Claes Arentsz (17th century)
Claes Arentsz, Elder of the Flemish Mennonite church of Nieuwe Zijpe in the Netherlands, had spoken slightingly of infant baptism while performing a baptismal service at de Waal on the island of Texel on 3 March 1649. For this he was imprisoned on a charge brought by the Reformed minister J. G. Molanus, author of Christen-Kinderdoopswaerheydt (1650). Arentsz was soon released on bail, but was forced to dispute with Moldanus and the other Reformed ministers of the island. In this disputation he was assisted by Galenus Abrahamsz and two other preachers of Amsterdam. After the dispute Arentsz was ordered never to publicly oppose infant baptism. At a meeting of conservative Flemish elders, preachers, and deacons held at Leiden in June 1660, and presided over by van Braght, Arentsz was invited to give two addresses.
Bibliography
Cate, Steven Blaupot ten. Geschiedenis der Doopsgezinden in Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht en Gelderland. 2 v. Amsterdam: P.N. van Kampen, 1847: I, 195-197.
Meihuizen, H. W. Galenus Abrahamsz. Haarlem, 1953.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Scottdale, Pennsylvania, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 614. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.
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APA style: van der Zijpp, Nanne. (1953). "Claes Arentsz (17th century)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 20 November 2008 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/claes_arentsz_17th_century>
