Zwickau prophets
Encyclopedia
The Zwickau Prophets were three men from Zwickau
of the Radical Reformation
who were possibly involved in a disturbance in nearby Wittenberg
and its reformation in early 1522.
The three men, Nicholas Storch
, Thomas Dreschel and Markus Stübner, began their movement in Zwickau, Saxony
. Though these three names are favored in recent scholarship, others have been suggested. Qualben used the name "Marx" for "Dreschel," Vedder
replaced Dreschel with Marcus Thomä and Estep
gave Stübner the middle name "Thomas."
The relationship of the Zwickau prophets to the Anabaptist
movement has been variously interpreted. They have been viewed as a precursory foundation of Anabaptism before the rise of the Swiss Brethren
in 1525, as unrelated to the movement except for the influence on Thomas Müntzer and as being a dual foundation with the Swiss Brethren to form a composite movement of Anabaptism. Regardless of the exact relationship to Anabaptism, the Zwickau Prophets present a radical alternative to Luther and mainstream Protestantism
as demonstrated in their involvement in disturbances in Wittenberg.
, not Scripture, were their authority in theological matters. Another highly distinctive feature was their opposition to pedobaptism (Infant Baptism
). Despite their rejection of pedobaptism, the Zwickau Prophets do not seem to have departed from mere theory to have taken the turn, which would mark Anabaptism, to practicing adult baptism of believers.
The Zwickau Prophets also held to imminent apocalypticism
, which led them to believe that the end of days would come soon. They also possibly sought a believers church, which would be separate from the State churches of Protestantism and Catholicism
.
and others who sought greater reforms in the city. Despite their acceptance among some, the Prophets' presence may have caused an unrest in the city that Philipp Melanchthon
was unable to settle. Melanchthon turned to Martin Luther
, who was at that time being held in protective custody at the Wartburg
Castle, and at the behest of the Wittenberg town council Luther returned to his reforming activities in Wittenberg on March 6, 1522.
Luther soon preached eight sermons against those he would label "Schwärmer" ("Fanatics") and the force of these sermons was enough to calm the growing radicalism in the city. The Prophets then reportedly confronted Luther in order to assert the authority of the Spirit-mediated message over Luther and his gospel. Luther claimed to have demanded that they authenticate their message with a miracle, a sign which the men refused to give. The Prophets then denounced Luther and left Wittenberg.
Kuhr also challenged the older paradigm on the confrontation that the Prophets had with Luther. Kuhr's conclusion was that the prophets did not come to Luther as a group but had each approached Luther at various times in the following year during separate visits to Wittenberg. Luther's account of the encounters, though appearing singular may have been a conflation of separate meetings, each meeting being similar enough for Luther to describe as one.
Zwickau
Zwickau in Germany, former seat of the government of the south-western region of the Free State of Saxony, belongs to an industrial and economical core region. Nowadays it is the capital city of the district of Zwickau...
of the Radical Reformation
Radical Reformation
The Radical Reformation was a 16th century response to what was believed to be both the corruption in the Roman Catholic Church and the expanding Magisterial Protestant movement led by Martin Luther and many others. Beginning in Germany and Switzerland, the Radical Reformation birthed many radical...
who were possibly involved in a disturbance in nearby Wittenberg
Wittenberg
Wittenberg, officially Lutherstadt Wittenberg, is a city in Germany in the Bundesland Saxony-Anhalt, on the river Elbe. It has a population of about 50,000....
and its reformation in early 1522.
The three men, Nicholas Storch
Nicholas Storch
Nicholas Storch was a radical reformation preacher and a weaver by trade. With Thomas Dreschel and Mark Thomas Stübner, he was one of the Zwickau prophets....
, Thomas Dreschel and Markus Stübner, began their movement in Zwickau, Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
. Though these three names are favored in recent scholarship, others have been suggested. Qualben used the name "Marx" for "Dreschel," Vedder
Vedder
Vedder may refer to:People:* Amy Vedder, ecologist and primatologist* Eddie Vedder , American rock musician, singer, and songwriter* Edward Bright Vedder , U.S...
replaced Dreschel with Marcus Thomä and Estep
Estep
Estep is an American surname, and may refer to:* Harry Allison Estep , member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania* Joanna Estep , illustrator, writer and cartoonist...
gave Stübner the middle name "Thomas."
The relationship of the Zwickau prophets to the Anabaptist
Anabaptist
Anabaptists are Protestant Christians of the Radical Reformation of 16th-century Europe, and their direct descendants, particularly the Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites....
movement has been variously interpreted. They have been viewed as a precursory foundation of Anabaptism before the rise of the Swiss Brethren
Swiss Brethren
The Swiss Brethren are a branch of Anabaptism that started in Zürich, spread to nearby cities and towns, and then was exported to neighboring countries...
in 1525, as unrelated to the movement except for the influence on Thomas Müntzer and as being a dual foundation with the Swiss Brethren to form a composite movement of Anabaptism. Regardless of the exact relationship to Anabaptism, the Zwickau Prophets present a radical alternative to Luther and mainstream Protestantism
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
as demonstrated in their involvement in disturbances in Wittenberg.
