Eleven Brothers and a Sister, in the Year 1569

In the year 1569, at Antwerp, twelve pious Christians were arrested, examined, tortured and finally sentenced to death for living according to the word of God and the testimony of the truth, namely, Harman Timmerman, Jan van Hasebroeck, Pieter Verlonge, Gerrit van Mandel, Jan van Mandel, Jan de Schaper, Jan Wiljoot, Jan van Doornick, Willem van Poperinge, Maeyken, his wife, Jan Koopman, and Hans his servant. One of them, however, died in prison from the effects of the torture. Seven were burned alive before Easter, their mouths having been screwed together with screws; and the four mentioned last in the same manner, on the 20th of May of that year.

Here follows a brief yet thorough and Christian confession of faith, of the one Being, God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and of the eternal Godhead of Christ the Son of God; also of the incarnation, visibleness, suffering and death of the eternal and only begotten Son of the living God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; which was written by this hero and witness of Jesus mentioned here, Herman Timmerman, as an answer and refutation to a letter that had been sent to him; and to which he testified so effectively, and which he confirmed with his blood and death. We have added it here for the benefit of the reader. We ask you to read it with Christian regard and attention; we hope that you will be instructed and improved by it. It reads as follows

In the first place, my friend, you want us to write to you whether we confess that the Father and the man Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are one Being. Our answer is that we confess that there is one Father, and one Son, and one Holy Ghost, and that with these words, namely, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, the only and Almighty God was expressed by Christ Himself, Matthew 28, verse 19. This then is our belief, namely, that we confess that when the Father was, the Son also was; for the Father never was without the Son. For as the Scriptures testify concerning the Father, that He is eternal, and that all things are through Him, so they also testify concerning the Son, that His goings forth are from the beginning, from the days of eternity; and all things were created by Him. Micah 5, verse 1; Colossians 1, verse 16; John 1, verse 3; Ephesians 3, verse 9; Hebrews 1, verse 2. Likewise also through the Holy Spirit; for all things were made by Him, who has one will and work with the Father and the Son, as can well be understood from these words, where the Scriptures testify that the Holy Ghost says: "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Second Esdras 16, verse 62; Psalm 33, verse 6; Acts 13, verse 2. See, my friends, here the Holy Ghost says that He calls them to this work; now Paul says that Jesus Christ has called and sent him. Acts 26, verse 16. And in the epistle to the Galatians we read that God called him, and separated him from his mother's womb, to reveal His Son by him. Galatians 1, verses 15 and 16. From these words the unity can clearly be understood. And there are still other passages which testify concerning the Holy Ghost, that He appoints the ministers or bishops in the church of God, which He has purchased with His own blood, and that He also dispenses the gifts. Acts 20, verse 28; First Corinthians 12, verse 11.

From these words it is easy to understand the unity and working of the Holy Ghost, which He has with the Father and the Son, so that He cannot be excluded from the unity. Nor can the Son; for He says: "I and the Father are one," John 10, verse 30; which unity and Son of God He is according to the person as well as according to the Spirit; for He is frequently called the Son of God according to His humanity, as you may read where the centurion said: "Truly this is the Son of God." Matthew 27, verse 54. And Paul says that we are reconciled to God by the death of His Son. Romans 5, verse 10. Again, that God did not spare His Son, chapter 8, verse 32. And John says that the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. First John 1, verse 7; chapter 4, verse 10. And Luke says: "That which will be born of you will be called the Son of God." Luke 1, verse 35. And to the Galatians: "That God sent forth his Son, who was born of a woman:" Galatians 4, verse 4. Now He who is the Son of God, and whom He has given for our propitiation (First John 4, verse 10), was certainly born of Mary in the form of a human person. And Isaiah says: "To us a child is born, to us a Son is given: and his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father" (Isaiah 9, verse 6), and other things which God says of Himself, and which John the Baptist and Christ declare concerning Himself. Read Isaiah where it is written: "Behold, your God. For behold, the Lord Sabaoth is coming; he will feed his flock like a shepherd." Isaiah 40, verse 9.

Also in Ezekiel God says: "I will myself attend to my sheep." Ezekiel 34, verse 11. Now Christ says that He is the Shepherd of the sheep, and that the sheep are His own. Zechariah says: "Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered," and in John we read that Christ is the Bridegroom, who has the bride; and in the epistle to the Ephesians [we are taught] that He gave Himself for her, so that He might prepare for Himself a glorious church. Ephesians 5, verse 25. Christ also is the Lamb of God, and in Revelation we read that the marriage of the Lamb has come, and that His wife has made herself ready. Revelation 19, verse 7. So we can clearly understand from these words that Jesus Christ is the Bridegroom and husband of His church, which husband is called God by the prophet Isaiah: "For your Maker is your husband," he says: "the Lord of hosts is his name: and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth he will be called." Isaiah 54, verse 5.

