BALTHASAR HUBMAIER

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BALTHASAR HUBMAIER

• A Reformer Who Dared to be Strictly Biblical

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I. BIRTH

• Friedberg, Bavaria, 1480

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II. EDUCATION

• Attended the University of Freiburg, gaining a
  masters degree in 1511.
• Professors advised him to study for medicine, but
  he chose theology.
• Studied philosophy and theology under Johann Eck,
  Luthers antagonist.
• Received doctorate at Ingolstadt and chaired
  theology.
• The most highly educated of all of the Anabaptist
  reformers.

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III. MINISTRY

• 15161521 pastored Catholic church in Regensburg.
  Persecuted the Jews there.
• Called to pastorate in Waldshut where he
  distinguished himself as a preacher and soon
  changed to being a reformer.

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IV. REFORMER

• Close friend and ally with Ulrich Zwingli
  helped Zwingli in the great debate at Zurich in
  1523.
• Attended Zwinglis group studying the Greek New
  Testament.
• Insisted in a conference with Zwingli that in
  all disputes concerning faith and religion, the
  Scripture alone, proceeding from the mouth of
  God, ought to be our level and rule.

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IV. REFORMER

• Discovered that the reformation in Zurich had not
  gone back to the apostolic model. Writings of
  Paul, Erasmus, and Luther influenced him.
• Gradually embraced Anabaptist principles,
  rupturing his relationship to Zwingli.
• Practiced open air preaching at Waldshut.
• Eventually fled to Schaffhausen in 1524.

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IV. REFORMER

• Wilhelm Reublin baptized Hubmaier and 60 members
  of the congregation in Waldshut on Easter 1525.
• Reublin was a member of the Anabaptist group that
  included Conrad Grebel, Felix Manz, and Georg
  Blaurock who opposed Zwinglis view of baptism.
• Formed an Anabaptist church in Waldshut, Austria
  and baptized more than 300.
• Austrian army captured Schaffhausen in December
  1525.

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IV. REFORMER

• Hubmaier sought refuge with Zwingli in Zurich,
  but Zwingli had him arrested because of
  differences on infant baptism.

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V. DOCTRINAL DIFFERENCES

• Luther and Zwingli retained infant baptism, the
  union of church and state, and held to
  consubtantiation in the Lords Supper.
• Hubmaier stood firm on biblical principles of
  believers baptism, separation of church and
  state, and a memorial view of the Lords Supper.
• Luther and Zwingli continued unregenerate church
  membership, while Hubmaier stood firmly against
  it.

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V. DOCTRINAL DIFFERENCES

• Hubmaier
• But the right of baptism of Christ, which is
  preceded by teaching and oral confession of
  faith, I teach, and say that infant baptism is a
  robbery of the right baptism of Christ, and a
  misuse of the high name of God, Father, and Son
  and Holy Spirit, altogether opposed to the
  institution of Christ and to the customs of the
  apostles.

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V. DOCTRINAL DIFFERENCES

• Hubmaier
• Every devout Christian who permits himself to
  be baptized with water should beforehand have a
  good conscience toward God through a complete
  understanding of the Word of God, that is, that
  knows and is sure that he has a gracious, kindly
  God, through the resurrection of Christ. . . .
  Then afterwards follows water baptism not that
  through it the soul is cleansed, but the yes
  of a good conscience toward God, previously
  given inwardly by faith.

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V. DOCTRINAL DIFFERENCES

• Hubmaier
• no baptism, no church no baptism, no
  discipleship.
• Practiced affusion rather than immersion, though
  later followers practiced immersion.
• Pled for religious toleration Concerning
  Heretics and Those Who Burn Them.

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V. DOCTRINAL DIFFERENCES

• Pled for religious toleration Concerning
  Heretics and Those Who Burn Them.
• Hubmaier
• It is well and good that the secular authority
  puts to death the criminals who do physical harm
  to the defenseless, Romans 13. But no one may
  injure the atheist who wishes nothing for himself
  other than to forsake the gospel.

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V. DOCTRINAL DIFFERENCES

• Differed from most Anabaptists concerning civil
  government and its authority.
• Many Anabaptists would forbid Christians from
  serving as magistrates, because that position of
  authority might require them to use the sword to
  uphold law and order and secure justice.
• Hubmaier better for a Christian to hold the
  position of magistrate than for a pagan.
• Not an absolute pacifist. Opposed war and did not
  permit a Christian to take up arms to overthrow a
  tryannical government, but he would permit a
  Christian to bear arms in defense of his country
  under certain conditions.

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VI. IMPRISONMENT DEATH

• After his imprisonment and torture in Zurich, he
  was released and allowed to leave Switzerland
  after he recanted publicly.
• Went to Nikolsburg in Moravia where he saw the
  conversion of as many as 12,000 under his
  preaching and influence.
• He wrote many tracts that found wide circulation.

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VI. IMPRISONMENT DEATH

• In 1527, Hubmaier was arrested and imprisoned.
• His wife Elsebeth, to whom he had been married
  just 2 years, also was imprisoned.
• They were transferred to Vienna to stand trial.
• Hubmaier appealed to Zwingli, the Emperor, and
  the Confederation and Council to no avail.

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VI. IMPRISONMENT DEATH

• Zwingli and others tried to get him to recant.
• Finally, upon the rack, he broke and agreed to
  recant on some points.
• They brought him, weakened and frail to the
  pulpit where he began to read his recantation in
  a weak and quavering voice.

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VI. IMPRISONMENT DEATH

• Suddenly, he seemed to straighten and strengthen.
  
• He filled the cathedral with his shout Infant
  baptism is not of God, and men must be baptized
  by faith in Christ.
• They dragged him back to the dungeon, where he
  wrote his confession of faith.

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VI. IMPRISONMENT DEATH

• March 10, 1528, he was led out to be executed.
• Executioners stripped him and rubbed sulfur and
  gunpowder into his long beard.
• They tied him to the stake, piled the wood around
  him, and lit it.
• Three days later his wife was executed by
  drowning in the Danube River.

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CONCLUSION LESSONS

• Adhere strictly to Scripture at all costs.
• Preach the Word faithfully even unto death.

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