Johann Eck (b. 13 November 1486, d. 13 February 1543), was the disputatious, immoderately violent opponent of Luther. He became a friend of Hubmaier, his student at the University of Freiburg i. Br. When Hubmaier won his master's degree, Eck delivered the Latin laudatory oration. When Eck was transferred to Ingolstadt as professor of theology Hubmaier entered the university there. In Waldshut Hubmaier challenged his old teacher to a disputation; Eck ignored it. Among the numerous polemics written by Eck the following are of interest in the history of the Anabaptists:

1. Ein Sendbrieve an ein frum Eidgenossenschaft betreffende die Ketzerische disputation Frantz Kolben, des ausgeloffen Münchs und B. Hallers, des verlogenen Predikanten des hochwürdigen sacrament des altars (Ingolstadt, 1528);
2. Articulos 404 ad disputationes Lipsicum, Baden et Bernen attinentes partim vero scriptis pacem ecclesiae perturbantium extractos . . . offert se disputatorum (Ingolstadt, 1530), in which he attacks Hubmaier and his Schlussreden (Calvary, 46).
3. His letter to Duke George of Saxony, 26 November 1527, must also be mentioned (Seidemann, 150).

In the 404 articles Eck proposed for the disputation of Ingolstadt in 1536, he intentionally throws Zwingli, Luther, and the Anabaptists together indiscriminately, and derives the Anabaptists ("who deny the Deity of Christ") from Luther.

Bibliography

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, , p. 141. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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