See, my friends, from all these words it can clearly be understood that Christ cannot be excluded from the unity or from God, since God in the Scriptures is frequently expressed by the word Christ, as you may read in Timothy, where Paul calls Christ our Savior, and also calls God our Savior, and in other places, where God is called our Savior. Read First Timothy 1, verse 1. And God says through Isaiah: "I am the Lord; and besides me there is no Savior." Isaiah 43, verse 11; chapter 45, verse 5. Now the Scriptures testify that man's salvation lies in the sacrifice of the body of our dear Lord Jesus Christ, as we quoted some passages to you above; as, that we are reconciled to God by the death of His Son; the body died; and, as Peter says: "By his stripes we were healed." His body suffered the stripes. First Peter 2, verse 24. And Isaiah: "With his stripes we are healed:" the stripes were inflicted upon the body. Isaiah 53, verse 5.

See, my friend, it is therefore clear from these words that Christ cannot be excluded from God with body and spirit, since God ascribes to Himself that which Christ has done, as we explained above concerning the Shepherd of the sheep. And Christ ascribes to Himself that which God does, as can frequently be understood from the Scriptures; so that the inference is clear, that they have one will and work: for whatever things the Father does, these the Son also does in the same way. And as the Father raises up the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. John 5, verses 19 and 21. Hence the works of the Son of God can be ascribed to none other than to God, so that the Son cannot be excluded from God. Therefore, when the word God is named, Father, Son and Holy Ghost are expressed by it. Thus we confess the only God.

You further want an answer in regard to the passages which speak of the one God, whether any other than the Father is named by them. I understand your question this way: "Whether Christ, who died, is also included in the expression one God?" Romans 1, verse 8; chapter 5, verse 8; John 5, verse 18; First John 5, verse 9.

Answer. In the first place you quote Deuteronomy 6, verse 4, where Moses said: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one God;" and says still further in the same chapter: "You shall not tempt the Lord your God, as you tempted him in Massah." Verse 16; Matthew 4, verse 7. See, my friend, they tempted this one God, who is called Christ by Paul, where he says: "And let us not tempt Christ, as some tempted him." First Corinthians 10, verse 9. Now I understand from your letter that you would exclude Christ from God; I understand it by the passage you quote (John 17), by which you would prove that Christ is not God. Our answer concerning this passage is: "They that confess Jesus Christ in truth also confess Him God, since God is expressed by the word Christ, as we have proved above from the words of Paul." You further quote the language of Hezekiah, where he said: "O Lord God of Israel, you alone are God; you have made heaven and earth." Second Kings 19, verse 15. By these words you would prove that Christ is excluded from the one God. And you write in your letter that the one God of whom Hezekiah spoke made heaven and earth; and you exclude Christ from the one God; hence you must also exclude Him from the creation of heaven and earth, and must first refute all these witnesses that testify concerning Jesus Christ, that all that is made was made by Him. Read John 1, verse 3; Colossians 1, verse 9; Ephesians 3, verse 9; Hebrews 1, verse 2; Psalm 33, verse 6. When you have refuted all these witnesses, and excluded Christ from all the works of God, then I will admit your view, that Christ is not included in the expression, one God.

You further say that God is invisible and lives forever, but that Christ was seen, and that He died, and that the child was without knowledge, and that it grew up in wisdom; concerning which you will hear our views afterwards from the confession of our faith, which we prove from the Scriptures, and these we must believe. [n961-1] Furthermore, you say that God knows the times, and that the Son does not know them. Matthew 24, verse 36; Mark 13, verse 32. Our answer is that Christ speaks this according to His humiliation; for there are other passages which testify concerning Him that He knows all things; as where Peter said: "Lord, you know all things;" and Christ did not contradict him, saying: "No, Peter, I do not know the last day." He did not even reply to it. Again, when the disciples said to Him: "Now we are sure that you know all things." John 16, verse 30. You further say that God knows the hearts of all the children of men. Psalm 7, verse 9; Jeremiah 11, verse 20; chapter 17, verse 10; chapter 12, verse 3. We say that Christ also knows them; for He knew what was in man, and did not need anyone to testify of man. Second Timothy 4, verse 8; Revelation 2, verse 23; John 2, verse 25. And Christ said: "I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you." John 9, verse 42. And in John 6, verse 61, we read that Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples murmured at it. But as to what you write concerning the revelation of John, that God gave Him the same, this does not imply that He [Christ] does not know anything. [n961-2] You further say that God is Almighty, and does all things without the help of anyone. Answer: Above we have proved that Christ Jesus and the Holy Ghost are included in the word God, or you must prove that the Father does some things without the Son or the Holy Ghost, contrary to the words of Christ where He says: "Whatever things the Father does, these the Son also does in the same way." And: "My Father works until now, and I work." And "As the Father raises up the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he will." John 5, verse 19; chapter 17, verse 21. And if we are to honor the Son as we honor the Father, as the Father requires, we must certainly confess Him God, for the Father is honored as God, and if we now deny the Son, we have neither the Father nor the Son, and we are also the spirit of antichrist. First John 2, verse 22. And as God did the miracles by Him, so He again did them by the Father. And He said to two blind men: "Do you believe that I am able to do this to you?" And they believed it and were helped. Matthew 9, verse 28. This I state, that you may know that He frequently ascribes to Himself the works which He does, and sometimes to His Father; in order that you may know that they are one God, who works all things. You say that God requires the Holy Spirit, which is true. Now you must observe that a certain thing is sometimes ascribed to God the Father, and sometimes to the Son; for we read, John 3, verse 16, that God so loved the world that he gave his only Son. Romans 5, verse 8; First John 4, verse 9. And in John 10, verse 17, we read that Christ says that He lays down His life; no man takes it from Him, but He lays it down of Himself. Again, that He gives His flesh for the life of the world. John 6, verse 51. And that He also imparts the Holy Ghost, and also sent Him to His disciples. John 20, verse 22; chapter 16, verses 7 and 13; chapter 15, verse 26; Luke 24, verse 49.

