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 A 1685 illustration byJan Luyken, published inMartyrs Mirror, ofDirk Willems saving his pursuer, an act of mercy that led to his recapture, after which he was burned at the stake nearAsperen in the present-dayNetherlands |
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Jörg vom Haus Jacob ("George of the House of Jacob"; alsoGeorg Cajacob), commonly known asGeorge Blaurock[1] (c. 1491 – September 6, 1529), was anAnabaptist leader and evangelist. Along withConrad Grebel andFelix Manz, he was a co-founder of theSwiss Brethren inZürich, and thereby one of the founders ofAnabaptism.
George Blaurock was born in 1491 inBonaduz inGraubünden, in theSwiss Confederacy. He was educated at the University of Leipzig and served as a priest of theRoman Catholic Church until his conversion to evangelical Anabaptism. Blaurock had evidently departed from the Catholic Church before he arrived in Zürich circa 1524, for he had already taken a wife. Though he came to seeHuldrych Zwingli, he soon became attached to the more radical followers of Zwingli. Theseradicals insisted on following only that which had Biblical support. They rejected the mass, images, and infant baptism. The city council condemned their position, ordered them to desist from their meetings, and ordered all unbaptized babies to be baptized within eight days. On January 21, 1525, the despondent group held a secret meeting at the home of Felix Manz. These believers went to their knees in prayer for guidance. Arising from the prayer, George Blaurock asked Conrad Grebel to baptize him upon a confession of faith in Christ. Grebel did so, and afterward Blaurock proceeded to baptize the others who were present.
George Blaurock worked closely with Felix Manz until Manz was martyred in Zürich on January 5, 1527. On that same day, Blaurock was severely beaten and permanently expelled from Zürich. He kept moving, laboring at Bern, Biel, the Grisons, and Appenzell. After his arrest and fourth banishment in April 1527, Blaurock left Switzerland never to return.
He then turned to theCounty of Tyrol. In 1529 he became the pastor of the church in Adige Valley, after their former pastor, Michael Kürschner, was burned at the stake. Blaurock conducted a very successful ministry in Tyrol. Many believers were baptized and churches founded. The example of discipleship in full communities of goods that began among the churches that Blaurock started continues to be a source of inspiration tointentional communities such as theHutterites and theBruderhof.[2][3] In August he and Hans Langegger were arrested by Innsbruck authorities. While in captivity they were tortured for information. On September 6, 1529, Blaurock and Langegger were burned at the stake nearKlausen.
The only writings left by Blaurock were a letter and two hymns written during his last three weeks of life. The hymns are entitledGott Führt Ein Recht Gericht ("God Holds a Righteous Judgment") andGott, dich will ich loben ("God, You I Will Praise"). Both hymns are preserved in theAusbund, an old Anabaptist hymnal still used by theAmish.
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