HOFFMAN, MELCHIOR

Furrier and laypreacher who joined the anabaptists, contributing an esoteric-enthusiastic interpretation of Scripture that influenced both revolutionary and pacifist groups; b. Schwäbisch Hall, before 1500?; d. Strassburg, 1543. While traveling across northern Europe practicing his trade, Hoffman preached wherever opportunity presented itself. Distrusted by the clergy because of his lack of theological education, he went to Wittenberg (1525) to obtain Luther's approval. In possession of a recommendation, he returned to the Baltic countries, but his theology remained suspect. Everywhere his preaching created disorder, forcing him to flee. In 1529 he made contact with Anabaptists in Strassburg, was rebaptized, and became a spokesman of this movement in northern Europe. He returned in 1533 to Strassburg, where he was arrested and imprisoned until his death.

A prolific writer, Hoffman considered himself one of the promised two witnesses (Ap 11.3), empowered to understand and proclaim the hidden meaning of Scripture. He promised the millennial rule of the saints, profoundly influencing the revolutionary Anabaptists. The Melchiorites were named after him. His Christology, which denies the true motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary, influenced Menno Simons.

Bibliography: p. kawerau, Melchior Hoffman als religiöser Denker (Haarlem 1954); Die Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart, 7 v. (3d ed. Tübingen 1957–65) 3:422–423. g. h. williams, ed., Spiritual and Anabaptist Writers (Philadelphia 1957); The Radical Reformation (Philadelphia 1962). w. schatz, Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche, ed. j. hofer and k. rahner, 10 v. (2d, new ed. Freiburg 1957–65) 5:426.

[g. w. forell]