The Anabaptists

The Anabaptists began during the reformation in Zurich, under Zwingli in the 1520's. Some were originally students of Zwingli, but decided that both him and Luther had not gone far enough or fast enough in reforming the corrupt Catholic Church.

They had two important points of disagreement with Zwingli. First, they strongly believed in separation of Church and State. Zwingli, Calvin and Luther all believed in using the power of the state to enforce Church authority. The Anabaptists found this to be deplorable. They felt that no person should be forced to believe a particular doctrine. Second, they saw no scriptural support for infant baptism, and so were compelled to become re-baptized as adult believers, outside of the official Protestant Church in Zurich.

Zwingli saw the Anabaptists as a direct challenge to the Church's authority, and so aligned himself with the State in the vicious persecution of them. Many were driven out of their homes and country, or if caught, tortured, drowned or burned at the stake for their beliefs.

Despite the evil actions of Zwingli and others, Anabaptist beliefs have survived to our time in various religious movements. Because of their courage and loyalty to Christ, we have today such teachings as separation of church and state, believer's baptism, freedom of conscience, and the authority of Scripture over church tradition.

Christian History Institute

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The Story of the Church

The Baptist Network