A theologian’s radical reading of scripture threatens tradition-will he and his wife pay the ultimate price for their Anabaptist beliefs?

The Scripture That Demanded Drowning

This episode explores the life of Balthasar Hubmaier, a prominent theologian whose journey from orthodox Catholic scholar to radical reformer led to his and his wife's execution. It delves into the complex choices and convictions that shaped his fate.

Person: Balthasar Hubmaier, Elizabeth Hubmaier
Date: 1528
Location: Vienna, Danube River
Event: Execution by burning and drowning
Topic: Anabaptism

- Elizabeth Hubmaier witnessed her husband's burning in a public square, urging him to remain steadfast.
- Three days later, Elizabeth was drowned in the Danube River with a stone tied around her neck.
- Four years before his death, Balthasar Hubmaier published "Heretics and Those Who Burn Them," foreshadowing his own fate.
- Hubmaier, initially a promising orthodox Catholic scholar, earned a doctorate under Johann Eck, Martin Luther's future opponent.
- His theological journey led him to question infant baptism, a universal practice, based on his rigorous interpretation of scripture.

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