Melchior Hofmann: A Prophetic Layman

Abstract

The early evangelical or Sacramentarian movement took root deeply in the soil of the Low Countries which had been well prepared by the Brethren of the Common Life and Erasmian humanism. Stimulated by influences from Wittenberg, the evangelical movement went beyond Luther in the break with Rome, partly through the influence of men like Karlstadt. However, because the influence of the Strassburg and Swiss reformers was not so strong during the first decade of the Reformation, and because of the prominence of Luther, all inquisition efforts, even in the Low Countries, seemed to concentrate on Martin Luther during the first years. He was given the credit, or the blame, for whatever transpired here and there. Luther was hated and despised by the Catholics, admired and worshiped by his followers, and scorned and mistrusted by the radical reformers and the disappointed humanists. Among the many who were disillusioned about Luther, one was predestined to play a significant role in the further development of the Sacramentarian movement. This was the furrier Melchior Hofmann who had become an ardent follower of Luther and a zealous evangelist. Dissatisfied, however, he turned against Luther in a manner similar to Karlstadt. For both, Luther did not go far enough in his return to the Scriptures and in his break with tradition.