Fleiner, Joachim (d. 1530)
Joachim Fleiner, an Anabaptist martyr, of a respected family in Esslingen, Württemberg, the young son of a guildmaster, was probably baptized in 1528 by Wilhelm Reublin or Christoph Freisleben (Eleutherobion). In September 1528 Augustin Bader of Augsburg invited him to a meeting of his followers at Schönberg near Gerodseck, at which baptism, ban, and communion were to be discussed. Fleiner, impressed with Bader's knowledge of Scripture, accepted, but was repelled by Bader's ideas of grandeur and returned to Esslingen the next day. He was prominent among the Anabaptists here, baptizing others.
At the end of 1529 he was arrested. No fewer than 14 learned men tried to convert him. His relatives, brothers, and sister begged him with tears to renounce his faith. He replied that he would renounce evil, but do good. At his trial he denied that the Anabaptists wanted all property to be held in common. It was good not to swear, but one might swear or refuse to do it. In all temporal matters they wanted to obey the commands of the government unless they were contrary to God's commands. No one should offend another; therefore it is not right to bear arms.
On 21 February 1530 Fleiner was taken to the place of execution with Ludwig Lichtenstein. On the way he sang, "Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir," and asked the pardon of all as he also pardoned all. Then he looked up and said, "Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit," made a cross with his right foot, and knelt. The executioner again asked him to recant, pointing to the body of Lichtenstein, who had already been executed. He replied, "I shall not die today, I shall be with God," and amid the general weeping he continued to speak. His courage deeply impressed the people.
Bibliography
Archiv für Reformationsgeschichte 11: 115 ff. (ev. 35 und 36).
Bossert, Gustav. Quellen zur Geschichte der Täufer, I. Band: Herzogtum Württemberg. Quellen und Forschungen zur Reformationsgeschichte XIII. Band. Leipzig: M. Heinsius, 1930: 963, 966.
Dreytwein, Dionysius. Dionysius Dreytweins Esslingische Chronik (1548-1564). Tübingen, Litterarischer Verein in Stuttgart, 1901: 104 ff.
Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. Mennonitisches Lexikon, 4 vols. Frankfurt & Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe: Schneider, 1913-1967: v. I, 652.
Keim, Theodor. Reformationsblätter der Reichstadt Esslingen : aus den Quellen. Esslingen: C. Weychardt, 1860: 31.
Pfaff, Karl. Geschichte der Reichsstadt Esslingen. Esslingen, 1840: 476.
Rauscher, Julius. Württembergische Reformationsgeschichte. Stuttgart: Calwer Vereinsbuchh., 1934: 85.
Author(s) | Gustav, Sr. Bossert |
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Date Published | 1956 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Bossert, Gustav, Sr.. "Fleiner, Joachim (d. 1530)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1956. Web. 22 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Fleiner,_Joachim_(d._1530)&oldid=107439.
APA style
Bossert, Gustav, Sr.. (1956). Fleiner, Joachim (d. 1530). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 22 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Fleiner,_Joachim_(d._1530)&oldid=107439.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, p. 337. All rights reserved.
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