Martyrs Mirror

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Brief summary.

For more information about the history of the Martyrs Mirror, see http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/encyclopedia/contents/M37858ME.html.

Interpreting the Martyrs Mirror

Guides to Reading

An extensive book like the Martyrs Mirror may seem daunting at first glance. However, guides offered in multiple languages make the martyrs' stories accessible to modern readers.

Bibliography	Notes
Miller, Lynn A. Trail of the Martyrs: A Guide to the Sites of Anabaptist Martyrdom. Elkhart, Ind.: Schwaermer Press, 1984.	WorldCat
Lowry, James W. The Martyrs' Mirror Made Plain: A Study Guide and Further Studies. Aylmer, Ont: Pathway Publishers, 2011.	WorldCat
Lowry, James W. In the Whale's Belly: And Other Martyr Stories. Harrisonburg, Va: Christian Light Publications, 1981.	WorldCat
Lowry, James W., Vohmann, and Thieleman J. van Braght. Aki a cethal gyomrába került: keresztyén mártírok története, akiknek a hite erősebb volt, mint a halál. Budapest: Evangéliumi kiadó, 2008.	WorldCat Hungarian translation
Lowry, James W., Maria Juana de Mejía, and Thieleman J. van Braght. En el vientre de la ballena y otras historias de los mártires. Farmington, N.M.: Publicadores Lámpara y Luz, 1999.	WorldCat Spanish translation
Lowry, James W. Im Bauche des Walfisches und andere Märtyrergeschichten. Ephrata, PA: Grace Press, 2006.	WorldCat German translation
Lowry, James W., and Thieleman J. van Braght. Bo chrebe kita i drugie istorii o muchenikakh. Ephrata, PA: Grace Press, 1997.	WorldCat Russian translation
Witmer, Dallas, and Thieleman J. van Braght. The Faith Worth Dying For. Farmington, NM: Lamp and Light Publishers, Inc, 1996.	WorldCat Lesson book with 13 lessons and final test
Witmer, Dallas, and Thieleman J. van Braght. Der Glaube, Für Den Es Sich Zu Sterben Lohnt. Crockett, Ky: Rod and Staff Publishers, Inc, 2003.	WorldCat German Translation
Witmer, Dallas, Thieleman J. van Braght, and Jan Luiken. La fe por la cual vale morir. Farmington, N.M.: Publicadora Lámpara y Luz, 2010.	WorldCat Spanish Translation
Witmer, Dallas, Thieleman J. van Braght, and Jan Luiken. La foi pour laquelle il est digne de mourir. Farmington, N.M.: Éditeurs Lampe et Lumière, 2002.	WorldCat French Translation
Witmer, Dallas, Alexei Pavlovich Muzalyov, and Thieleman J. van Braght. Vera, za kotoruiu stoit umeret. Milverton, Ont: Masters International Ministries, 1998.	WorldCat Russian translation

Retelling the Stories

The stories of the Martyrs Mirror have inspired a long history of retelling, ranging from condensed versions of the book in the early eighteenth century to modern interpretations that have extended the tales into fictional novels.

