Melanchthon and the Anabaptists

Abstract

Until well into the 1520’s the Reformation had consisted primarily of an attack on papal practice and theology plus an earnest appeal to the newly liberated Word as the revelation and power of God to redeem the heart of man. The old order had crumbled under these attacks in the regions of Electoral Saxony and elsewhere in Central Germany. But little had been done to reconstruct a new church order. Luther had rested confidently in the power of the unaided Word to transform the churches. The development of radicalism culminating in the disaster of Frankenhausen in 1525, plus the fact of lapses in public worship, compelled him to take action. He began by urging a general visitation of churches on the Elector to ascertain the nature and degree of ecclesiastical problems which confronted the authorities. This information would provide a basis for the progressive reorganization of the church order along Evangelical lines.’ The Elector looked with favor on the proposal. Accordingly Electoral Saxony was divided into a number of parts, each to be examined by a body of visitors who would investigate the spiritual and economic conditions within the various parishes throughout the land. Philip Melanchthon was quickly designated as one of the theologians to participate in some of the early visitations.