Of the Name: Anabaptists.

The name "Anabaptist" was really not accepted by them by choice or desire, but of necessity; for their proper name, if we consider the matter rightly, should be Christ-minded, Apostle-minded, or Gospel-minded, Galatians 3, verses 26, 27, and 29, as they were called long ago, indeed many centuries ago, because their religion agreed with the doctrine of Christ, the Apostles, and the holy Gospel; which appears from the confession of faith which they have published from time to time, and which we, so far as we know them, are ready to defend, if necessity requires it; of which others also boast; but how they prove it, they may answer for themselves, and the impartial and intelligent may judge.

The name Anabaptists, which is now applied to them, has only lately come into use, deriving its origin from the matter of holy baptism, concerning which their views differ from those of all so-called Christendom. In what this difference consists we will now state briefly, and more fully in what follows.

We could have wished that they had been called by another name, that is, not only after the holy baptism, but after their whole religion; but since it is not so, we can content ourselves with the thought that it is not the name, but the thing itself, which justifies the man. [n16-1] For this reason we have applied this name to them throughout the work, so that they may be known and distinguished from others.** [n16-4]