A Pilgrimage Of Faith, J.B. Toews, 1993

pressing a basic commitment to Scripture, not as a norm for the exposition of truth. The concern for continued biblical orientation found strong expression in the establishing of Bible schools. As ear- ly as 1898 the conference passed a resolution "that the mis- sion committee look for teachers in order that the conference may begin its own Bible schools-"16 The claim that biblicism was "a distinctive of the Menno- nite Brethren'*17 must be qualified with the recognition that commitment to Scripture was a legacy of the early Anabaptists, In fact, the Mennonite Brethren commitment to Scripture sounds, at points, like an echo from the sixteenth century. Of the sixteenth-century reformers, Donovan Smucker, a Menno- nite scholar, asked "What was the supreme triumph of the 20 A PEOPLE OF BIBUOCENTRIC FAITH original Anabaptist Mennonite declaratioa? The answer is this: These great Christians rediscovered the theology of the Bible!"18 Michael Sattler wrote, "Let no one cause to depart from the standard that is laid through the letter of the Scripture which is revealed by the blood of Christ and of many witness- es of Jesus."19 Conrad G rebel was equally forceful: "We should regard neither the opinion of civil authorities nor of any man, but should do only what God requires of you; and what the mouth of God has spoken, that you should heed".20 The admonition of Menno Simons was the most familiar point of reference for Mennonite Brethren: "I confess that I would rather die than to believe and teach to my brethren a single word or letter concerning the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost (before God I lie not) contrary to the plain testi- mony of the world of God's Word as it is so clearly given through the mouth of prophets, evangelists and apostles."21 Many other sixteenth-century references confirm that the Mennonite Brethren emphasis on the divine inspiration and authority of Scripture was not unique to them. Their repeated affirmation of agreement with Menno Simons' "Foundations of Christian Doctrine" placed them firmly in the spirit of the Rad- ical Reformation.22 A COMMUNITY HERMENHUTIC The early Mennonite Brethren in both Russia and the United States viewed Scripture as a revelation from God in history. Continuous references in the Friedensstimme and Zionsbote reflect an understanding of Scripture as the testimo- ny of history as God had revealed it.(24) A distinguishing fea- ture of the 330 sermons of David Duerksen (1850-1910) was a hermeneutic that anchored the text in its historical setting with reference to the implications of the