

Täufer-Testamente

2024-12-19T14:57:23Z

EricBradley: Added source to bibliography

Täufer-Testamente ([[Anabaptism|Anabaptist]] Testaments) were 17th and 18th century reprints of the [[Froschauer Bibles and Testaments|Froschauer New Testament]], which were widely used by the Swiss Brethren, so named by the Bernese authorities in their anti-Anabaptist decrees because they were printed for and used solely by the Swiss Anabaptists in preference to the authorized [[Luther, Martin (1483-1546)|Luther]] version. The appearance of the "Anabaptist Testaments" evoked consternation among the clergy of [[Bern (Switzerland)|Bern]], Switzerland, and they tried to eliminate these "falsified and dangerous translations." The government issued a mandate against the Mennonites on 21 May 1693, in which one of the orders was that "the proscribed Basel Testaments and other suspicious books of this sect" be confiscated. The Reformed clergy were to explain to the Mennonites the errors in the translation, take the Testaments from their owners, and substitute "the Basel Testament of Luther's version." Exactly what editions of the Froschauer Testament were referred to as Täufer-Testamente is not clear. As the article Froschauer Bibles and Testaments shows, editions are known of 1588, 1647, 1687, 1702, 1729, 1737, 1790, and 1825. The Pennsylvania Mennonites had an edition reprinted at Ephrata, Pennsylvania in 1787.
=Bibliography=
Luthy, David. ''"''Anabaptist New Testaments." ''Our Amish Devotional Heritage: From the Collection of Heritage Historical Library.'' Aylmer, Ontario, Canada: Pathway Publishers, 2016. 27-30.
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 4, pp. 685-686|date=1959|a1_last=Geiser|a1_first=Samuel|a2_last=Bender|a2_first=Harold S.}}

Froschauer Bibles and Testaments

2024-12-19T14:32:29Z

EricBradley: Updated modern reprints and added two sources to the bibliography which lists editions and library holdings.

Froschauer Bibles and Testaments. This term is used for the German Bibles and Testaments published by [[Froschauer, Christoph (d. 1564)|Christoph Froschauer]]. They were very popular because of the clear type, pictorial decoration, and popular language. The following Froschauer Bibles are known: 1524 to 1529 fol., 1527-1529 in 16 (in these two editions the separate parts appeared at intervals), 1530 in 8, 1531 fol., 1534 in 8, 1536 fol., 1538 in 8, 1540 fol., 1542 in 8, 1545 fol., 1545 in 8, 1550 in 8, 1552 in 8, 1553 fol., 1556 fol., 1560 in 8, 1561 in 8, 1565 fol., 1570 in 8, 1571 fol., 1580 fol., 1586 fol., 1589 in 4. Froschauer New Testaments appeared as follows: 1524 in 8, 1524 fol., 1525 in 8, undated in 16 (1528?), 1533 in 16, 1534 in 16 (?), 1535 Latin and German in 8, 1542 in 16, 1557 in 8, 1565 in 8, 1570 in 8, 1574 in 8, 1581 in 4.

The Froschauer Bibles and Testaments were originally reprints of [[Luther, Martin (1483-1546)|Luther's]] translation, altered in word order and vocabulary, more rarely in the text itself. Until 1525 they have Swiss vocalization; e.g., Romans 12:20, So wirstu fiihrige kolen vff sin houpt samlen. In 1527 the New High German diphthongs, au, ei, and eu were adopted. Since the Prophets were still lacking in Luther's translation, the Zürich preachers in 1529 issued this part of the Old Testament in a special translation, based on the translation of [[Haetzer, Ludwig (1500-1529)|Ludwig Haetzer]] and [[Denck, Hans (ca. 1500-1527)|Hans Denck]], which had been published in Worms in 1527, and which the Zürich preachers considered a faithful translation from the Hebrew. Thus it came about that in 1529 a complete translation of the entire Bible was printed by Froschauer several years before Luther's complete Bible appeared. From the continual revision of this combined Bible rose the actual "Zürich Bible," whose text deviated more and more from Luther's, without, however, losing all traces of its original dependence.

Among the people, especially the [[Anabaptism|Anabaptists]], the first editions of the Froschauer Bibles and Testaments were greatly loved. Thus the remarkable thing happened that in the course of the centuries those old editions were several times reprinted word for word. The oldest of these reprints known to us is "Das gantz Neuw Testament grundtlich vnnd wol verteutschet . . . . Gedruckt zu Basel durch Leonhart Ostein 1588," the basis of which was the (16 mo) edition of 1533. A further edition is said to have been published in 1647, also at Basel. In 1687 it was again reprinted by Hans Jacob Werenfels in the print shop of the bookbinder Jerome Schwarz, in an edition of 1,000 in octavo. Of the next reprint by the Basel printer Johann Jacob Genath for the bookbinder Caspar Suter in Zofingen in an edition of 1,500 printed in 6 mo in 1702, only the title is known: "Das gantze neüwe Testament unseres Herren und Heylands Jesu Christi."

