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Peter Riedemann Konfessionsbildendes Täufertum Im 16 Andrea Chudaska Peter Riedemann Konfessionsbildendes Täufertum im 16. Jahrhundert Gütersloher Verlagshaus Vorwort Die vorliegende Untersuchung ist die überarbeitete Fassung meiner Dissertation, die im Wintersemester 2001 von der evangelisch-theologischen Fakultät der Univer­ sität Heidelberg angenommen worden ist. Herrn Prof. Dr. Gottfried Seebaß danke ich für seine stetige Begleitung, für die konstruktiv-inspirierenden Gespräche und kritischen Nachfragen. Ich habe viel bei ihm gelernt. Herr Prof. Dr. Adolf Martin Ritter hat sich der Mühe der Zweitkorrek­ tur unterzogen, wofür ich ebenfalls danke. Vielfältige Anregungen erhielt ich durch Herrn Prof. Dr. Werner O. Packull, Herrn Gary Waltner und Frau Dr. Ursula Liese­ berg. Auch dafür ein Danke-Schön an dieser Stelle. Zu danken habe ich dem Verein für Reformationsgeschichte, der bereit war, diese Arbeit in seine Reihe aufzuneh­ men, und Frau Prof. Dr. Dingel für ihre freundliche und kenntnisreiche Beratung bei der Überarbeitung des Manuskripts. Mein Dank geht an die Institutionen, die durch namhafte Druckkostenzuschüsse die Publikation dieser Arbeit ermöglichten, so an die Vereinigte Evangelisch-lutheri­ sche Kirche Deutschlands, an die Täuferaktenkommission des Vereins für Reforma­ tionsgeschichte, die Evangelische Kirche von Westfalen, den Deutschen Ökumeni­ schen Studienausschuß der Arbeitsgemeinschaft christlicher Kirchen und den Men- nonitischen Geschichtsverein. Meiner Familie und meinen Freunden danke ich für ihre Unterstützung und Ermu­ tigung. Sie haben dazu beigetragen, diese Arbeit zu vollenden. Dies gilt besonders für meinen Mann, der mir durch seinen nicht nachlassenden technischen Support das Leben erleichterte. Minden/Heidelberg, im Juni 2003 Andrea Chudaska Inhalt 1. Teil: Zur Forschungs- und Quellenlage I. Forschungsgeschichte........................................................................................... 12 A. Die Darstellung Riedemanns in der Literatur.................................... 13 B. Forschungsgeschichte seit 1970 .............................................................. 18 C. Schlußfolgerungen für die Untersuchung von Leben und Theologie Riedemanns............................................................................... 42 II. Quellen zu Leben und Theologie.................................................................... 45 A. Riedemanns Biographie und Theologie im Umfeld der zeitgenössischen Quellen .................................................................... 45 1. Dokumente von obrigkeitlicher Seite.............................................. 45 2. Schriften der Täufer.............................................................................. 47 B. Die Schriften Riedemanns....................................................................... 49 1. Riedemanns >Rechenschaften<........................................................... 49 a. >Ein Rechenschafft und Bekanndtnus des Glaubens< (Gmunden in Oberösterreich ca. 1529-1532).......................... 52 b. >Rechenschafft vnserer Religion / Leer vnnd Glaubens< 53 2. Lieder ...................................................................................................... 62 3. Briefe ...................................................................................................... 64 2. Teil: Biographie und Theologie Riedemanns I. Erste Lebensphase und frühe Theologie (1529-1532)................................. 70 A. Der junge Riedemann .............................................................................. 70 1. Riedemann aus Hirschberg................................................................ 70 2. >Peter von Gmunden<........................................................................... 73 B. >Ein Rechenschafft und Bekanndtnus des Glaubens<........................ 83 1. Das Ringen um die Besserung des Lebens: Riedemanns Alternative zur Gelehrtentheologie........................... 83 2. Die »Gmundener Rechenschaft — Verschriftlichung täuferischer Missionspredigt und katechetischer Unterweisung...................... 89 3. Exkurs: Verbreitung täuferischer Lehre über das Liedgut — Zur Rezeption der >Gmundener Rechenschaft in den frühen Liedern Riedemanns.................................................. 96 C. Die Theologie der >Gmundener Rechenschaft................................... 104 1. Gottes Heilshandeln an der gefallenen Kreatur und die Antwort des Menschen................................................................. 104 a. Gottes bleibende Liebe zum Menschen: Sein Schöpfer- und Erhalterwirken und sein Erretterhandeln in Jesus Christus.. 104 b. Die Antwort des Menschen auf die Liebe Gottes: Liebe und Glaube........................................................................... 