00. Basic Questions and Brief and Simple Answers to the Same.

00. Basic Questions and Brief and Simple Answers to the Same.

Alexander Mack. Published at Schwarzenau, in the month of July, in the year of our Lord 1713.

European Origins of the Brethren: A Source Book on the Beginnings of the Church of the Brethren in the Early Eighteenth Century. A collection of early 18th century primary source material, translated into English, that traces the start of the Schwarzenau Brethren. Compiled and translated by Donald F. Durnbaugh. The Brethren Press, 1958.

Eberhard Louis Gruber’s Basic Questions which were especially submitted to be answered by the New Baptists of the Wittgenstein area along with the accompanying Brief and Simple Answers to the Same, previously published in manuscript by an ARTLESS MEMBER of the church at Wittgenstein and now publicly printed at the request of many.

[Gruber] In God Beloved Friends and Fellow Pilgrims: There have been several persons who have desired a somewhat more definite explanation and report about your new baptism and church fellowship, especially since that which has been said or even written about it from time to time has still left them in great uncertainty. In order to learn about your opinion more thoroughly and accurately and thereby dispel any further doubt in regard to it, these candid and herewith-presented questions are submitted to you. We expect your clear and frank answers upon these soon.

[Mack] Dear Friends: You have requested from us in love our motives. The Apostle Peter teaches believers (1 Peter 3:15) that they must always be ready to give an answer to anyone who calls them to account for the hope that is in them. For these reasons, we have not been able to evade this, but rather have very briefly answered these submitted questions in a simple fashion with frankness in love and in the certainty of faith. We wish to leave them to your examination before God.