Pilgram Marpeck’s Christian Baptism -- By: Jason G. Duesing

Journal: Faith and Mission
Volume: FM 23:3 (Summer 2006)
Article: Pilgram Marpeck’s Christian Baptism
Author: Jason G. Duesing


Pilgram Marpeck’s Christian Baptism

Jason G. Duesing

Ph.D. Candidate in Historical Studies
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Fort Worth, Texas 76122

Introduction

The philosopher G. W. F. Hegel once observed, “What experience and history teach us is this—that peoples and governments never have learned anything from history.”1 Hegel’s statement regrettably rings true for Baptists with regard to their doctrine of baptism, as a glance at most Baptist history texts reveals the consistency with which Baptists have failed to learn from their past.2 It is one of the great ironies in the history of Christianity that Baptists have always debated and often differed in regard to their understanding of baptism. However, there is a simple course of action to correct this trend, namely through the rearticulation of accurate studies of Baptist theology for the contemporary Baptist culture. Returning to the incipient historical and biblical sources has always served to return God’s people to the path of truth.3 The purpose of this paper is to present one Anabaptist’s view of baptism for the sake of helping Baptists of the future learn the biblical practice of baptism from Baptists of the past.

Pilgram Marpeck and Christian Baptism

Rollin Armour considers Pilgram Marpeck to have “articulated perhaps the most thoughtful interpretation of baptism among the Anabaptists.”4 Considering that unlike most Anabaptist theologians Marpeck served as civil magistrate and not a cleric, Armour’s words are significant.5 Harold Bender describes Marpeck’s life as “a good illustration of the transition from Catholicism via Lutheranism to Anabaptism” in that he moved directly from one tradition to the next as directed by the Scriptures.6 Pilgram Marpeck was “loyally [b]iblical” not only in his daily life, but also his theological life, especially in the development of his theology of baptism.7

By way of introduction, it is helpful to examine three of Marpeck’s summary statements concerning baptism. First, it is foundational to see that Marpeck’s understanding of baptism draws its definition from the biblical text. In the midst of a rare comment on his own testimony of conversion Marpeck states, “I have been baptized precisely because it is written that one should do so, and I have ...

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