Very likely the undated reprint with the title, "Das gantz nüw Testament Vnsers Herrn Jesu Christi, Recht grundtlich vertütscht," was also printed in Basel, in 1729. Its basis was the Froschauer New Testament of 1525. All of these reprints were forbidden in Bernese territory as Anabaptist Testaments, and wherever found they were confiscated. Repeatedly the Bern council appealed to the Basel authorities to punish the publishers and printers of these Testaments. The following reprints bear the same antique title, including the former symbol of the printer Niklaus Brylinger (three lions with an hourglass), also found on the Basel reprints of 1588 and 1687; instead of the place of printing is found "Frankfurt und Leipzig anno 1737" (1790 and 1825). The last are known as the [[Täufer-Testamente|Täufer-Testamente]], which were likewise doubtless printed in Basel. In 1744 a reprint of the entire Bible, i.e., the folio edition of 1536 was issued. The book was printed in Strasbourg "bey Simon Kürssner, Cantzley-Buchdrucker." In the foreword the reason for the reprint is stated; namely, that the edition of 1536 was in great demand for its faithful translation and had now become very rare. In 1787 the Froschauer New Testament was reprinted at Ephrata, Pa., by the Cloister Press, for the [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]] Mennonites.

Several modern reprints have been done. A facsimile reprint of the 1531 printing was done in 1983 by Theologischer Verlag Zürich. The 1536 edition (using the 1744 reprint) was reprinted in 1975 by Amos Hoover of Denver, [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]] and the [[McMillan Hutterite Colony (Cayley, Alberta, Canada)|McMillan Hutterite colony]] in Cayley, Alberta, primarily for use by the Hutterite Brethren. Additional reprints of this edition took place in 2011 by the Hutterian Brethren Book Centre in MacGregor, Manitoba and in 2012 by Ross Dilts and Victor Schwartz's Heritage Bindery in Allen County, Indiana.
= Bibliography =
Mezger, J. J. Geschichte der deutschen Bibelübersetzung in der schweizerischen reformierten Kirche. Basel, 1876.

Fluri, Adolf. Luthers Uebersetzung des Neuen Testaments und ihre Nachdrucke in Basel und Zürich 1522-1531. (Schweizerisches Evangelisches Schulblatt, 1922, Nos. 35 ff.).

Fluri, Adolf. Bern und die Froschauerbibel mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der so-genannten Täufer-Testamente. (supplement of Bernische Geschichte).1922.

Fluri, Adolf. Das Täufertestament von 1687 (supplement of Bernische Geschichte).1923.

Hege, Christian. Die Täufer in der Kurpfalz. Frankfurt, 1908.

Gasser, J. Vierhundert Jahre Zwingli-Bibel 1524-1924. Zürich, 1924.

Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. Mennonitisches Lexikon II: 14.

Leu, Urs B. ''Die Froschauer-Bibeln und die Täufer: Die Geschichte Einer Jahrhunderte Alten Freundschaft - the Froschauer Bibles and the Anabaptists: The History of an Old Friendship.'' Herborn [Germany]: Sepher Verlag, 2005.

Luthy, David. "The Zürich/Froschauer Bibles." ''The Our Amish Devotional Heritage: From the Collection of Heritage Historical Library.'' Aylmer, Ontario, Canada: Pathway Publishers, 2016. 15-27.
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Ernsthafte Christenpflicht

2024-12-18T18:46:55Z

EricBradley: /* Bibliography */

[[File:ErnsthafteChristenpflicht.jpg|300px|thumb|right|''1st Canadian edition of Ernsthafte Christenpflicht, 1846'']]

Ernsthafte Christenpflicht, the first complete and self-contained German prayer book for Mennonites, most likely of Palatine origin. In general, Mennonites practiced free, extemporaneous prayer at church and at home. Soon after 1600, however, Dutch Mennonites seem to have felt a need also for printed prayers, mainly for home devotions, and a few short collections of such prayers were published. Yet it was not until the early 18th century that the "Swiss" Mennonites in South [[Germany|Germany]] ([[p3594.html|Palatinate]]) took the decisive step of producing a complete prayer book of their own, a modest but independent publication of far-reaching influence. The full title of the 1739 edition is Die Ernsthaffte Christenpflicht, Darinnen Schöne Geistliche Gebäter, Darmit sich fromme Christen-Hertzen zu allen Zeiten und in allen Nöhten trösten können. Gedruckt im Jahr 1739, Zu finden in Kayserslautern bei dem Buchbinder (only known copy in the [[Mennonite Historical Library (Goshen, Indiana, USA)|Mennonite Historical Library]] at [[Goshen (Indiana, USA)|Goshen]], Indiana). It is a small book of 323 pages of prayers, with appended index and the "Haslibacher-Lied." It contains a total of 36 prayers; namely, 2 prayers for every day, 5 prayers in temptation and anxiety, and 29 "general" prayers. [Between the time [[Friedmann, Robert (1891-1970)|Robert Friedmann]] wrote this article and 1981, four earlier editions (1708, 1718, 1727, 1730) had been located.] Later 19th-century editions increased the number of prayers to 54, including also prayers for church services and other occasions, thus changing the character of the book. The book went through many editions; Europe saw at least 17 editions between 1708 and 1869, printed in [[Kaiserslautern (Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany)|Kaiserslautern]], Saarburg, Zweybrücken, Herborn in [[Nassau (Germany)|Nassau]], Reinach, Basel (Mechel pub), Regensburg, Neuwiller (Alsace); in America 32 editions, all in the German language, were produced between 1745 and 1955. The oldest American edition was printed at the Ephrata Cloister, Pa., in 1745. The book is still today in demand by the [[Old Order Amish|Amish]] congregations, who have preserved their German worship.

