Browsing by Author "Montgomery, Christopher"

The object of my dissertation is to ascertain what conception of Catholic, Lutheran and Zwinglian theology the sixteenth century German Anabaptist lay theologian Pilgram Marpeck has. I am interested in discovering what he finds objectionable in their teaching, and also whether there is any common ground between him and them. I intend to learn whether Marpeck deserves his relatively peaceful reputation, and also whether his theology develops over time. I anticipate possible problems with language: theologians of the Reformation tend to use a robust, often provocative style, which may or may not be a mere rhetorical device, rather than an accurate reflection of their exact thoughts. I also anticipate problems with understanding the world view of Christians of those times, the conception of the role of the individual in society and the importance of the concept of Christendom. As regards a working hypothesis, I do expect to find some common ground, especially between Marpeck and Zwingli, and that Marpeck’s reputation as a peacemaker is deserved. My method has been to study Marpeck’s writings, translated into modern English. Some material is available in book form, some online. I have used the analyses of various Swiss, English and Finnish researchers to shed further light on Marpeck’s thought. I have also needed to resort to more general histories of the period, especially of the Anabaptists, for factual information. I have concentrated mainly on the topics of baptism, communion and secular authority in the theology of the above Christian groupings, as Marpeck understood them. I have also covered other aspects of Christian belief and practice more briefly. Of course Marpeck’s presentaton of his own Anabaptist thinking on these topics has further elucidated his opinions of these other Christians’ teachings on them. My research overlaps with the field of systematic theology, but the specific events of those years (c1528-1556), and how they affect Marpeck’s thinking, provide a historical dimension. I have needed to keep in mind any differences between how Marpeck understands, for example, Lutheran theology and how Lutherans understand it. I have consulted works on the theology of these groupings for further information. The results of my research show that Marpeck does not share much common ground with the above mentioned groupings. What common ground there is he does not emphasise, but instead focuses on the significant differences that there are between them. His own starting point is sometimes so far from that of his opponents that he does not always grasp what their starting point is. This leads to several misconceptions on his part of the teachings of these other Christians. I have not discovered any particular developments in his theology over the years. His frequent use of provocative language leads me to the conclusion that he does not deserve his reputation as a peacemaker. Despite this, when one allows for his lack of formal training, he is a skillful, convincing writer of theology, as well as clearly a man of great integrity.