Anabaptist Political Theology After Marpeck

by J. Denny Weaver (Editor), Gerald J Mast (Editor), Trevor Bechtel (Editor)

Addressing sixteenth-century Anabaptist leader Pilgram Marpeck's thought and life, this volume's 11 authors explore Marpeck's significance for his own time and today. Contributors include Matthew Eaton, Scott Holland, Trevor George Hunsberger Bechtel, Duane K. Friesen, Javan Lapp, Gerald J. Mast, Joanna Lawrence Shenk, Anthony G. Siegrist, Philip E. Stoltzfus, J. Denny Weaver Anabaptist Theology After Marpeck models engaging history and using theology to understand contemporary public concerns. Marpeck participated in theological and political debates, and was active in the life of his community. He constitutes an especially compelling thought partner for twenty-first-century Anabaptists who seek to engage our communities to advocate for the poor, advance social justice, or encourage religious reform. In a diverse set of essays written by leading and new scholars, readers can explore Marpeck's impact on his day and ours and explore one set of possibilities for connecting Christian conviction across different times.

262 pages, Paperback

Published March 15, 2022

About the author

J. Denny Weaver is Professor Emeritus at Bluffton University where he taught for 31 years. He continues as editor of The C. Henry Smith Series. His most recent books include The Nonviolent Atonement, 2nd edition, and the co-authored Defenseless Christianity: Anabaptism for a Nonviolent Church. His many articles and chapters in edited books as well as speaking engagements address a variety of topics related to nonviolence, violence in traditional theology, atonement theology, the character of God, violence in society, and Anabaptist history and theology. He has lectured in the United Kingdom, the Congo, and in Germany.

Reviews

[Cralls · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love Marpeck and was excited to see the release of this book. When I was finally able to get my hands on it, it did not disappoint. Various writers engage with Pilgram Marpeck, a 16th center Anabaptist reformer, in an attempt to see how we can apply his thought and methods to our 21st century context. Pilgram Marpeck is a bit of an odd cookie for the reformation because he was decidedly Anabaptist on the one hand, yet maintained a privileged and governmental position for his entire life. Some of the essay wrestle with what Marpeck’s thought towards government was, a few out forth different views of his theology. Did he start from the established religious tradition or build ground up from the narratives of Jesus? The essays often give Marpeck conversion (and at times, sparring) partners to further flesh out his thought and it’s relevance.

Those who don’t know anything about Marpeck or the radical reformation may be a bit lost at times. Those who don’t have a particular interest in the history of this place and era may get a bit bored at times. But even they, I think, would ultimately find this an interesting, thought provoking and helpful book on how a Christian devoted to peace should relate to the political and social world.

[Cody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was interested because of the title, discouraged by early chapters that seemed to be promoting a wishy washy, anti-doctrinal contemporary Anabaptism, excited by middle chapters that detailed Marpeck's theology, and then lost interest in the last chapters. The final section was the only one that treated Marpeck's political theology in any depth, but it was vague and unfocused--more interested in referencing Derrida than building from Marpeck.

While the title is misleading, the analysis of Marpeck in the middle chapters is worth the price of admission.