Page 1 of 5
German Bibles - which versions of the Luther Bible (or other German Bibles) do Conservative Anabaptists use?
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2026 5:00 pm
by MennoSimons1998
I am already aware that the majority of the Conservative Mennonites, Amish, and Hutterites use the 1534 Luther Bible, but as it is to be expected from Reformation-era Bible translations, since its original publishing, there have been many revisions and versions to the text (anything from simple corrections, to those who find its text is too archaic, and thus revising it to have a more modern vocabulary).
So I am wondering, is there more or less a "standard" Luther Bible that the more technology-free Conservative Anabaptist factions use?, but if not, what are some editions that they would find acceptable?, same thing with non-Luther German Bibles, I would love to one day visit a community of each Conservative Anabaptist denomination, and buy from them one of their Bibles to see the textual versions that they are the most used with.
Re: German Bibles - which versions of the Luther Bible (or other German Bibles) do Conservative Anabaptists use?
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2026 5:48 pm
by JohnH
The ones I am familiar with use a 1912 revision of the "Lutherbibel", typically typeset in Fraktur.
There is somewhat of a "conspiracy" amongst ultra-conservative Mennonite type of groups to try to distribute 1912 Lutherbibels with the apocryphal books removed. Some ultra-conservative groups teach that the Amish & Old Order Mennonites, etc. are not genuine Christians because they use a "false" Bible.
Re: German Bibles - which versions of the Luther Bible (or other German Bibles) do Conservative Anabaptists use?
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2026 8:34 pm
by HansMacDonald
JohnH wrote: ↑Mon Jun 08, 2026 5:48 pm
The ones I am familiar with use a 1912 revision of the "Lutherbibel", typically typeset in Fraktur.
There is somewhat of a "conspiracy" amongst ultra-conservative Mennonite type of groups to try to distribute 1912 Lutherbibels with the apocryphal books removed. Some ultra-conservative groups teach that the Amish & Old Order Mennonites, etc. are not genuine Christians because they use a "false" Bible.
Old Order Mennonites don't use the apocryphal books. I think Amish do though.
Re: German Bibles - which versions of the Luther Bible (or other German Bibles) do Conservative Anabaptists use?
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2026 8:43 pm
by Judas Maccabeus
MennoSimons1998 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 08, 2026 5:00 pm
I am already aware that the majority of the Conservative Mennonites, Amish, and Hutterites use the 1534 Luther Bible, but as it is to be expected from Reformation-era Bible translations, since its original publishing, there have been many revisions and versions to the text (anything from simple corrections, to those who find its text is too archaic, and thus revising it to have a more modern vocabulary).
So I am wondering, is there more or less a "standard" Luther Bible that the more technology-free Conservative Anabaptist factions use?, but if not, what are some editions that they would find acceptable?, same thing with non-Luther German Bibles, I would love to one day visit a community of each Conservative Anabaptist denomination, and buy from them one of their Bibles to see the textual versions that they are the most used with.
Some MIGHT use a Froschauer Bible . It is my understanding that the Hutterites have reprinted this one. I find the typeface easier to read than old Lutherbibles, and as bad as my German is, I need all the help I can get.
Re: German Bibles - which versions of the Luther Bible (or other German Bibles) do Conservative Anabaptists use?
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2026 9:32 pm
by MennoSimons1998
Judas Maccabeus wrote: ↑Mon Jun 08, 2026 8:43 pm
Some MIGHT use a Froschauer Bible . It is my understanding that the Hutterites have reprinted this one. I find the typeface easier to read than old Lutherbibles, and as bad as my German is, I need all the help I can get.
I will keep this in mind, but Hutterites as a whole also do use the Luther Bible, right?
Also, are you aware of from which location said Hutterites that use the Froschauer Bible are from?
Re: German Bibles - which versions of the Luther Bible (or other German Bibles) do Conservative Anabaptists use?
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2026 10:23 pm
by JohnH
HansMacDonald wrote: ↑Mon Jun 08, 2026 8:34 pm
JohnH wrote: ↑Mon Jun 08, 2026 5:48 pm
The ones I am familiar with use a 1912 revision of the "Lutherbibel", typically typeset in Fraktur.
There is somewhat of a "conspiracy" amongst ultra-conservative Mennonite type of groups to try to distribute 1912 Lutherbibels with the apocryphal books removed. Some ultra-conservative groups teach that the Amish & Old Order Mennonites, etc. are not genuine Christians because they use a "false" Bible.
Old Order Mennonites don't use the apocryphal books. I think Amish do though.
Are you sure of that? The last one I looked at certainly had the apocryphal books in it, and they also tend to read from the passages in a rather ossified manner at weddings. Hutterites also have the apocryphal books.
I continue to maintain that one of the biggest errors that happens when a plain group switches to English, or transitions from Old Order to "conservative Mennonite" etc., is that they take a pair of scissors to their Bibles.
Re: German Bibles - which versions of the Luther Bible (or other German Bibles) do Conservative Anabaptists use?
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2026 10:39 pm
by JayP
I question the original,postings premise.
Anabaptists do indeed use the
Many German speaking
Anabaptist do indeed use the Froschauer bible.
Most Conservative Mennonites I know use the KJV
Many, appropriately reject Luther’s bible, since he put so many Anabaptists to death
More Anabaptists were executed by Protestants than Catholics.
Re: German Bibles - which versions of the Luther Bible (or other German Bibles) do Conservative Anabaptists use?
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2026 11:08 pm
by JohnH
JayP wrote: ↑Mon Jun 08, 2026 10:39 pm
More Anabaptists were executed by Protestants than Catholics.
Interesting revisionist history you have there
Re: German Bibles - which versions of the Luther Bible (or other German Bibles) do Conservative Anabaptists use?
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2026 11:13 pm
by ken_sylvania
JohnH wrote: ↑Mon Jun 08, 2026 11:08 pm
JayP wrote: ↑Mon Jun 08, 2026 10:39 pm
More Anabaptists were executed by Protestants than Catholics.
Interesting revisionist history you have there
I think he might be right. I could easily believe that the Protestants were more focused on executing Anabaptists than on executing Catholics.
Re: German Bibles - which versions of the Luther Bible (or other German Bibles) do Conservative Anabaptists use?
Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2026 1:01 am
by ohio jones
Judas Maccabeus wrote: ↑Mon Jun 08, 2026 8:43 pm
Some MIGHT use a Froschauer Bible . It is my understanding that the Hutterites have reprinted this one. I find the typeface easier to read than old Lutherbibles, and as bad as my German is, I need all the help I can get.
The next question is which edition of the Froschauer have they reprinted?