I found a list by a delaware baptist, documenting the reasons theyd do well to consider menno simons teachings. His significance lies in the fact that he assumed the responsibilities of leadership at the crucial moment of the movement when it was in danger of losing its original identity under the. When simons began questioning his beliefs, he began to study the bible in earnest, as well as the writings of the. I even graduated from a mennonite high school and a mennonite college. Very little is known concerning his childhood and family except that he grew up in a poor peasant environment. As one of these mennonites, i have good reason to be curious about what menno simons believed about the. He would have been doubly disoriented by the discovery that over 96% of them do not live in europe. Genealogy profile for menno simons menno simons 1496 1561 genealogy genealogy for menno simons 1496 1561 family tree on geni, with. This is the basic story of menno simons, the person whom mennonites are named after. Menno simons, in full menno simonszoon, simons also spelled simonsz. As unappealing to look at, as the thought of reading it.
The complete works of menno simons kindle edition by. The source for this is every drawing of menno simons there is, including the one on the front of your copy of the complete writings of menno simons edited by j. The search for original prints of menno simons writings in america has had gratifying results. The name of the mennonites mennonites, descendants of the dutch and swiss evangelical anabaptists of the. The most important find is a complete copy of mennos of the true. His life, labors, and teachings kindle edition by horsch, john, publications, crossreach. The complete works of menno simons kindle edition by simons. Menno simons and the mennonites christian history institute. Menno simons today 31st october is reformation day, and. Being one of the few radical reformers who did not face an early martyrs death, he had much more time to write and develop his ideas. Palatinate or of the northern lowlands, most of mennos writings remained in. The complete works of menno simons, by menno simons, p. Menno simons 14921561, was a man of simple, direct thought and warm character, who exerted great influence on the dutch anabaptists. An englishlanguage edition of mennos works is complete writings, translated by leonard verduin and edited by john christian wenger 1956.
As a roman catholic priest menno learned latin and some greek. An introduction to sixteenthcentury anabaptism by william r. He had become a priest at the age of twentyfour, but accused himself, and the other clergy, of lax and selfindulgent living. Menno simons was a contemporary with martin luther, who seems to have taken all the credit for the reformation. Menno simons lived most of his life on the run because the anabaptists were not accepted by any of the established religions. Aug 01, 2014 menno simons views about christ affect our view of humanity and sexuality. My father handed me the big, fat book, of boring, religious writings. Menno simons was born in the village of witmarsum in dutch friesland. Menno simons, dutch priest, an early leader of the peaceful wing of dutch anabaptism, whose followers formed the mennonite church. All these works appear in the complete writings of menno simons, translated by leonard verduin and edited by john c. Keeney, the development of dutch anabaptist thought and practice from 15391564 1968.
It was not until the beginning of the twentieth century that historians agreed that menno must have been born in january 1496. Menno simons 1608 engraving menno simons 1496 1561 was a protestant reformer from friesland. Presumably menno returned soon to groningen or west friesland. Menno simons views about christ affect our view of humanity and sexuality. Peter jans of blanckenham, who was beheaded in june 1540 at kampen, testified that he was baptized by menno simons in 1536 at oldersum in east friesland. The complete works of menno simonsthe conversion of menno. He certainly was its most important leader in the netherlands during the sixteenth century. Menno simons article about menno simons by the free. They have been published more often than any other anabaptist leader, and works examining his life outnumber those of the other anabaptist leaders krahn 583. The menno simons lectureship endowment fund promotes research and public lectures by recognized scholars relating to anabaptistmennonite history, thought, life and culture, both past and present. Menno simons article about menno simons by the free dictionary.
The most important find is a complete copy of menno s of the true christian faith and its power of which only one defective copy is known in europe. A foundation and plain instruction of the saving doctrine of our lord jesus christ 1 rating. This volume also includes an extract from a letter in menno s handwriting and two hymns by menno. Educated and fiery, he defended the anabaptist movement against all detractors.
Menno simons, the faithful founder of the mennonites the. One of the earliest biographies of menno and still the most complete work in english is john horsch, menno simons. His fathers name must have been simon, simons being a patronym, while he had a brother named pieter. Many mennonites are aware that the man whose name we bear, menno simons, was considered an arch heretic by the dutch authorities, so that he lived his life as a fugitive.
He was not the founder but is often called the regenerator of the anabaptist movement. The complete works of menno simons kindle edition by simons, menno. His writings helped to spread his ideas and eventually those who followed his ways became known as mennonites. Mennos early life and education were formative, but lets leap ahead. Menno simons was born in the frisian town of witmarsum the netherlands. Simons was ordained into the roman catholic church in 1516even though he had yet to read the bible. He grew up in a poor peasant environment, but very little is known concerning his childhood and family.
I had never read any of menno simons writings, though i grew up in a mennonite home and have been an active member of a mennonite church for 40 years. Do not excuse yourselves, beloved sirs, and judges, that you are the servants of the emperor. In 1524 he became a roman catholic priest but in 1536 he left the church when he announced that he no longer click the link for more information. Read this work menno simons prominence as a leader of the anabaptist movement came somewhat as a result of his prolificacy. The name of the mennonites was derived from his name, although.