Bibliography	Notes
Braght, Thieleman J. van, Josse Bout, Jan Luiken, and Pieter Jan Entrop. 'T merg van de historien der martelaren.: Behelzende de voornaamste getuigenissen, schrikkelyke vonnissen, standvastige belydenissen, en wreede tormenten, die dezelve geleden hebben; beginnende met het lyden van Christus, en eindigende met het jaar 1671. T'Amsteldam: P.J. Entrop, boekverkooper op de hoek van de Heerengragt en 't Koningsplyn, 1769.
Jackson, Dave, Neta Jackson, and Thieleman J. van Braght. On Fire for Christ: Stories of Anabaptist Martyrs, Retold from Martyrs Mirror. Scottdale, Pa: Herald Press, 1989.
Oyer, John S., Robert S. Kreider, Jan Luiken, and Thieleman J. van Braght. Mirror of the Martyrs: Stories of Courage, Inspiringly Retold, of 16th Century Anabaptists Who Gave Their Lives for Their Faith. Intercourse, PA: Good Books, 2003.
Oyer, John S., Robert S. Kreider, and Stephen E. Buckwalter. Märtyrer-Schicksale: Berichte über Täufer des 16. Jahrhunderts, die für ihren Glauben ihr Leben hingaben. Lage, Germany: Logos Verlag, 2002.	German translation
Oyer, John S., Robert S. Kreider, Jan Luiken, Thieleman J. van Braght, and Jai Prakash Masih. [Mirror of the martyrs, Hindi translation] Acworth, GA: Yeshu Ke Paas, Inc, 2010.	Hindi translation
Oyer, John S., Robert S. Kreider, Jan Luiken, and Emil Hanuseac. Istorii o khristianskikh muchenikakh: (iz knigi "Zerkalo mychenikov") : vdokhovli︠a︡i︠u︡shcht︠s︡e t︠s︡smort︠s︡t︠s︡ o muzhesmve anabapmt︠s︡smov XVI veka, omdavshcht︠s︡kh svoi︠u︡ zht︠s︡znʹ za veru. Berlin, Ohio: Christian Aid Ministries, 2002.
Oyer, John S., Robert S. Kreider, Jan Luiken, and Emil Hanuseac. Istorisiri din "Oglindă martirilor": istorisiri pline de curaj, repovestite cu inspirație, despre anabaptiștii secolului al XVI-lea care și-au dat viața pentru credința lor. Berlin, Ohio: Christian Aid Ministries, 2002.	Romanian translation
Oyer, John S., Robert S. Kreider, Jan Luiken, and Thieleman J. van Braght. Miroir des martyrs: Histoires d'anabaptistes ayant donné leur vie pour leur foi au XVIe siècle. Cléon d'Andran, France: Éditions Excelsis, 2003.	French translation
Oyer, John S., Robert S. Kreider, Jan Luiken, Alih Bahasa, Sri Wandaningsih, Charles Christano, and Paul Gunawan. Cermin para martir: kisah-kisah gagah berani kaum Anabaptis dari abad XVI yang telah mengorbankan hidup demi iman mereka, yang diceritakan kembali untuk membangkitkan semangat. Semarang: Sinode GKMI, 1999.	Indonesian translation
Oyer, John S., Robert S. Kreider, Jan Luiken, and Clara Helena Beltrán Suárez. Espejo de los mártires: historias de inspiración y coraje. Santafé de Bogotá, Colombia: Ediciones Clara-Semilla, 1997.	Spanish translation

Children's Stories

As examples of steadfast and nonresistant faith, the martyr stories and their values have been prepared for younger audiences.

Bibliography	Notes
Snider, Cindy Gay, and Mary Meinking. Finding Anna Bee. Scottdale, Pa: Herald Press, 2007.
Schlabach, Amy. Times of Trial: Poem Stories of Anabaptist Martyrs for Children. Sugarcreek, OH: Carlisle Press, 2011.
See, Sharon, and Peter Balholm. Godly Heroes of the Past. Crockett, Ky: Rod and Staff Publishers, 2009.
Bauman, Elizabeth Hershberger. Coals of Fire. Scottdale, Pa: Herald Press, 1954.

Fiction

The Martyrs Mirror offers a rich selection of tales that has inspired novels and fictional retellings.

