Hans Schlaffer (c. 1490–1528)

Hans Schlaffer was a leading Anabaptist preacher in the Austrian lands of the Habsburgs, remembered for calling people to a church shaped by repentance, holy living, and a conscious faith in Christ. In a day when religious conformity was enforced by law, he urged believers to take Scripture seriously, especially the conviction that baptism should follow personal trust in the Lord rather than be given to infants. His ministry spread in regions such as Tyrol, where miners, townspeople, and families were stirred by the summons to discipleship.

Schlaffer’s message was not merely a dispute over a rite. It was a plea for hearts made new, for a community that confessed Christ openly, counted the cost, and walked in obedience. He taught that saving faith is not inherited but received, and that the church must be marked by truth, purity, and love.

Seizure, Examination, and Condemnation

Authorities, determined to silence the growing movement, seized Schlaffer and pressed him to recant. He was examined and imprisoned, facing questions meant to force a denial of what he believed the Bible taught. Yet he would not purchase safety with a compromised conscience. In refusing a “peace” built on falsehood, he displayed a quiet heroism: steadfastness without bitterness, courage without swagger, and conviction rooted in the fear of God rather than the fear of man.

The words of Scripture capture the kind of faith he sought to live: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38). And again, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul” (Matthew 10:28).

Martyrdom and Christian Witness

Condemned and later burned alive (often associated with Schwaz in Tyrol), Schlaffer chose death rather than deny Christ’s claims. His steadfastness testifies that Christ is worth any cost, and it strengthens believers to endure faithfully when truth is unpopular and obedience is costly.

May we, like him, hold fast, speak truth, and love.