“At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;.“
Matthew 11:25
Anabaptists hold a firm conviction in the self-interpreting nature of the Bible, asserting that ordinary Christians could confidently understand it without additional commentary. They emphasized the clarity and dependability of Scripture, often citing examples such as Felix Mantz and Joos Kindt, who maintained their views were solely derived from the Bible itself.
For instance, Felix Mantz, the first Anabaptist martyr, wrote, “I do, however, know for sure that if only the Word be allowed to speak for itself freely and simply, no one will be able to withstand it” (cf. Acts 4:20). Similarly, Joos Kindt, when challenged about his knowledge of ancient theologians, declared, “I hold no doctrine save that of the apostles and the prophets, and the words which our Saviour brought from on high heaven, from the mouth of his heavenly Father, and sealed with his precious blood” (cf. Matthew 11:25).
Anabaptists rejected the notion that theological scholarship is necessary for correct interpretation, citing Jesus’ praise for revealing truth to the simple and uneducated. They argue that many biblical authors were ordinary men, emphasizing the importance of simplicity in understanding Scripture.
Even Anabaptist theologians like Balthasar Hubmaier emphasized simplicity in interpretation, likening his own speech to that of Jesus, a carpenter, rather than that of a trained scholar. Hubmaier stated, “I grant that you are all highly educated… But I have spoken in simplicity, and my speech can only be and will only be thus. For the Son of the carpenter, who never went to university, has bidden me thus to speak” (cf. Matthew 11:29).
Anabaptists
- Acknowledged the presence of obscure passages in Scripture but believed they could be understood by comparing them with clearer texts and reading them in context
- Stressed the importance of allowing Scripture to interpret itself, both within individual passages and within the broader context of the Bible as a whole.
