Nadler, Hans (16th century)

Hans Nadler (Ritter) was an Anabaptist preacher at Erlangen, Germany. His trade was selling needles to shoemakers and tailors. He was baptized, along with his wife, by Hans Hut in 1527. He then preached wherever he went. He escaped imprisonment by flight to Moravia. In Nikolsburg he took part in a great Anabaptist meeting at which 72 persons were baptized.

Nadler returned to Erlangen, was arrested there on 17 January 1529, and cross-examined. In reply to the question why he was so bold as to keep returning to Erlangen, he said God had given him the grace to return to his wife and children; he had never baptized, was not ordained to do so; his parents had indeed told him that he had been baptized, but he personally knew nothing of it; for he had been a child and had no understanding and knew nothing about faith; therefore he had himself baptized upon his faith. Concerning communion he said he did not believe that the body of Christ is in the bread, but one receives it in spirit. Concerning possessions he said that if they were used as Christ commanded, they could serve toward salvation. He would not act contrary to the government, for it is ordained of God. Concerning nonresistance he said, it is not the business of a Christian to fight. There were among them brethren who wanted all the brethren to lay down their arms, and he did so; but it was not a law of the brotherhood. He vigorously denied that they were instigating revolt; they should mutually show only love and faithfulness, offend no one, but do good to all. On 13 February 1529 he was tried again, this time with torture. He remained true to his faith. Upon his request he was permitted to sell his property and move to Moravia with his wife and three children. Nothing more is known about him.

Bibliography

Cornelius, C.A.  Geschichte des Münsterischen Aufruhrs II. Leipzig, 1860: 281.

Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. Mennonitisches Lexikon, 4 vols. Frankfurt & Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe: Schneider, 1913-1967: v. III, 196.

Schornbaum, Karl. Quellen zur Geschichte der Wiedertäufer II. Band, Markgraftum Brandenburg. (Bayern I. Abteilung). Leipzig: M. Heinsius Nachfolger, 1934: 131-141.

Wiswedel, Wilhelm. Bilder and Führergestalten aus dem Täufertum, 3 vols. Kassel: J.G. Oncken Verlag, 1928-1952: v. II: 40-44.

Author(s)	Christian Neff
Date Published	1957

Cite This Article

MLA style

Neff, Christian. "Nadler, Hans (16th century)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1957. Web. 21 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Nadler,_Hans_(16th_century)&oldid=144328.

APA style

Neff, Christian. (1957). Nadler, Hans (16th century). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 21 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Nadler,_Hans_(16th_century)&oldid=144328.

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Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, p. 805. All rights reserved.

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