Menno's writings
Much
of Menno's influence is due to his prolific writings. His first writing
was The Blasphemy of Jan van Leyden. He wrote this pamphlet around
1535 but it was not printed until 1627. In the pamphlet Menno criticized
Jan van Leyden, who had assumed the role of a second David of the New
Jerusalem at Münster. Menno opposed the use of the sword to establish
the kingdom of God on earth.
Other important writings were The Spiritual Resurrection (Van de Geestlijke Verrijsenisse, ca. 1536), The New Birth (De nieuwe Creatuere, ca. 1537) and the Meditation on the Twenty-Fifth Psalm (Christelycke leringhen op den 25. Psalm, ca. 1538).
Menno's magnum opus was Foundation of Christian Doctrine (Dat Fundament des Christelycken leers, 1539-40). The title of the book is taken from I Corinthians 3:11: "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." The Foundation Book was almost immediately accepted by Menno's followers as a guide book for the life of faith.
List of all his known works:
Books and tracts
- 1535: The Blasphemy of Jan van Leyden
- c. 1536: The Spiritual Resurrection
- c. 1537: Meditation on the Twenty-Fifth Psalm
- c. 1537: The New Birth
- 1539: Christian Baptism
- 1539-40: Foundation of Christian Doctrine
- 1539: Why I Do Not Cease Teaching and Writing
- c. 1541: The True Christian Faith
- 1541: A Kind Admonition on Church Discipline
- 1544: Brief Confession on the Incarnation
- 1550: A Clear Account of Excommunication
- 1550: Confession of the Triune God
- 1552: Confession of the Distressed Christians
- 1552: A Pathetic Supplication to All Magistrates
- 1552: Brief Defense to All Theologians
- 1552: Reply to False Accusations
- c. 1554: The Cross of the Saints
- 1554: Reply to Gellius Faber
- 1554: The Incarnation of Our Lord
- 1556: Reply to Martin Micron
- 1556: Epistle to Martin Micron
- c. 1557: The Nurture of Children
- c. 1557: Meditations and Prayers for Mealtime
- 1558: Instruction on Excommunication
- 1560: Reply to Sylis and Lemke
Letters and other writings
- 1542: Sharp Reply to David Joris
- c. 1545: Admonition to the Amsterdam Melchiorites
- c. 1546: Earnest Epistle to the Davidians
- c. 1549: Comforting Letter to a Widow
- 1549: Exhortation to a Church in Prussia
- c. 1550: Doctrinal Letter to the Church in Groningen
- 1553: Sincere Appeal to Leonard Bouwen's Wife
- 1555: Instruction on Discipline to the Church at Franeker
- 1556: Encouragement to Christian Believers
- 1556: Instruction on Discipline to the Church at Emden
- c. 1557: Letter of Consolation to a Sick Saint
- c. 1558: Personal Note to Rein Edes and the Brethren in Waterhorne
- 1558: Pastoral Letter to the Amsterdam Church
- 1558: Final Instruction on Marital Avoidance
All these works appear in The Complete Writings of Menno Simons, translated by Leonard Verduin and edited by John C. Wenger, with a biography by Harold S. Bender (Scottdale, PA, 1956). This volume also includes an extract from a letter in Menno's handwriting and two hymns by Menno.
Menno Simons has been the subject of dozens of books. Even today, almost 450 years after his death, new titles are regularly published. Among the most important are:
- Cramer, A. M. Het leven en de verrigtingen van Menno Simons. Amsterdam, 1837
- Harder, C. Das Leben Menno Symons. Konigsberg, 1846
- Vos, K. Menno Simons. Leiden, 1914
- Horsch, John. Menno Simons, His Life, Labors and Teachings. Scottdale, PA: Mennonite Publishing House 1916
- Bender, H. S. and J. Horsch. Menno Simons' Life and Writings. Scottdale, PA: Mennonite Publishing House, 1936
- Krahn, Cornelius. Menno Simons. Karlsruhe, 1936
- Smith, C. Henry. Menno Simons, an Apostle of the Nonresistant Life. Berne, IN, ca. 1936
- Zijpp, N. van der. Menno Simonsz. Amsterdam, 1950
- Meihuizen, H.W. Menno Simons, IJveraar voor het herstel van de nieuwtestamentische gemeente 1496-1561. Haarlem: Tjeenk Willink, 1961
- Klaassen, Walter, et al. No Other Foundation: Commemorative Essays on Menno Simons. North Newton KS: Bethel College, 1962
- Bornhäuser; Christoph. Leben und Lehre Menno Simons': ein Kampf um d. Fundament d. Glaubens (etwa 1496-1561). Neukirchen-Vluyn: Neukirchener Verlag, 1973
- Voolstra, Sjouke. Menno Simons: His Image and Message. North Newton, KA: Bethel College, 1997
Read more about Menno's Foundation-Book or go to his complete works.