It availed pilate nothing that he crucified christ in the name of the emperor. For example, he pointed out that menno was more heavily persecuted than. Menno simons 14961561 was a dutch anabaptist leader from friesland whose followers became known as the mennonites. Menno was as worried about the violent anabaptists as anyone and had even tried to stem their fanaticism as a. For the next 25 years, mennos writings and sermons on adult baptism, piety, and nonviolence would become so influential, other leaders began referring to the dutch anabaptists as mennonites. You can use the search function above to search for any words or phrases. The contribution of menno simons centered primarily on the doctrine of the church, or ecclesiology. Mennos labours in the netherlands before the end of the year 1536 we find menno in east friesland, germany.
Menno simons prominence as a leader of the anabaptist movement came somewhat as a result of his prolificacy. We have been united as follows concerning the sword. His life, labors, and teachings biography by john horsch. The complete works of menno simonsthe conversion of menno simons.
Menno simons today 31st october is reformation day, and so my focus will be on the reformer, menno simons. Menno taught his followers to live in peace and to serve others, even in times of difficulty or conflict. Complete works of menno simon volume 1 by menno simons read online. In america the quadricentennial of mennos death brought the publication of franklin littell, h. His significance lies in the fact that he assumed the responsibilities of leadership at the crucial moment of the movement when it was in danger of losing its original identity under the influence of chiliastic and. I mean no disrespect, but old english, for me, is associated with a distant, nonrelational god. Menno separated from his mother church because of divergent views especially those of infant baptism versus believers baptism. Oct 19, 2016 menno sported a mustache with his beard. Menno was as worried about the violent anabaptists as anyone and had even tried to stem their fanaticism as a priest. Start with the preface to foundations of christian doctrine. Below is the index to the complete writings of menno simons as published by john f. Menno simons quotes showing 12 of 2 true evangelical faith is of such a nature it cannot lie dormant, but spreads itself out in all kinds of righteousness and fruits of love. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading menno simons. Bender, portraits and pictures, a reproduction of the only menno autograph known, plus a 1,400 item entry index.
What you might not know about menno simons mennonite world. Wenger, editor, and leonard verduin, translator, gathered all known writings of menno simons and included an introduction to each writing. Jun 02, 2010 18 menno simons, the complete writings of menno simons, ed. The conversion of menno simon, and his renunciation of the church of rome. Menno simons 1496 31 january 1561 was a roman catholic priest from the friesland region of the low countries who became an influential anabaptist religious leader. His fathers name was simon, simons being a patronym, and he had a brother named pieter. First ordained as a roman catholic priest, menno simons later rejected the catholic church and joined with the anabaptists in 1536. Menno simons is perhaps the most well known of the early anabaptists. The name of the mennonites was derived from his name, although he was not the actual founder of the sect. Menno simons 14961561 was the most outstanding anabaptist christian leader of the low countries during the 16th century. All of menno simonss writings are available online free of charge. The anabaptists and menno simons you have no right to refer. He lived during the time of the reformation 16th century. Aug 10, 2010 menno simons lived most of his life on the run because the anabaptists were not accepted by any of the established religions.
His followers became known as mennonites mennisten. The most important find is a complete copy of mennos of the true christian faith and its power of which only one defective copy is known in europe. Menno simons while many of the socalled radical reformers took up arms in their fight for ecclesiastical and political independence, menno simons came to teach a pacifistic anabaptism. Menno simons, the faithful founder of the mennonites.
The complete works of menno simons kindle edition by menno. The anabaptists and menno simons you have no right to refer these questions to the council. Title menno life, complete writings, doctrine, images and links summary website covering the life and philosophy of dutch mennonite anabaptist theologian menno simons. Menno simons sometimes spelled as simonsz, symons, simmons or simonis is without doubt the greatest figure in the history of the mennonite church. Montgomery, state librarian of pennsylvania, through. The complete works of menno simons wikisource, the free.
Menno simons, had he foreseen it, would have been dumbfounded. He was born into a dutch peasant family, and his fathers name was simon. And when i asked mennonite friends and colleagues if they had ever read anything. What comes as a surprise to some is that menno simons, being an anabaptist, was extremely wellversed in scripture. Anabaptist church communities named after him are known as mennonites. As a child my parents read books by louise vernon that chronicled the anabaptists and menno simons. Menno simonssixteenth century reformer church history. Menno simons quotes author of the complete works of menno.
The complete works of menno simons wikisource, the free online. A priest who remained an active reformer in the dutch catholic churches well after his conversion to evangelical doctrine, simons shaped a new direction. Menno simons 1496 31 january 1561 was an anabaptist religious leader from the friesland region of the low countries. The complete works of menno simon by menno simons, 14961561. The complete works of menno simons 19 ratings confession and the new birth 2 ratings. He discussed the issue with his pastor, searched the church fathers, and read the works of martin luther and heinrich bullinger. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. But where martin luther failed in his reformation, menno simons didnt. Simons was a contemporary of the protestant reformers and his followers became known as mennonites. Oct 07, 2017 simons, meditation on the twentyfifth psalm for more on menno simons. What drove menno simons from being a roman catholic priest to becoming the most outstanding leader george of the anabaptists. Being one of the few radical reformers who did not face an early martyrs death, he had much more time to write and develop his. Simons was a contemporary of the protestant reformers and it is from his name that his followers became known as mennonites. When menno simons renounced the use of force under.