Denck, Hans (ca.

1500-1527)
http://gameo.org/index.php?title=Denck,_Hans
_(ca._1500-1527)
1. Hans Denck was born at Habach, near Huglfing in Upper Bavaria; sometime around 1500. XXXX
states that we know little of his upbringing and early life in what might be described as a “middle-
class” Upper Bavarian family.1 (cita pag. IX)
2. In 1517 he enrolled at the University of Ingolstadt, from which he received the Bachelor of Arts
degree two years later. He was versed in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, and was at home in
the Humanistic circles of the day. He stayed in the University of Ingolstadt until 1520.
3. In 1522 he attended the University of Basel. For a time he served as literary editor ("corrector") in
the printery of the famous Cratander of Basel, later in that of Valentine Curio. For some time in 1523
he also attended the lectures of Johannes Oecolampadius in Basel on the Prophet Isaiah, but was
also not much influenced by Oecolampadius.
4. In 1523 he was appointed rector of the St. Sebald School in Nürnberg, having been nominated for
this position by Oecolampadius. By this time he was also married. Nürnberg was at that time torn
between the Lutherans and those who were disappointed in the fruits of the Reformation; also some
were returning to the Catholic Church.
In 1525 Denck was arraigned before the city authorities with charges upon his doctrinal soundness.
The result was that Denck was banished from the city on January of the same year, although he was
not yet an Anabaptist.
5. In June 1525 Denck was staying at the home of an Anabaptist in St. Gall, where he attended also
the Anabaptist meetings. They were gathered around Johannes Krusy, the “not-so-pacifist”
Anabaptist preacher (Snyder, 68).2 It is said that his belief in universalism gave offense to the
Anabaptists there.
6. From September 1525 until October 1526 Denck was in Augsburg in South Germany. Denck
became the leader of Anabaptists there. He also won Hans Hut for the brotherhood. It is estimated
that about 1527 the Augsburg Anabaptist congregation numbered 1,100 souls.
In Augsburg, Urban Rhegius, the reformer of the city, became his powerful opponent. This led to a
disputation between Denck and the Lutheran clergy, to be followed by a second and this time public
disputation. But before this could take place he left the city.
7. By November 1526 Denck was in Strasbourg. Here he enjoyed the friendship of the Anabaptists.
But the presence of such an outstanding "heretic" as Denck in Strasbourg was disconcerting to
Capito and Bucer, the Protestant leaders of the city. Once again Denck had to participate in a
disputation, this time with Bucer. He was thereupon expelled from Strasbourg and left the city in
December 1526.
8. Following brief residences in Bergzabern and Landau in the Palatinate—and another disputation
at the latter city—he located briefly in Worms, where he helped Haetzer finish the translation of
the Old Testament Prophets. They were published in April 1527 at Worms, and are therefore known
as the "Wormser Propheten." They were possibly used by Luther and the Swiss theologians in their
German translations of the Bible.

1
Hans Denck and Edward J. Furcha, Selected writings of Hans Denck, 1500-1527, Texts and studies in religion ; v.
44; Texts and studies in religion ; v. 44. (Lewiston, NY, USA: E. Mellen Press, 1989).
2
C. Arnold Snyder, Anabaptist history and theology: an introduction (Kitchener, Ont.: Pandora Press, 1995).
9. Denck then visited Anabaptist congregations in South Germany and Switzerland, and presided at
the Martyrs' Synod in Augsburg on 20 August 1527. It was there decided to send Anabaptist
preachers and evangelists as emissaries to South Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. Denck was in
a group of three commissioned "to comfort and teach" the brethren in the Zürich and Basel areas of
Switzerland.
10. In September 1527, Denck arrived in Basel and found refuge in the home of a friend. He was
sick in body and spirit, longing for rest and peace. He therefore wrote an appealing letter to
Oecolampadius, asking permission to stay in the city. At his request, Denck wrote a brief statement
of his views: Hans Denks Widerruf (Recantation). There Denck confessed freely that he had erred in
the past, and still erred. He also expressed no particular objection to infant baptism, and promised
never again to baptize anyone. It is evident that his mysticism had largely undermined his Anabaptist
convictions. He died there due to the plague in November 1527.