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Balthasar Hubmaier: Theologian of Anabaptism
The complete works of one of the most significant theologians of the Reformation.
This book contains the complete writings of Balthasar Hubmaier, including his discussion of three marks of a true water baptism of adults, the Lord’s Supper, and fraternal admonition.
This is the fifth volume in the Classics of the Radical Reformation, a series of Anabaptist and Free Church documents translated and annotated under the direction of the Institute of Mennonite Studies.
This book contains the complete writings of Balthasar Hubmaier, including his discussion of three marks of a true water baptism of adults, the Lord’s Supper, and fraternal admonition.
This is the fifth volume in the Classics of the Radical Reformation, a series of Anabaptist and Free Church documents translated and annotated under the direction of the Institute of Mennonite Studies.
608 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1989
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March 4, 2021
Read just “On the Christian Baptism of Believers.” Excellent. Both a positive Reformation articulation from Scripture and church history, as well as a rebuttal of infant baptism. Hubmaier at his best.
October 29, 2026
In my recent review of Zwingli: God’s Armed Prophet by F. Bruce Gordon, I noted that in September 2026, my wife Sandy and I went on a Germany-Switzerland Reformation Study Tour through the Michigan-based travel company, GTI Tours. The tour was unique in that it did not focus on just Martin Luther (at one of the Luther-focused Reformation museum in Eisenach, Germany, we ran into an American church group that went to only the Luther sites). It certainly did at first, looking at not only Luther but also Katie Luther, Philip Melanchthon, artist Lucas Cranach, and others, in Germany, but we also visited sites related to the Geneva, Switzerland-based John Calvin (there was a Reformation Wall sculpture in Geneva), the Zurich-based Huldrych Zwingli, and various Anabaptist sites in Switzerland and in Waldshut, Germany near the Swiss Federation. In my opinion, it was highly appropriate and well to look at not just the “Conservative” Lutheran Reformation but also the “Reformed” and “Radical” (Baptist) Reformation. In contemporary America, Baptist theology and practice has gained MUCH influence, so one SHOULD know something about its roots. So I state again that if one wishes to learn about this, by all means seek out a GTI tour on the subject led by brilliant scholar Dr. Dan van Voorhis, host of the increasingly popular “Christian History Almanac” podcast.
On September 5, 2026, Dan van Voorhis released a broadcast titled “The Christian History Almanac Weekend Edition Presents: The (Semi) Forgotten (Quasi) Radical Balthasar Hubmaier” (find the broadcast through Internet search if it’s important enough to you). On our September 2026 Reformation Study Tour, we visited the church where Balthasar Hubmaier (1480-1528) served as pastor. That church remains a practicing Roman Catholic church today and Hubmaier was on just the priest roster history list along with dozens of other men. BUT, despite that, Hubmaier became known as a “theologian of Anabaptism.” But how well known is Hubmaier? I don’t think well known at all. At least I had never or barely heard of him until van Voorhis told Hubmaier’s story. Unlike other early Protestants, there are few or statues or paintings of Hubmaier, in huge contrast to other early Protestants such as Luther. The Anabaptist history for many doesn’t get much notice. And yet, as time has gone on, Baptists have become exceedingly influential and accepted. (Ana)Baptists have millions of adherents today, and many Pentecostals accept core elements of Baptist teaching as well.
Hubmaier was one of the first to become an outspoken proponent of “believer’s baptism.” In other words, he considered infant baptism to be of no effect and not a baptism. Therefore, he was baptized as an adult after verbal profession of faith. Other points of theology supported by Hubmaier included viewing the Lord’s Supper as a symbolic memorial, the freedom of the will, and church discipline in the congregation. He said that he based his teachings first and foremost on the Bible but that also certain church fathers throughout history said similar things to what he has said, particularly singling out Jerome as one who did (according to Hubmaier).
Hubmaier left it to God as to whether children were saved without infant baptism. Some might be surprised that Hubmaier maintained agreement with the Roman Catholics that Mary remained a virgin all of her life. (Luther and Zwingli also apparently still held that view as well, but many Protestants today would say that there’s significant biblical evidence that Mary had other children besides the miraculously-born Savior.)
Some of Hubmaier’s views and practices were considered radical in his day, especially his adult baptism. He was challenged to recant and at first he did. But then he said he stood by his convictions. He was then burned at the stake. His wife Elsbeth (of whom little is known, it seems) was drowned. Van Voorhis, though not a Baptist, dramatically recounts the deaths of Balthasar and Elsbeth Hubmaier on his podcast.
How many Baptists today know that Baptist theology/practice could get you burned at the stake in the 1500s? How many non-Baptists today would still be cool with Baptists getting executed? Zwingli at first had some affinity with Hubmaier but that eventually went away. According to historical reports, Zwingli did not object to the Hubmaiers receiving the fate that they did.
