Dordrecht Confession

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The Dordrecht Confession (actually the creed of defenseless and revenge-free Christianity ) is a Christian creed written by Dutch Mennonites in Dordrecht in 1632 . Similar to the Schleitheim Confession , it is still of great importance today for the Amish and traditionalist Mennonite groups that have split off from the Mennonites , such as the Mennonites of the old order or the old colonists . The creed comprises 18 articles.

Since Mennonites do not know any binding confessional writings , the Dordrecht Confession must above all be viewed as a decisive agreement. It was intended to summarize the main points of Anabaptist-Mennonite teaching.

history

The Dutch-North German Anabaptists were split in several directions at the end of the 16th century, such as the Waterlanders, Flemings and Frisians. Sometimes there were several Mennonite communities in one place. In an effort to reunite the communities, several Mennonite denominations such as the Cologne concept of 1591 or the Olijftacxken formulated in 1627 ( standard Dutch : Olijftakken , German olive twigs ) emerged as early as 1600 . The Korte Confessie des Jan Cents from 1630, comprising 21 articles, played a decisive role in the unification of Flemish, young Frisian and High German communities in Amsterdam in 1639.

The Dordrecht Confession itself was adopted on April 21, 1632 in the Dutch city of Dordrecht. It was primarily an agreement between Flemish municipalities, but was later adopted by representatives of other municipalities as well. The Mennonite communities in southern Germany and Alsace also later joined the Dordrecht Confession. The creed was not adopted by the Swiss Mennonites, as they (unlike the Amish) rejected strict avoidance (as formulated in Article 17). The Dordrecht Confession is of great importance to the old Amish order to this day and almost as important to the new Amish order . The Beachy Amish are mostly less strict when it comes to avoidance.

In 1664 the German translation of the Dordrecht Confession was published. It was published by Tielemann van Sittert. The German edition was framed by a preface to the Christian reader and a denominational appendix.

The 18 articles dealt with the following topics, in brackets the respective original title:

  • 1 Of God and the creation of all things ( Van Godt ende de Scheppinge aller dinghen )
  • 2 From the fall of man (the fall of man ) ( Van de Val of man. )
  • 3 From the restoration of the people ( forgiveness ) ( Van de wederoprechtinge of man )
  • 4 Of the return of Christ into this world ( Van de komste Christi in dese werelt )
  • 5 Of the Law of Christ ( Van de Wet Christi )
  • 6 On repentance and improvement of life ( Van de Boete, ende beteringhe des levens )
  • 7 On Holy Baptism ( Van het H. Doopsel )
  • 8 From the Church of Christ ( Van de Ghemeynte Christi )
  • 9 From the election of the servants in the community ( Van de verkiesinge en diensten der Leeraren, Deacons, en Dienaressen, in de Gemeynte )
  • 10 Of Holy Communion ( Van het H. Avondtmael )
  • 11 From the washing of the feet ( Van de Voetwaschinge der Heyligen )
  • 12 On marriage ( Van den Echten ofte Houwelijcken staet )
  • 13 From the office of secular authorities ( Van het Ampt der wereltlijcke Overheydt )
  • 14 On retaliation ( nonviolence ) ( Van de Wederwraecke )
  • 15 From the oath swearing ( Van bet Eedtsweeren )
  • 16 From the ecclesiastical ban ( Van den Kerckelijcken Ban )
  • 17 From the avoidance of set apart ( de Van Mydinge the Afghesonderden )
  • 18 On the Resurrection of the Dead and the Last Judgment ( Van de Verrijsenise der Doeden ende het laetste Oordeel )

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Astrid von Schlachta : danger or blessing? The Anabaptists in Political Communication . Göttingen 2009, p. 199 .
  2. ↑ Confessie van Dordrecht 1632 , written by J. Brüsewitz with medewerk van MA Krebber, ingeleid en toegelicht by Sjouke Voolstra, Amsterdam 1982, pages 39-54.