Menno Simons

Menno Simons

Menno Simons
1492-1559
Dutch Anabaptist. Menno Simons was born in Friesland, Holland. Little is known of his early life and education. In 1524 he was ordained to the priesthood of the Roman Church. However, his study of the New Testament soon began to produce doubts about many of the doctrines. Luther’s writings also influenced him to leave the Roman Church. His preaching thereafter is described as evangelical rather than sacramental.

Simons went farther than either Luther or Calvin in rejecting the teachings of Romanism, and soon allied himself with the Dutch Anabaptists. He was immersed in 1537 by Obbe Philip. His fame as a writer and as a preacher grew, and soon the Anabaptists of that area acknowledged him as their leader.

In his church discipline, which was drawn from the Swiss Baptists, silent prayer was common and sermons were without texts. He taught that neither baptism nor communion conferred grace upon an individual, but that grace was obtained only through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Although he was not the founder, his preaching and influence were such that many of the Dutch Anabaptists adopted his name, and thereafter were known as Mennonites.