On our Reformation Study Tour, besides learning about Hubmaier, we visited a prison where Anabaptists were tortured and imprisoned as well as a cave where early Anabaptists hid. It was educational and deeply practical to do so. (By the way, I was recently described as an “academic” on an Internet message board, kind of in a dismissive way. I certainly believe in sound academics and try to practice that to the best of my ability, but I FREQUENTLY to try to relate history to CURRENT practice. I’m anything but “academic” in that sense.)
Anyway, this is a lengthy introduction to the book Balthasar Hubmaier: Theologian of Anabaptism (Classics of the Radical Reformation Book 5) (Plough, 2019, 770 pages), edited by H. Wayne Pipkin and John H. Yoder. E. J. Furcha, in Mennonite Quarterly Review, called it “The definitive rendering into English of the Hubmaier corpus.” The book is billed as “The complete works of one of the most significant theologians of the Reformation.” A digital license edition (which is what I purchased) is available through Amazon.
Here are four quotes of Hubmaier that I thought of among the most interest:
“Oh, the great foolishness whereby a child one hour old is asked in Latin and it should answer to that in German, just as if it had learned two languages in the mother’s womb. Should not all Jews and heathen simply laugh at us in that we perform such play-acting?” (Hubmaier at times mocked what he considered to be the absurdity of infant baptism – others would respond that that there’s no reason that infants can’t or don’t have faith and that it’s a rationalistic assumption to think that they don’t. Faith comes from the Word of God, and infants can hear it, even in the womb.”)
“Think better, my Zwingli. For if baptism of those previously instructed and believing is a heresy, then Christ is the first archheretic. For he ordered that one should first preach, afterward believe, and third, baptize. Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16. And the apostles must also be heretics who also practiced it thus. Acts 2:38, 41; 8:12-13; 35-38; 10:44-48; 11:13-18; 16:14-15; 32-33; 19:5. Let every godly Christian read these chapters first and afterward judge.”
“You accuse us again and again of rebaptism and have, however, not proven with one single word that infant baptism is a baptism. You twist yourself, you bend back and forth, but no clear Scripture will come forth.”
“Well we also say that the words, Mark 16:16, apply only to those who hear the gospel preached and not to young children. That is just the understanding of Saint Jerome on the word concerning water baptism. Matt. 28:19. There he writes as follows: ‘In the first place, they teach all the people. After that they dip the taught ones into the water. For it should not be that the body receive the sacrament of baptism unless the soul has received the truth of faith beforehand.” So speaks Jerome, the holy teacher. If I also speak this way, I am an archheretic. If these words do not apply to young children, then the baptism of these words also do not apply. Then there must be another baptism for cradle children, of which baptism there is no report here nor in Matthew 28:19, for here and there is a history which no one can deny. Well, my Zwingle, please tell us, for God’s sake, where in Scripture water baptism is instituted by Christ for those who have not yet heard the gospel, are not yet accountable and do not believe. If you can point out this baptism with a clear word, then, truly, truly, we are rightly defeated by you and should justly be punished in honor, goods, body, and life. If you cannot do that, then we beseech you for the sake of the last judgment, confess your error and henceforth be at peace with us.”
And there are hundreds of pages in this book, including hymns attributed to him. Whether one agrees with Hubmaier on every or even any word, it is well to know about him and his teachings and history. Therefore, this five star book is recommended for any Christian and his library.
On September 5, 2026, Dan van Voorhis released a broadcast titled “The Christian History Almanac Weekend Edition Presents: The (Semi) Forgotten (Quasi) Radical Balthasar Hubmaier” (find the broadcast through Internet search if it’s important enough to you). On our September 2026 Reformation Study Tour, we visited the church where Balthasar Hubmaier (1480-1528) served as pastor. That church remains a practicing Roman Catholic church today and Hubmaier was on just the priest roster history list along with dozens of other men. BUT, despite that, Hubmaier became known as a “theologian of Anabaptism.” But how well known is Hubmaier? I don’t think well known at all. At least I had never or barely heard of him until van Voorhis told Hubmaier’s story. Unlike other early Protestants, there are few or statues or paintings of Hubmaier, in huge contrast to other early Protestants such as Luther. The Anabaptist history for many doesn’t get much notice. And yet, as time has gone on, Baptists have become exceedingly influential and accepted. (Ana)Baptists have millions of adherents today, and many Pentecostals accept core elements of Baptist teaching as well.
