The Spiritual Legacy of Hans Denck

Book excerpt: This book presents the life and thought of Hans Denck (1550-1527), the contemplative genius of the Anabaptist movement. The author examines the medieval context, mystic content, and Jewish roots of Denck's spirituality and translates into English his theological treatises, the original German of which is reprinted on facing pages. These texts convey with unmatched brilliance rare depths of mystic insight on many facets of faith and life, good and evil, truth and love, perfection and depravity. they explore knowledge of God within his and beyond creation, explain how Christ through us fulfils God's Law, and indicate why true love compels Oneness in Gelassenheit. The author presents conceptually precise equivalents for various technical terms representative of the medieval mystical tradition.