By 1997 there had been 88 editions or reprints worldwide; of these there were 65 German-language printings in North America in addition to six English printings. The first Canadian edition was printed in 1846; the German edition is maintained in print by Pathway Publishers of Aylmer, Ontario. A modern English translation by Leonard Gross was published in 1997 as Prayer book for earnest Christians. This edition also includes seven prayers first included in the 1846 Canadian edition.

As is the case with nearly all prayer books in existence, this one represents but a compilation of older models, Mennonite and non-Mennonite, partly rephrased and extended, and partly simply copied from other prayer books. It is an attractive task to trace all these models and forerunners, and to study their gradual changes. The main Mennonite source seems to have been a collection of 18 prayers by the well-known hymn writer [[Clock, Leenaert (d. after 1638)|Leenaerdt Clock]], first published as a "formulary" in Holland in 1625. It was later reprinted by T. T. van Sittert in his church manual, Glaubensbekenntnis, etc., 1664, in a German translation. This rather modest collection (Formulier etlicher Gebete) unexpectedly became the prayer model of the Mennonites for centuries to come, much changed, of course, in form and spirit during this period of borrowing. In Switzerland one particularly extensive "general" prayer of this Formulier became strangely popular and was twice printed previous to the Christenpflicht though in paraphrased form (Reist, Sendbrief). The Christenpflicht then brings still another version of this same prayer, adjusted to the new needs and conditions, and also breaks it up into 16 shorter prayer passages, in vielen Anliegen und Nöten zu sprechen, amplifying the different paragraphs of the former prayer, without, however, adding any new thought. Worth noticing is an ever-recurring passage in all these prayers on behalf of "those goodhearted people who love us and do good unto us and prove mercy with food and drink . . . but who have little strength to come into the obedience of God." It alludes to the "[[Half-Anabaptists|Half-Anabaptists]]" in [[Switzerland|Switzerland]] who were sympathizers with the Brethren, yet never joined the brotherhood.

Among the non-Mennonite sources of the Christenpflicht, two major prayer collections could be identified from which prayers were lifted verbatim without any change: [[Arndt, Johann (1555-1621)|Johann Arndt's]] Paradies-Gärtlein (1612), from which three prayers were taken, and [[Schwenckfeld, Caspar von (1489-1561)|Caspar Schwenckfeld's]] Deutsches Passional, 1539 (many anonymous editions since) , from which at least five prayers were adopted, of course, without knowing that they come from a man who in his lifetime had opposed their [[Anabaptism|Anabaptist]] forefathers. In fairness it must be said that it had always been the usage in producing new prayer books to borrow from older models. That was true with Crammer's Book of common prayers in England, and it was also true with Schwenckfeld or Arndt or with the Dutch Reformed prayer book which Clock might have used as a model for his short Formulier. In spite of all these transfers, however, the Ernsthafte Christenpflicht should be viewed as a completely new and original work, produced by and for Mennonites in the Palatinate. It was originally intended for private devotion only, not for use in church services (as the later editions might suggest). Its spirit, to be sure, is rather remote from that of the great beginning, it being nearer to the spirit of Arndt (or even of [[Schwenckfeld, Caspar von (1489-1561)|Schwenckfeld]]) than to that of the [[Ausbund|Ausbund]] or of [[Menno Simons (1496-1561)|Menno Simons]]. It most likely contributed to shaping the new, 18th-century pattern of Mennonite piety which came so close to that of the German pietists.
= Bibliography =
Friedmann, Robert. Mennonite Piety Through the Centuries. Goshen, IN: Mennonite Historical Society, 1949: 189-95 (contains a detailed account of the contents and character of all the prayers).

Luthy, David. "A History of 'Die Ernsthafte Christenpflicht'." Family Life (Feb. 1981): 19-23.

Luthy, David. "Die Ernsthafte Christenpflicht." ''Our Amish Devotional Heritage.'' Aylmer, ON: Pathway Publishers, 2016: 94-102.

Prayer Book for Earnest Christians: Die ernsthafte Christenpflicht, trans. and ed. by Leonard Gross. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1997: 11-12

''Mennonitisches Lexikon'' I, 608.
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[[Category:Books]]