Contents
SEPARATION AND THE SWORD
IN ANABAPTIST PERSUASION
Radical Confessional Rhetoric from Schleitheim to Dordrecht
Gerald Biesecker-Mast

Foreword by John D. Roth 11

Series Preface 14

Series Editor’s Foreword 15

Author’s Preface 19

Introduction 23

1 The Anabaptist Vision and Polygenesis Historiography • 35

Historical Interpretation and the Voice of Michael Sattler

Polygenesis and the Emergence of Anabaptism-in-General

Separation and Dependence in The Anabaptist Vision

The End of Polygenesis and the Return of The Bloody Theater

2 Luther’s Reformation and Müntzer’s Revolution • 68

Anabaptism and the Gemeindereformation

The Lutheran Reformation and its Two Kingdoms

The Peasants’ Revolt and the Destruction of the Godless

Erasmus and the Philosophy of Christ

Zwingli and the Zürich Radicals

3 The Schleitheim Brotherly Union and Swiss Brethren Separation • 97

Quietism or Struggle?

Separation and the Sword in the Schleitheim Brotherly Union

Authority and its Limits in the Answers of Ambrosius Spitelmaier

Ceremonies and Powers in Denck’s Concerning True Love

Worldliness and Responsibility in Hubmaier’s On the Sword

Covenant and Dispensation in Adler’s Judgment on the Sword

Patience and Property in Marpeck’s The Uncovering of the
Babylonian Whore

4 Peter Riedemann’s Account and Hutterian Communalism • 133

Separation and Community of Goods

Orthodoxy and Separation in Riedemann’s Account

Governance and Damnation in Glock’s Epistles

Mission and Election in Dax’s Confession of Faith

Apologetics and Antagonism in Walpot’s Five Articles

5 The Münster Apocalypse and Melchiorite Survival • 161

Melchior Hoffman, Bernard Rothmann and the Anabaptist
Kingdom at Münster

Suffering and Solidarity in Anna Janz’s Testament

Magistrates and Victims in Menno’s Reply to False Accusations

Transcendence and Transformation in Dirk Philips’
The Congregation of God

6 The Dordrecht Confession and Mennonite Harmlessness • 200

Unity and Division in Dutch Anabaptism

Peace and Harmlessness in the Dordrecht Confession

Swiss Brethren Separation and the 1693 Amish Division

The War of the Lambs and Cornelis Ris’s Confession

Conclusion 232

Appendix One: The Schleitheim Brotherly Union:
Articles IV and VI 241

Appendix Two: Peter Riedemann’s Account of our Religion, Teaching,
and Faith: "Separation from the World," "Government,"
and "Warfare" 244

Appendix Three: Dordrecht Confession and Peace Agreement:
Articles XIII and XIV 248

Notes 251

Bibliography 283

The Index 295

The Author 311

Separation and the Sword orders:

• Cascadia Publishing House Online Order Form
• Cascadia, Herald Press, and other order options
• Online shopping basket card orders through Separation and the Sword page, MennoLink Online Bookstore