Hubmaier was one of the first to become an outspoken proponent of “believer’s baptism.” In other words, he considered infant baptism to be of no effect and not a baptism. Therefore, he was baptized as an adult after verbal profession of faith. Other points of theology supported by Hubmaier included viewing the Lord’s Supper as a symbolic memorial, the freedom of the will, and church discipline in the congregation. He said that he based his teachings first and foremost on the Bible but that also certain church fathers throughout history said similar things to what he has said, particularly singling out Jerome as one who did (according to Hubmaier).
Hubmaier left it to God as to whether children were saved without infant baptism. Some might be surprised that Hubmaier maintained agreement with the Roman Catholics that Mary remained a virgin all of her life. (Luther and Zwingli also apparently still held that view as well, but many Protestants today would say that there’s significant biblical evidence that Mary had other children besides the miraculously-born Savior.)
Some of Hubmaier’s views and practices were considered radical in his day, especially his adult baptism. He was challenged to recant and at first he did. But then he said he stood by his convictions. He was then burned at the stake. His wife Elsbeth (of whom little is known, it seems) was drowned. Van Voorhis, though not a Baptist, dramatically recounts the deaths of Balthasar and Elsbeth Hubmaier on his podcast.
How many Baptists today know that Baptist theology/practice could get you burned at the stake in the 1500s? How many non-Baptists today would still be cool with Baptists getting executed? Zwingli at first had some affinity with Hubmaier but that eventually went away. According to historical reports, Zwingli did not object to the Hubmaiers receiving the fate that they did.
On our Reformation Study Tour, besides learning about Hubmaier, we visited a prison where Anabaptists were tortured and imprisoned as well as a cave where early Anabaptists hid. It was educational and deeply practical to do so. (By the way, I was recently described as an “academic” on an Internet message board, kind of in a dismissive way. I certainly believe in sound academics and try to practice that to the best of my ability, but I FREQUENTLY to try to relate history to CURRENT practice. I’m anything but “academic” in that sense.)
Anyway, this is a lengthy introduction to the book Balthasar Hubmaier: Theologian of Anabaptism (Classics of the Radical Reformation Book 5) (Plough, 2019, 770 pages), edited by H. Wayne Pipkin and John H. Yoder. E. J. Furcha, in Mennonite Quarterly Review, called it “The definitive rendering into English of the Hubmaier corpus.” The book is billed as “The complete works of one of the most significant theologians of the Reformation.” A digital license edition (which is what I purchased) is available through Amazon.
Here are four quotes of Hubmaier that I thought of among the most interest:
“Oh, the great foolishness whereby a child one hour old is asked in Latin and it should answer to that in German, just as if it had learned two languages in the mother’s womb. Should not all Jews and heathen simply laugh at us in that we perform such play-acting?” (Hubmaier at times mocked what he considered to be the absurdity of infant baptism – others would respond that that there’s no reason that infants can’t or don’t have faith and that it’s a rationalistic assumption to think that they don’t. Faith comes from the Word of God, and infants can hear it, even in the womb.”)
“Think better, my Zwingli. For if baptism of those previously instructed and believing is a heresy, then Christ is the first archheretic. For he ordered that one should first preach, afterward believe, and third, baptize. Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16. And the apostles must also be heretics who also practiced it thus. Acts 2:38, 41; 8:12-13; 35-38; 10:44-48; 11:13-18; 16:14-15; 32-33; 19:5. Let every godly Christian read these chapters first and afterward judge.”
“You accuse us again and again of rebaptism and have, however, not proven with one single word that infant baptism is a baptism. You twist yourself, you bend back and forth, but no clear Scripture will come forth.”
“Well we also say that the words, Mark 16:16, apply only to those who hear the gospel preached and not to young children. That is just the understanding of Saint Jerome on the word concerning water baptism. Matt. 28:19. There he writes as follows: ‘In the first place, they teach all the people. After that they dip the taught ones into the water. For it should not be that the body receive the sacrament of baptism unless the soul has received the truth of faith beforehand.” So speaks Jerome, the holy teacher. If I also speak this way, I am an archheretic. If these words do not apply to young children, then the baptism of these words also do not apply. Then there must be another baptism for cradle children, of which baptism there is no report here nor in Matthew 28:19, for here and there is a history which no one can deny. Well, my Zwingle, please tell us, for God’s sake, where in Scripture water baptism is instituted by Christ for those who have not yet heard the gospel, are not yet accountable and do not believe. If you can point out this baptism with a clear word, then, truly, truly, we are rightly defeated by you and should justly be punished in honor, goods, body, and life. If you cannot do that, then we beseech you for the sake of the last judgment, confess your error and henceforth be at peace with us.”
And there are hundreds of pages in this book, including hymns attributed to him. Whether one agrees with Hubmaier on every or even any word, it is well to know about him and his teachings and history. Therefore, this five star book is recommended for any Christian and his library.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews