June 12, 2017
Devotions: Personalities of the Reformation: Conrad Grebel

Conrad Grebel lived from 1498 to 1526 – a short life of only about 28 years. He is often called the “Father of the Anabaptists” for re-baptizing George Blaurock, a former priest (Gasp!) on January 21, 1525. This was the first such “re-baptism” in Zurich, Switzerland. As such, because his life was so short, there are only about three years of records to give any account of his life.

The only writing of any worth which was published was a brief pamphlet of less than five thousand words – and that has been lost to time, mostly. There also exists three short poems that he wrote. However, there does exist about 70 letters to such people as Zwingli, Muntzer, and Vadian (June 1, 2017 devotion). He came to Vienna in 1515 to enroll as a student, and soon found himself part of the Swiss group with Joachim Vadian, a Reformer for the Reformed church. Vadian seems to have counted him as the most promising of the Swiss students. Out of this friendship came Vadian’s wife, Martha, the younger sister of Conrad Grebel. When Vadian suddenly left Vienna to travel to Zurich in June 1518, Grebel went with him. However, he remained in Zürich but a short time, for his father had secured a royal scholarship and in September he set out for Paris on what was intended to be the climax of a successful scholastic career. There he spent two further years, certainly in study. Eventually he would return to Zurich, without having completed his studies or receiving any kind of degree. Conrad Grebel probably experienced a conversion in the spring of 1522. His life showed a dramatic change – while initially being a student of Vadian and Zwingli, he broke with Zwingli over the issue of abolishing the Mass and infant baptism. Zwingli argued before the council for abolishing the Mass and removing images from the church. Grebel saw this as an issue of obeying God rather than men, and, with others, could not conscientiously continue in that which they had condemned as unscriptural. He felt betrayed by Zwingli – and soon about 15 men who also broke with Zwingli regularly met together for prayer, fellowship and Bible study.

In a public debate held on January 17, 1525. Zwingli argued against Grebel, Manz and George Blaurock. The city council decided in favor of Zwingli and infant baptism, ordered the Grebel group to cease their activities, and ordered that any unbaptized infants must be submitted for baptism within 8 days. Failure to comply with the council’s order would result in exile from the canton. Grebel had an infant daughter, Issabella, who had not been baptized, and he resolutely stood his ground. He did not intend for her to be baptized. The group met together on January 21 in the home of Felix Manz. This meeting was illegal according to the new decision of the council. George Blaurock asked Grebel to baptize him upon a confession of faith. Afterward, Blaurock baptized the others who were present. Grebel would join Wolfgang Ulimann to preach in the area of St. Gallen, Switzerland. He was arrested in October 1525 but escaped in March 1526. Eventually he would die in July of 1526. (Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online, Grebel, Conrad (ca. 1498-1526), gameo.org – and wikipedia)

Pastor Dave

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