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'{{Expand German|Kaspar Schwenckfeld|date=February 2011}} [[File:Kaspar-Schwenkfeld.jpg|thumb]] '''Caspar (or Kaspar) Schwen(c)kfeld von Ossig''' (1489 or 1490 &ndash; 10 December 1561) was a [[Germans|German]] theologian, writer, and preacher who became a [[Protestant Reformer]] and spiritualist, one of the earliest promoters of the [[Protestant Reformation]] in [[Silesia]]. Schwenckfeld came to Reformation principles through [[Thomas Müntzer]] and [[Andreas Karlstadt]]. However, he developed his own principles and fell out with [[Martin Luther]] over the eucharistic controversy (1524). He had his own views on the sacraments - the Heavenly Flesh doctrine - developed in close association with his humanist colleague, [[Valentin Krautwald|Valentin Crautwald]] (1465–1545). His followers became a new sect, which was outlawed in Germany, but his ideas influenced [[Anabaptist|Anabaptism]], [[Pietism]] on mainland Europe, and [[Puritan]]ism in [[England]]. == Life == === Early life === Schwenckfeld was born in [[Ossig]] near Liegnitz, [[Silesia]] now [[Osiek, Lubin County|Osiek]], near [[Legnica]], [[Poland]], to noble parents in 1489.<ref> Some sources give 1490, but late in 1489 appears to be preferable. </ref> From 1505 to 1507 he was a student in [[Cologne]], and in 1507 enrolled at the [[Viadrina European University|University of Frankfurt on the Oder]]. Between 1511 and 1523, Schwenckfeld served the [[Duchy of Liegnitz]] as an adviser to Duke Charles I (1511–1515), Duke George I (1515–1518), and Duke Frederick II (1518–1523). === Philosophy === In 1518 or 1519, Schwenckfeld experienced an awakening that he called a "visitation of God." Luther's writings had a deep influence on Schwenckfeld, and he embraced the "[[Lutheranism|Lutheran]]" Reformation and became a student of the Scriptures. In 1521, Schwenckfeld began to preach the gospel, and in 1522 won Duke Friedrich II over to Protestantism. He organized a ''Brotherhood'' of his converts for the purpose of study and prayer in 1523. In 1525, he rejected Luther's idea of [[Real Presence]] and came to a spiritual interpretation of the [[Eucharist|Lord's ≤Supper]], which was subsequently rejected by Luther. Schwenckfeld began to teach that the true believer ate the spiritual body of Christ. He took strong efforts toward reformation wherever he went, but also criticized reformers that he thought went to extremes. He emphasized that for one to be a true Christian, one must not change only outwardly but inwardly. Because of the communion and other controversies, Schwenckfeld broke wi≥≥≥≥≥≥t7ghghjjkhjk th Luther and followed what has been described as a "middle way". He voluntarily exiled himself from Silesia in 1529 in order to relieve pressure on and embarrassment of his duke. He lived in [[Strasbourg|Strassburg]] from 1529–1534 and then in [[Swabia]]. === Teachings === Some of the teachings of Schwenckfeld included opposition to war, secret societies, and oath-taking, that the government had no right to command one's conscience, that regeneration is by grace through inner work of the Spirit, that believers feed on Christ spiritually, and that believers must give evidence of regeneration. He rejected [[infant baptism]], outward church forms, and "denominations". His views on the Eucharist prompted Luther to publish several sermons on the subject in his 1526 ''[[The Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ—Against the Fanatics]]''. === Publications === In 1540 [[Martin Luther]] expelled Caspar Schwenckfeld from [[Silesia]]. In 1541, Schwenckfeld published the ''Great Confession on the Glory of Christ''. Many considered the writing to be heretical. He taught that Christ had two natures, divine and human, but that he became progressively more divine. He also published a number of works about interpreting the Scriptures during the 1550s, often responding to the rebuttals of the Lutheran Reformer [[Matthias Flacius|Matthias Flacius Illyricus]].<ref>Arbeiten zur Geschichte und Theologie des Luthertums, Neue Folge, Band 5 (Hannover, Lutherisches Verlagshaus: 1984).