The Radical ReformationMichael G. Baylor This book is a collection of writings by early Reformation radicals that illustrates both the diversity and the areas of agreement in their political thinking. The texts are drawn from the period 1521-1527, centering on the German Peasants' War of 1524-1526. The thinkers represented--Muntzer, Karlstadt, Grebel, Hut, Denck, and others--differed on important theological issues, yet all rejected the magisterial Reformation as serving the interests of society's elites. They advocated a strategy of Reformation from below, a sweeping transformation of society to the benefit of the lay commoner and the local community. With the start of the Peasants' War, radicals divided over the issue of the legitimacy of force. This division shaped the ways in which they confronted the failure of the Peasants' War and the new strategies for survival developed in its aftermath. Appended to the texts are a number of political programs of the Peasants' War. These documents illustrate ways in which the radicals contributed to the uprising, and how the war itself led to greater clarity in the political theory of the radical Reformation. |
Contents
Thomas Muntzer The Prague Protest | 1 |
Thomas Miintzer Sermon to the Princes or An Exposition of the Second Chapter of Daniel | 11 |
Andreas Karlstadt Letter from the Community of Orlamiinde to the People of Allstedt | 33 |
Conrad Grebel Letter to Thomas Muntzer Zurich 5 September 1524 | 36 |
Andreas Karlstadt Whether One Should Proceed Slowly | 49 |
Thomas Miintzer a Highly Provoked Defense | 74 |
Felix Manz Protest and Defense | 95 |
Anonymous To the Assembly of the Common Peasantry May 1525 | 101 |
Hans Hergot On the new Transformation of the Christian Life | 210 |
Programs of the Peasants War | 227 |
b The Twelve Articles of the Upper Swabian Peasants | 231 |
c The Memmingen Federal Constitution Bundesordnung | 239 |
d The Document of Articles of the Black Forest Peasants | 243 |
e The Fortysix Frankfurt Articles | 246 |
f Michael Gaismairs Territorial Constitution for Tyrol | 254 |
Biographical notes | 261 |
Hans Denck On the Law of God | 130 |
Hans Hut On the Mystery of Baptism | 152 |
Michael Sattler The Schleitheim Articles | 172 |
12 Balthasar Hubmaier On the Sword | 181 |
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Common terms and phrases
according Allstedt Anabaptism Anabaptist Andreas Karlstadt apostles authorities Balthasar Hubmaier baptism baptized believe brotherly love Christ says Christian church clergy Conrad Grebel Corinthians council covenant creatures dear brothers Denck Deuteronomy devil divine ecclesiastical elect enemies eternal evangelical everything evil evildoers faith false father fear Felix Manz follow God's commandments godless gospel Grebel Hans Hut hear heart heathen Hergot holy spirit honor Hubmaier idols infant baptism Isaiah Jeremiah Jesus Christ Jews John judge judgment Karlstadt kill king lord Luke Luther magisterial reformers Manz Matthew Memmingen Moses Mühlhausen Nikolsburg Numbers obedient ordained Orlamünde paperback Paul peace Peasants person Peter pious Political Writings edited poor preach preachers princes prophet Psalm punish radical Reformation reason Romans rulers Schappeler scribes Scripture secular servants someone suffering sword teach temporal territory things Thomas Müntzer tion true truth Waldshut Whoever whole world Wittenberg word written Zurich Zwingli