You further quote First Corinthians 15, verse 28. Our answer is, as above: That sometimes a work is ascribed to the Father and sometimes to the Son, so that all men might know that they are one. For we read that God the Father set Jesus Christ at His own right hand in the heavenly places. Ephesians 1, verse 20. And we also read that the Lord sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. Hebrews 1, verse 3. Therefore, my friend, you may well take heed before you proceed in such a weighty matter, and first prove well with the word of Christ and His apostles, that you do not run away with a word without first proving whether it agrees with all the words of God. Farewell, and read with understanding.

Our belief and ground concerning the incarnation of Jesus Christ is that we confess and believe that the only begotten Son of God, who was with the Father before the foundation of the world (John 17, verse 24), and was in the form of God (Philippians 2, verse 6), was foreordained before the foundation of the world; whose goings forth are from the beginning; by whom the world was made, John 1, verse 3; Colossians 1, verse 16; Hebrews 1, verse 2; and who, though He was rich, became poor for our sakes, and came forth from the Father, came into the world; came down from heaven; and through the power of the Most High was conceived in Mary, and became man in her. For the Word became flesh (John 1, verse 14), so that it was seen with the eyes, and handled with the hands; of the word of life. First John 1, verse 1. Born of Mary (Luke 2, verse 7); given to us as a son (Isaiah 9, verse 6), and crucified, died, and buried for us; raised from the dead, for God raised up His child Jesus (Acts 3, verse 15; chapter 10, verse 40; First Thessalonians 1, verse 10); and He ascended up where He was before (John 6, verse 62), for He that descended is the same also that ascended, Ephesians 4, verse 10. We also believe that the Son of God, when the time was fulfilled, became Abraham's son, David's son, Abraham's seed, the Son of man; and the son and fruit of Mary, when He became man; not that the Son of God took His origin or beginning from Abraham, or David, or Mary; for we have shown above by the Scriptures that He was with the Father before the foundation of the world, and was before Abraham was. John 8, verse 58. We therefore believe that Jesus Christ, without any division, visible or invisible, mortal or immortal, wholly and entirely, is the first begotten, own, true, Son of God, as all believers have confessed Him, as we can read in the holy Scriptures. Peter confessed Him as the Son of the living God. Likewise also John the Baptist confessed Him; for he said: I saw, and bore record that this is the Son of God. John 1, verse 34. Nathanael said: "Rabbi, you are the Son of God." Martha in like manner confessed that He was the Christ, the Son of the living God, who had come into the world. John 11, verse 27.

This is our confession concerning the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now if someone should ask us whether we do not believe that the Son of God assumed flesh and blood, in which He dwelt; and that the Son of God remained the same as He was, invisible, immortal, unchangeable, as is the Father; we answer this way. "If it were true that the Son of God remained invisible, immortal and unchangeable, as the Father, and assumed flesh and blood from Mary, in which He dwelt, it could not be said with truth that the Son of God became man, but according to truth it would have to be said that the Son of God assumed a man, in whom He dwelt; for to assume is to assume, and to become is to become, and assuming cannot be called becoming. There further follows from it, that if the Son of God remained invisible, as the Father, He could not be crucified, and in this case He that hung on the cross is not the Son of God; for He was seen, and God has but one Son. It further follows from it, that if the Son remained invisible, God did spare His Son, contrary to the words of Paul, where he says that God spared not His Son, but delivered Him up for us all. Romans 8, verse 32. And God would in this case also not have given us His Son, contrary to the teaching of John, where he says: " God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son." John 3, verse 16.

