William R. Estep’s The Anabaptist Story gives a detailed and historic account of the Anabaptist movement. With detailed stories and much research, this presents where the movement was formed and its journey. Estep revised a new edition of The Anabaptist Story to replace the old dated versions. He was persuaded to write a revision because the book had been so widely accepted and because it used by so many colleges and seminaries (viii). The purpose of this book, for Estep, was to allow the “sixteenth century and the Anabaptists to come alive.” With the clear and detailed stories, he does just that in laying out the founders and followers of the Anabaptist movement. This movement was one of great struggle, sacrifice and courage; and this was all done in the name of God. As many movements begin, this too started with a small group of men that sought a change amongst the larger majority. …show more content…
A man by the name of Zwingli was in control of the Reformation of Zurich in the early 1517. He was “a scholar, a humanist and an evangelical reformer” (12). Zwingli mentored young men and taught them the Greek and Hebrew language and tried to conform them to his cause. A group of men that he mentored, found disagreement in their study of the gospel and with his teachings. At this, the Anabaptist movement was set in motion. The group of followers that started the Anabaptist movement, were some of Zwingli’s closest followers. Among them were Conrad Grebel and FelixManz. Grebel and Manz, disagreed over the use of images, the mass, and infant baptism; they believed the Word of God and not the council should determine those things (16). Zwingli agreed with Grebel and Manz, however, when in a meeting with the council with all parties present, Zwingli allowed the council to make their ruling, without interjection. This is the turning point between beloved mentor Zwingli and Grebel, and the start of the