Bibliography	Notes
Augsburger, Myron S., Hans Jörg Meier, and Tabea Kunz. Ich werde dich wieder sehen. Saglianes, Seewis: Breakthrough Publisher, 2003.	WorldCat
Augsburger, Myron S., and Allan Eitzen. Pilgrim Aflame. Scottdale, Pa: Herald Press, 2005.	WorldCat
Burkholder, Kendra. Kogo mne boi︠a︡t'si︠a︡. Ephrata, PA: Grace Press, Inc, 2001.	WorldCat
Burkholder, Kendra, and Dale Burkholder. "Whom Shall I Fear?". Crockett, Ky: Rod and Staff Publishers, 1996.	WorldCat
Children of the Highest. Costa Rica, C.A.: Pearl Press, 1997.	WorldCat
Esh, Claudia. We Are His Witnesses: An Anabaptist Martyr Story. Sugarcreek, OH: Carlisle Press, 2011.	WorldCat
Martin, John. The Hollow Tree Letters. 1986.	WorldCat
Staal, M. van der. Anneke Jansz: Historisch verhaal uit den eersten tijd der hervorming. Urk: De Vuurtoren, 1976.	WorldCat
Stoll, Joseph, and Joseph Stoll. La esposa del tamborilero: y otras historias. Crockett, Ky: Editorial Vara Y Cayado [Rod and Staff], 1981.	WorldCat
Stoll, Joseph, and Thieleman J. van Braght. The Drummer's Wife: And Other Stories from Martyrs' Mirror. Aylmer, Ont: Pathway Pub, 1994.	WorldCat
Veen, P. H. Een aangrijpende bladzijde uit onze historie. S.l: Commissie voor de Doopsgezinden in de verstrooiing, 1901.	World Cat
Zook, Joe, and Thieleman J. van Braght. The Anguish of Faith: A Fictional Story Based on the Lives of the Martyrs. Morgantown, PA: Masthof Press, 2010.	WorldCat

Contemporary Responses

The Martyrs Mirror continues to shock, inspire, and intrigue readers today. Through scholarly study and creative endeavors, individuals have responded to the text, demonstrating the contemporary relevance of the long-deceased martyrs.

History, Criticism, and Perspectives

Writers continue to shape the stories of the martyrs through contemporary perspectives, whatever their opinions on the tales and the tradition that surrounds them.

Bibliography	Notes
Beachy, Kirsten. Tongue Screws and Testimonies: Poems, Stories, and Essays Inspired by The Martyrs Mirror. Scottdale, Pa: Herald Press, 2010.
Heatwole, Daniel R. The Ephrata Martyrs' Mirror Past and Present. Scottdale, Pa: Mennonite Publ. House, n.d.
Hertzler, Joseph Shenk. Getting Acquainted with Martyrs' Mirror. 1967.
Horsch, John. Der Blutige Schauplatz, Oder, Martyrer Spiegel. 1900.
Krahn, Cornelius, and Jan Luiken. The Witness of the Martyr's Mirror for Our Day. North Newton, Kansas: Bethel College, 1967.
Kreider, Alan. The Relevance of Martyrs' Mirror to Our Time. London, England: A. Kreider, 1984.
Nelson, Dawn Ruth. Verbal Formulae and Repetitive Motifs in the Martyrs Mirror Accounts. 1974.
Nolan, Dennis J. Religion and Civil Authority: A Radical Christian View of Church-State Relations As Portrayed in the Martyrs Mirror. Japan: Kant⁻o Gakuin Daigaku Law Research Institute, 1999.	Second of two parts
Studer, Gerald C. A History of the Martyrs Mirror: Written for Mennonite History Class and the Mennonite Historical Society. 1947.
Swartzentruber, A. Orley. A Study of the Piety and the Theology of the Anabaptist Martyrs in Van Braght's Martyrs Mirror. 1953.

Musical Responses

The Martyrs Mirror has inspired a number of musical compositions, from oratorios to band scores.

Bibliography	Notes
King, Shirley Sprunger. Singing at the Fire: Voices of the Anabaptist Martyrs: Organ Lecture-Recital. 1997.
Parker, Alice, John L. Ruth, Thieleman J. van Braght, and Richard Hosteltler. Martyr’s Mirror Oratorio. Goshen, IN: Richard Hostetler, 2004.	DVD
Parker, Alice, and John L. Ruth. Martyr's Mirror Oratorio. S.l: Parker, 1971.	Libretto printed as program for presentation at Goshen College, 1971 October 31
Sauder, Dorothy. Sesquicentennial of the Amish Mennonites of Ontario. Ontario Amish Mennonites, 1972.	Includes Martyrs Mirror oratorio
Weirich, David, and Thieleman J. van Braght. Martyrs mirror: for concert band. Grand Junction, CO: Grand Mesa Music Publishers, 2001.	Band scores