Furthermore, if He remained immortal, it cannot be said that we are reconciled to God by the death of His Son, contrary to Paul, where he says that we are reconciled to God by the death of His Son. Romans 5, verse 10. Nor can it be said that the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. It can only be said that the flesh and blood of Mary cleanses us from all sin, contrary to the teaching of John, where he says that the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. Nor can it be said that God raised up His child Jesus; for if He did not die, He did not raise Him up, contrary to the teaching of Paul, First Thessalonians 1, verse 10; Acts 2, verse 24; chapter 10, verse 40. Now if someone should ask us whether we believe that the Son of God was changed, we answer that we believe that the Son of God for our sakes was changed so much that He became what He was not, namely, He who before was rich for our sakes became poor. And He who was in the form of God became man; for the Word became flesh, so that it was seen with the eyes and handled with the hands. And He who before was invisible became visible; and arose from the dead; and ascended up where He was before. For He that descended is the same also that ascended; and He sits on the right hand of the Majesty on high, and is our Advocate, our Mediator, and ever lives to reconcile us. See, my friend, thus we confess the love which God has shown toward us. So that Jesus Christ humbled Himself for our sakes, became lower than the angels, and was found in fashion as a man. Philippians 2, verse 8; Hebrews 2, verse 7. Behold, my friend, this is the answer to the remark that the child grew up in wisdom. For when He became like man, as Paul teaches, He became in all things like His brothers. Hebrews 2, verse 17. Now, another man grows up in wisdom; therefore the Son of God humbled Himself, put Himself in our stead before God His Father, and took upon Him our sins, and paid for them in our stead, so that in our place He cried to God with strong crying and tears, and offered up [prayers and supplications] to Him that was able to save Him from death. Hebrews 5, verse 7; Matthew 27, verse 46. Not, my friend, that He needed to be saved on the part of His own person. Now if someone should ask us whether by such an incarnation as you have confessed here He did not lose His Sonship, and unity with God, we answer: We have proved above by the Scriptures that Jesus Christ was the Son of God before every creature (Colossians 1, verse 15), and was with the Father before the foundation of the world; whose goings forth are from the beginning and from eternity. And He did not lose His Sonship by His incarnation; for, while He was man, the Father confessed Him as His Son. Matthew 3, verse 17; chapter 17, verse 5; Mark 1, verse 11; chapter 9, verse 7; Luke 3, verse 22. And Christ said that He was the Son of God. John 10, verse 36. So did Peter. Matthew 16, verse 16. John the Baptist, Nathanael, Martha, and Thomas confessed Him as their Lord and God. And Christ said: "I and the Father are one." From these words it is easy to understand that by His incarnation He did not lose His first identity and unity; for the Son of God could become man, so that He died, but nevertheless remain God and the Son of God. For we read concerning the first man Adam, who was a figure of Christ, that God made him of the earth, so that Adam became a living soul, flesh and blood, capable of suffering and dying, and yet remained earth; for God said: "You are dust, and to dust you will return." Romans 5, verse 14; Genesis 1, verse 19; Sirach 17, verse 1. Abraham also confessed that he was dust (earth). Genesis 18, verse 27. Now, when the word earth is named, everything is included in it that is earth and takes its origin from the earth. Now Adam and Abraham, who were earth, died, and all men who are of the earth will be able to die; but the earth on which we walk cannot die. Nevertheless, both are earth, and both are included in the term earth. Now, when the word God is named, everything is included in it that is God, and all that has its origin from and with God; namely, with the word God we express Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Now the Scriptures testify, as we have abundantly stated above, that the Son of God became man, so that He was seen, and that He died; but the Father and the Holy Ghost did not die. Nevertheless, God reconciled the world, and purchased His church by His blood; for God was made manifest in the flesh. Read Baruch 4, verse 22. For God is man's Savior. Read Isaiah 43, verse 11; First Timothy 1, verse 15; Titus 1, verse 4. Now if Christ's body were of the earth, in which body our propitiation lies, as Peter teaches, that we were healed by His stripes, and Isaiah, that we are healed by His stripes; and Paul, that we are reconciled by His death; then the earth must be our savior, and not God; and John must have spoken falsely when he said that the Word, which is called God, became flesh. And before we will believe that Christ's body is of Mary's blood, we want to see this assertion pointed out to us in the Scriptures, word for word, and we will say nothing against it; for we must believe as the Scriptures teach us. John 7, verse 38. And if anyone wishes to accept our faith, we will show him word for word where this is written, namely, that the Word became flesh. Farewell. Read with understanding. HARMAN TIMMERMAN.

From Jan van Hasebroeck three letters have fallen into our hands, which we have likewise added here for the benefit of the reader.