Alberus, Erasmus (1500-1553)
Erasmus Alberus was born in 1500 in Bruchenbriicken in Wetterau, Germany, and died 5 May 1553. As a follower of Luther he attained the office of superintendent of churches in Neu-Brandenburg (Mecklenburg). He wrote Die Fabeln (1534), which were republished in 1892 by Wilhelm Braune in the Neudrucke deutscher Literaturwerke, with an introductory biographical sketch. He also wrote: Dit is een seer schoon Christelijcke onderwijsinghe vanden Doopsel, teghen die Wederdoopers, Papisten . . . (Oesterhout, n.d.) followed by a short article on the Lord's Supper and a hymn. Of greater importance is his Wider die verfluchte Lere der Carlstader und alle fürnemste Heubter der Sacramentirer, Rottengeister, Wiedertäuffer . . . (Neu-Brandenburg, 1565). This book is one of the most malicious slanders against the Mennonites, a collection of every kind of vile report. Johann Mathesius used two books by Alberus in his attacks on the Anabaptists in his sermons on Luther.
Bibliography
Catalogus der werken over de Doopsgezinden en hunne geschiedenis aanwezig in de bibliotheek der Vereenigde Doopsgezinde Gemeente to Amsterdam. Amsterdam: J.H. de Bussy, 1919: 98, 175.
Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. Mennonitisches Lexikon, 4 vols. Frankfurt & Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe; Schneider, 1913-1967: v. I, 18.
Körner, Emil. "Erasmus Alberus, das Kämplerleben eines Gottesgelehrten aus Luthers Schule nach den Quellen dargestellt," in Quellen und Darstellungen aus der Geschichte des Reformationsjahrhunderts XV (Leipzig, 1910).
Volz, Hans. Die Die Lutherpredigten des Johannes Mathesius: kritische Untersuchungen zur Geschichtsschreibung im Zeitalter der Reformation. Leipzig, M. Heinsius Nachfolger, 1930.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 34. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.
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MLA style: Vos, Karel. "Alberus, Erasmus (1500-1553)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1955. Web. 21 May 2013. http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/A4373.html.
APA style: Vos, Karel. (1955). Alberus, Erasmus (1500-1553). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 21 May 2013, from http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/A4373.html.