Theology
Perhaps the most distinctive feature of the Zwickau Prophets was their spiritualism, which was that direct revelations from the Holy SpiritHoly Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
, not Scripture, were their authority in theological matters. Another highly distinctive feature was their opposition to pedobaptism (Infant Baptism
Infant baptism
Infant baptism is the practice of baptising infants or young children. In theological discussions, the practice is sometimes referred to as paedobaptism or pedobaptism from the Greek pais meaning "child." The practice is sometimes contrasted with what is called "believer's baptism", or...
). Despite their rejection of pedobaptism, the Zwickau Prophets do not seem to have departed from mere theory to have taken the turn, which would mark Anabaptism, to practicing adult baptism of believers.
The Zwickau Prophets also held to imminent apocalypticism
Apocalypticism
Apocalypticism is the religious belief that there will be an apocalypse, a term which originally referred to a revelation of God's will, but now usually refers to belief that the world will come to an end time very soon, even within one's own lifetime...
, which led them to believe that the end of days would come soon. They also possibly sought a believers church, which would be separate from the State churches of Protestantism and Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
.
Wittenberg
The trio, having been exiled from Zwickau, arrived in Wittenberg on December 27, 1521. The men and their ideas had gained favor among Andreas KarlstadtAndreas Karlstadt
Andreas Rudolph Bodenstein von Karlstadt , better known as Andreas Karlstadt or Andreas Carlstadt or Karolostadt, was a German Christian theologian during the Protestant Reformation. He was born in Karlstadt, Franconia.-Education:Karlstadt received his doctorate of theology in 1510 from the...
and others who sought greater reforms in the city. Despite their acceptance among some, the Prophets' presence may have caused an unrest in the city that Philipp Melanchthon
Philipp Melanchthon
Philipp Melanchthon , born Philipp Schwartzerdt, was a German reformer, collaborator with Martin Luther, the first systematic theologian of the Protestant Reformation, intellectual leader of the Lutheran Reformation, and an influential designer of educational systems...
was unable to settle. Melanchthon turned to Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
, who was at that time being held in protective custody at the Wartburg
Wartburg
The Wartburg is a castle overlooking the town of Eisenach, Germany.Wartburg may also refer to:* Wartburgkreis, a district in Germany named after the Wartburg* Wartburg , former East German brand of automobiles, manufactured in Eisenach...
Castle, and at the behest of the Wittenberg town council Luther returned to his reforming activities in Wittenberg on March 6, 1522.
Luther soon preached eight sermons against those he would label "Schwärmer" ("Fanatics") and the force of these sermons was enough to calm the growing radicalism in the city. The Prophets then reportedly confronted Luther in order to assert the authority of the Spirit-mediated message over Luther and his gospel. Luther claimed to have demanded that they authenticate their message with a miracle, a sign which the men refused to give. The Prophets then denounced Luther and left Wittenberg.
Müntzer
Thomas Müntzer was also from Zwickau and had contact with the Zwickau Prophets. The prophets seem to have had some influence on Müntzer and Müntzer would later hold to similar views. The greatest similarities were between their apocalypticism and spiritualism. While Müntzer may have associated himself for a time with the Zwickau Prophets and was similar to them in several respects, this is not the same as Müntzer being a part of their group. As Vedder explained it, Müntzer was "with" the Prophets, but not "of" them. Marxist historians, however, have asserted that instead of the Zwickau Prophets and Müntzer being parallel with a mutual influence, Müntzer used the Prophets for his revolutionary ends. This interpretation has been demonstrated to have been slanted for political purposes.A New Paradigm
While the above narrative of the events of Wittenberg in early 1522 and the association of the Zwickau Prophets with them had become the standard textbook explanation of the case, Olaf Kuhr has proposed a new paradigm for understanding the occasion. Referencing primary sources such as correspondences, Kuhr concludes that Dreschel and Storch left Wittenberg before January 1 and Stübner by January 6. With the former pair in Wittenberg for no more than four days and the latter for no more than ten, Kuhr questioned how great of an impact the Prophets could have had and if they were the source of the Wittenberg disturbances. Their absence would explain Qualben's observation (noting that is named by Kuhr as holding to the older historiography) that Luther made no personal references to the Prophets in the eight sermons preached upon his return.Kuhr also challenged the older paradigm on the confrontation that the Prophets had with Luther. Kuhr's conclusion was that the prophets did not come to Luther as a group but had each approached Luther at various times in the following year during separate visits to Wittenberg. Luther's account of the encounters, though appearing singular may have been a conflation of separate meetings, each meeting being similar enough for Luther to describe as one.