</ref> === Death === In 1561, Schwenckfeld became sick with dysentery, and gradually grew weaker until he died in [[Ulm]] on the morning of December 10, 1561. Because of his enemies, the fact of his death and the place of his burial were kept secret. == Schwenkfelder Church == Schwenckfeld did not organize a separate church during his lifetime, but followers seemed to gather around his writings and sermons. In 1700 there were about 1,500 of them in Lower Silesia. Many fled Silesia under persecution of the Austrian emperor, and some found refuge on the lands of Count [[Nicolaus Ludwig Zinzendorf]]. These followers became known as Schwenkfelders. A group arrived in Philadelphia in 1731, followed by five more migrations up to 1737. In 1782, the Society of Schwenkfelders was formed, and in 1909 the [[Schwenkfelder Church]] was organized. The Schwenkfelder Church has remained small, and currently there are five<ref> For a number of years there were only five churches, but the ''Schwenkfelder Missionary Church'' was recently formed in Philadelphia. </ref> churches with about 3,000 members in southeastern Pennsylvania. All of these bodies are within a fifty-mile radius of [[Philadelphia]]. == Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center == The [[Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center]] is a small museum, library and archives in [[Pennsburg, Pennsylvania]]. They are the only institution dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the Schwenkfelder story, including Caspar Schwenckfeld, the [[Radical Reformation]], religious toleration, the Schwenkfelders in Europe and America, and the Schwenkfelder Church. The Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center has exhibits and programs throughout the year. == Notes == {{Reflist}} == References == * [[Peter C. Erb]]: ''Schwenckfeld in his Reformation Setting''. [[Valley Forge]], Pa: Judson Press, 1978. * Edited by [[Chester David Hartranft]] et alii: ''Corpus Schwenkfeldianorum'' . Vols. 1-19. Leipzig: [[Breitkopf & Härtel]], 1907-1961. * [[Paul L. Maier]]: ''Caspar Schwenckfeld on the Person and Work of Christ. A Study of Schwenckfeldian Theology at Its Core.'' Assen, The Netherlands: Royal Van Gorcum Ltd, 1959. * [[R. Emmet McLaughlin]]: ''Caspar Schwenckfeld, reluctant radical : his life to 1540.'' New Haven : Yale University Press, 1986 ISBN 0-300-03367-2 * [[Rufus M. Jones]]: ''Spiritual reformers in the 16th and 17th centuries''. London: Macmillan, 1914. * [[Douglas H. Shantz]]: ''Crautwald and Erasmus. A Study in Humanism and Radical Reform in Sixteenth Century Silesia''. Baden-Baden: [[Valentin Koerner]], 1992. == External links == * [http://www.palmschwenkfelderchurch.com/Palm_Schwenkfelder_Church/Caspers_Corner.html?start1 Caspar's Corner, from Palm Schwenkfelder Church in Palm, PA] * [http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/1989/issue21/2112.html?start=1 The Life & Thought of Caspar Schwenckfeld von Ossig] * [http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/S388.html Caspar von Schwenckfeld] in ''Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online'' * {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Schwenkfeld, Kaspar}} {{Authority control}} {{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. --> |NAME = Schwenkfeld, Kaspar |ALTERNATIVE NAMES = |SHORT DESCRIPTION = German theologian |DATE OF BIRTH = |PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Ossig]] |DATE OF DEATH = 1561 |PLACE OF DEATH = [[Ulm]] }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Schwenkfeld, Kaspar}} [[Category:15th-century births]] [[Category:1561 deaths]] [[Category:People from Lubin County]] [[Category:Silesian-German people]] [[Category:16th-century German Protestant theologians]] [[Category:Protestant Reformers]] [[Category:Spiritualists]] [[Category:Viadrina European University alumni]] [[Category:Silesian nobility]] [[Category:Deaths from dysentery]] [[Category:Infectious disease deaths in Germany]] [[Category:German male writers]]'