Vincent Evener is Associate Professor of Reformation and Luther Studies at United Lutheran Seminary. He is the co-editor of Protestants and Mysticism in Reformation Europe, and the author of numerous articles and book chapters on Reformation history, theology, and spirituality.

"A notable strength of this book is Evener's detailed examination of each man's intellectual development as witnessed by his successive recorded expressions, of whatever genre." -- Susan C. Karant-Nunn, Journal of Modern History

"This book offers much to the reader in its illumination of the implications of mystical themes in early Protestant theologies, its extensive analysis of the sources, and reframing of the early years of reform in Wittenberg. Perhaps not surprisingly, it left me with fruitful questions concerning the possible connections between...Without doubt it is a book that makes significant original contributions concerning the influence of mysticism upon early Protestant reform movements. It is a book well worth the read." -- G. Sujin Pak, Boston University School of Theology, Boston, MA, USA, Brill

"Vincent Evener's thorough study abandons simple distinctions between mysticism and Protestantism or between mainstream and liberal reformers. He shows the common ground among such varied theologians as Luther, Karlstadt, and Müntzer as well as how their different approaches to piety led to distinct approaches to politics. Anyone who wants to understand how conflicts among the reformers emerged should read this excellent book." -- Volker Leppin, author of Martin Luther: A Late Medieval Life

"Enemies of the Cross provides a masterful analysis of how early Protestant reformers viewed suffering as both a source and sign of theological truth, even though they disagreed sharply about the content of this truth. Evener demonstrates convincingly that one simply cannot understand the early development of Protestantism without taking stock of suffering and the central role it played in Reformation epistemology, theology, and spirituality. An impressive achievement." -- Ronald K. Rittgers, author of The Reformation of Suffering: Pastoral Theology and Lay Piety in Late Medieval and Early Modern Germany