Though known as “the Menno Simons of the South,” Pilgram Marpeck may be an unfamiliar figure in Anabaptist church history.

An important 16^th century church pastor and writer, Marpeck never signed any book that he wrote in order to keep his employment as a civil engineer in Austria .  Only recently have scholars verified his authorship on documents written from 1530 until his death in 1556.

In June, the Society hosted a meeting with William Klassen, one of the co-authors of the new book, Marpeck: A Life of Dissent and Conformity (Herald Press, 2008; for sale in our on-line bookstore).  Contact us for CD copies of this June ’09 talk by renowned scholar Klassen, available from the Society for $3.

The book shows how Marpeck , perhaps more than any other early Anabaptist leader, helped lay the practical foundations of the Believers Church tradition.          

 Marpeck was concerned with three themes:  the connection between inner and outer spirituality, freedom of conscience, and the primacy of love.  He believed in dwelling on a passage of Scripture until the Holy Spirit gives unity of understanding to the gathered community.

Marpeck appealed to the authorities to exercise tolerance toward Anabaptists, and fled Rattenberg when he himself became a target, believing that “God had more important things for him than to serve as firewood for Ferdinand the 1st” (Archduke of Austria from 1521 to 1564, who had Anabaptists burned at the stake).

Marpeck believed that legalism can stifle the Spirit of God, but that order is necessary to constrain sinful behavior.  He sought to develop a third way between legalism and lawlessness.

Straddling his work in the world with his work for the church, Marpeck believed that it was not wrong to carry a sword but wrong to use it.  In many ways, Marpeck’s struggle to remain faithful while engaged with society mirrors the contemporary situation of many Mennonites today.   Order the book from us to learn more.

Marpeck appealed to the authorities to exercise tolerance toward Anabaptists, and fled Rattenberg when he himself became a target, believing that “God had more important things for him than to serve as firewood for Ferdinand the 1st” (Archduke of Austria from 1521 to 1564, who had many Anabaptists burned at the stake.) 

Marpeck worked as a mining engineer in Strasburg for several years.  This portrait by Ivan Moon from the Herald Press book portrays him against the Augsburg city backdrop, where he served more than a decade as a respected civil engineer .