107 c. Glaubens- und Erwachsenentaufe als Teil der durch die Schrift offenbarten göttlichen Heilsordnung................... 121 2. Riedemanns Auslegung des Apostolikums...................................... 133 a. Der erste Artikel: Von Gott, dem ewigen, allmächtigen Schöpfer und Herrn des Menschen............................................ 135 b. Der zweite Artikel: Christologische Akzente und Lehre vom Abendmahl.............................................................................. 139 c. Der dritte Artikel: Das Werk des Heiligen Geistes - Zur Pneumatologie und Ekklesiologie Riedemanns ............. 149 d. Riedemanns Haltung zur Ehe und zur Beziehung der Geschlechter.............................................................................. 154 3. Riedemanns frühe Theologie: Täuferische Laientheologie im Übergang....................................... 157 II. Auf dem Weg: Vom Wanderapostel zum >Co-Bischof< der Hutterischen Gemeinschaft (1532-1542)............................................. 165 A. Von der Wiederaufnahme der Mission bis zur hessischen Gefangenschaft (1532-1542).................................. 165 1. Reise nach Süddeutschland - Nürnberger Gefangenschaft (1533-1537) ...................................... 166 2. Riedemanns Anschluß an die Hutterer.......................................... 171 3. Auf der Suche nach der verlorenen Einheit: Riedemanns Bemühungen um die Philipper in Mähren, Oberösterreich und Süddeutschland ............................................... 175 4. Neue Gemeindeglieder: Riedemann und die hessischen Melchioriten ................................. 186 a. Rückblick auf die hessischen Täufergemeinschaften und ihre Beziehungen nach M ähren......................................... 186 b. Riedemanns erste Reise nach Hessen — Die Begegnung mit den westhessischen Melchioriten 195 c. Rückkehr nach Mähren — Der Überfall auf Steinabrunn 198 d. Zweite Reise nach Hessen — Erste Erfolge seiner Missionstätigkeit........................................ 200 5. Hessische Gefangenschaft und Ernennung zum >Co-Bischof< der Hutterer (1540-1542)................................. 202 6. Rückblick auf Riedemanns täuferischen Werdegang (1529-1542) ..................................................................... 212 B. Riedemanns >Große Rechenschaft.......................................................... 216 1. Die >Große Rechenschaft als eine an die Obrigkeit gerichtete Schrift: Verteidigung, Bekenntnis und Alternativmodell christlicher Lebensweise...................................................................... 217 9 a. Leben in der Absonderung: Gottes erwählte >Sundertraut< — Der zweite Teil der >Großen Rechenschaft . 217 b. >Bekenntnis unseres Glaubens, der Lehre und des Lebens< — Der erste Teil der >Großen Rechenschaft .............. 230 2. Riedemanns >Große Rechenschaft: Ein Echo auf die innertäuferische Debatte um den Spiritualismus?........................ 246 a. Zur Rezeption spiritualistisch-apokalyptischen Denkens in Riedemanns >Großer Rechenschaft..................... 247 b. Zur Relevanz des Ordnungsdenkens in Riedemanns >Großer Rechenschaft ................................................................... 251 C. Riedemanns späte Theologie: Biblischer Literalismus versus Spiritualismus?.................................................................................. 255 1. Voraussetzungen........................................................................................ 256 2. Der Streit über die Natur Christi: Riedemanns Anlehnung an die christologischen Anschauungen Schwenckfelds................ 257 3. Riedemanns Lehre von der Wiedergeburt: Die Neukonstituierung des Menschen durch Wort, Glaube und Geist.............................. 265 a. Anthropologische Grundentscheidungen: Imago Dei-Lehre - Der Mensch unter der Macht der Sünde.... 266 b. Buße und Geburt des neuen Menschen: Die unio cum Christo und Gerechtmachung des Menschen durch die Gabe des Heiligen Geistes............................................... 268 4. Ekklesiologie und Ethik: Eine Kirche >ohne Flecken und Runzeln< 273 a. Die Zeichen der Gemeinschaft der Wiedergeborenen: Taufe, Abendmahl und Gütergemeinschaft............................. 275 i) Der Vorrang der Geist- vor der Wassertaufe: Wort, Glaube und Versiegelung durch den Heiligen Geist.. 275 ii) Abendmahl: Zeichen der Gemeinschaft mit Christus und Verpflichtung der Gläubigen zur Eintracht im Geiste .. 279 iii)Die irdische Seite geisdicher Einheit: Gütergemeinschaft als Merkmal christlicher Gelassenheit... 283 b. Die Gestaltung des Gemeindelebens......................................... 289 i) Die Stellung zur Umwelt im Kontext der frühen täuferischen Gemeindeordnungen....................................... 291 a) Der Weg in die Absonderung — Eine späte Rezeption
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