Jakob Ammann. Photo by Mikeatnip. Wikimedia
Top 10 Sensational Facts about Jakob Ammann
Jakob Ammann (also Jacob Amman, Amann; 12 February 1644 – between 1712 and 1730) was an Anabaptist leader and the Amish religious movement’s namesake.
Very little is known about Jakob Ammann’s teaching and day-to-day life due to a scarcity of materials. His first-hand accounts of his thoughts are contained in three letters. This brevity is most likely due to his inability to write. The letters that have survived were most likely dictated. Other letters accuse Jakob of teaching or holding various viewpoints, but it is unclear how biased the accusations are because many of them were written by his opponents.
1. Jakob Ammann was born in Switzerland
Flag of Switzerland. Photo by Hp.Baumeler. Wikimedia
Jakob Ammann was born in Erlenbach im Simmental, Canton of Bern, Switzerland, on February 12, 1644, to Michael and Anna (née Rupp) Ammann. On 12 February 1644, Erlenbach church records record the baptism of a Jacob Ammann, who was most likely the Jakob Ammann from whom the Amish got their name. Ulrich Ammann has been identified as his grandfather.
The Ammanns were all tailors. Jakob was the third child in a family of six. Jakob’s father and one of his sisters were also Anabaptists. His 18-year-old brother, Ulli, was also an Anabaptist and was known for his moderate tone in attempts at reconciliation between the Amish and Reist sides.
2. Jakob Ammann had two children
Jakob Ammann’s house. Photo by Thomas.kaltenrieder. Wikimedia
Jakob married Verena Stüdler, but little is known about her other than her name. They had one son, Baltz, and at least one daughter.
3. His signature consisted of only his initials
He most likely had a limited formal education. Only his initials appear on 37 official documents signed by Jakob, with most of them having a nearby note that Jakob was unable to write, so he only “made his mark.”
His signed name does appear on three documents, though twice it was most likely written for him by someone else; once, with the same style of writing as his initials, appear the poorly formed letters “J. AMME,” which is assumed to be his own writing. Because he requested that letters be read during one meeting, it is assumed that he was unable to read, or could only read poorly. He fared better financially than the average person during his era.
4. He always goes against the status quo
A man with a long beard and long hair. Photo by Alex Sheldon. Unsplash
In practice, he was opposed to long hair on men, shaved beards, and ostentatious clothing. Liars were supposed to be excommunicated. Ammann, unlike most Amish married men today, sported a mustache, which is largely forbidden in the faith today.
5. Jakob Ammann converted to Anabaptism between 1671 and 1680
He is listed as the sponsor for a baptism in the state church on March 12, 1671. In June 1680, Oberhofen’s government requested advice from Bern authorities on how to deal with a Jakob Ammann who had “become infected with the Anabaptist sect.” This is the first time Ammann is mentioned as an Anabaptist. This suggests a conversion to Anabaptism between 1671 and 1680. He was ordained to the ministry sometime between his conversion and 1693, possibly by Hans Reist, who would later become one of his most ardent opponents.
6. Jakob Ammann was a strict disciplinarian
According to Jakob’s letters, he was a strict disciplinarian who was unwavering in his beliefs and expected others to “conform to the teachings of Christ and His apostles.” His rejection of the “good-hearted” stemmed from his conviction that whoever accepted the “true saving faith” would be baptized on that basis, regardless of the cost. They would “abandon the world” and live a very practical separation in their daily lives.
Jakob was willing to abandon long-held traditions and practices if they were not founded on God’s Word. He denied that he was attempting to establish a “new faith.” He believed that a new birth experience could drastically alter a person’s life.
7. Ammann is well-known for his pivotal role in the 1693 Swiss Brethren schism
Jakob Ammann’s house. Photo by Thomas.kaltenrieder. Wikimedia
Until recently, he was frequently blamed for the division, portraying himself as an angry, harsh, and demanding leader who imposed his views on others. [3]: III [b] With the publication of some of the period’s correspondence (beginning in 1950, with Mast’s “Amish Letters”) and the discovery of new evidence, Ammann’s reputation has gained favor among some researchers.
Jakob Ammann and Hans Reist have been used to characterize the two sides of the schism because of their prominent roles, but the issues were much broader than the two most prominent men involved.
8. Jakob Ammann addressed a letter to the Swiss Brethren congregations
Typewriter with printer paper. Photo by Florian Klauer. Unsplash
In 1693, Jakob Ammann, “together with the ministers and elders,” sent a general letter to people within the Swiss Brethren congregations, asking for clarification on three issues:
1) Shunning those who had been banned,
2) whether liars should be excommunicated, and
3) whether people who did not follow God’s word could be saved.
The “good-hearted” were those who sympathized with the Anabaptists and even helped them materially during times of persecution, but who refused to undergo rebaptism.
Those who agreed with Ammann believed that these “good-hearted” people should not be regarded and consoled as “saved” unless they took up the cross and followed Christ in rebaptism and obedience to his teachings.
9. He was chosen by a ministerial committee to travel to Switzerland for a meeting with church leaders
Initially, a few Swiss ministers agreed with Ammann, but in a later meeting, Hans Reist would not agree with social avoidance, citing Matthew 15:17 as evidence that “whatever enters the mouth is not sin.” Another meeting was called, but Hans Reist did not show up, claiming that he was too busy.
At this point, Jakob Ammann became irritated and announced that Hans Reist had been excommunicated on six grounds. When Ammann asked the other Swiss ministers present where they stood on the issues, they pleaded for more time to consult with their congregations.
10. It became difficult to locate Jakob Ammann after his father died
Jakob Ammann. Photo by Mikeatnip. Wikimedia
Ammann had relocated from Switzerland to Heidolsheim, Alsace, by 1693, where his father died and was buried in the nearby village of Baldenheim. He moved to the head of the valley at La Petite Lièpvre, near Markirch (today Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines), Alsace, apparently shortly after his father’s death.
He remained there until October 1712, when all Anabaptists in the area were expelled by an edict of Louis XIV. There have been no further discoveries concerning Jakob Ammann since this date. He most likely went to live with friends or relatives in Lower Alsace.
Ammann interpreted this as a retreat, because some of them had previously expressed support for his position. He then announced the excommunication of six of the current ministers. Amman and his four companions then exited, “without shaking hands with anyone.” These excommunications caused a schism within the Swiss Brethren movement. The Ammann side was eventually excommunicated by the Reist side.
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