Nearly three decades of close involvement with bavincks theology has given me a great respect for the man and his achievement. The catholicity of christianity and the church 1888, translated into english by john bolt in 1992 and published in ctj 27, 22051. In 1896 he completed a doctorate at the university of oslo on ancient egyptian views of the afterlife. How is grace related to nature what is the connection between creation and re.
Doctrine of god students reformed theological library. In the second section of this powerful work, bavinck introduces us to the covenant nature of grace and then to the person of jesus christ. Sin and salvation in christ, and reformed dogmatics, vol. This is the first english translation of the second volume of herman bavincks complete reformed dogmatics. Oct 01, 2004 the other volumes in this series are reformed dogmatics, vol. Jun 28, 2017 berkhof, however, did not present his own original theology, it was for the most part, in structure and content, the theology of herman bavinck. Herman bavinck 18541921, a dutch reformed theologian, was a contemporary of abraham kuyper and b. Note that in the dutch original, gods names came after god. Bavincks insight was that theological method must be grounded in the substance of theology itself, speci fically in its trinitarian and covenantal aspects. This is the first english translation of the second volume of herman bavinck s complete reformed dogmatics. This popular digest of herman bavinck s classic fourvolume reformed dogmatics clearly presents the fundamental doctrines of biblical theology.
In bavincks view of gods counsel or decree, the doctrine of election deals with gods eternal purpose to save his people in christ. Abraham kuyper and herman bavinck and the doctrine of scripture 2008. Editors notes this issue of the protestant reformed theological journal is a special issue. This comprehensive treatment of christian doctrine was first issued in 1909 under the title the wonderful works of god. Sep 24, 2015 in our treatment of the doctrine of the image of god, then, we must highlight, in accordance with scripture and the reformed confession, the idea that a human being does not bear or have the image of god but that he or she is the image of god. I give it 4 stars because bavinck is both thorough in his handling of the material, wellorganized the material is laid out within an outline format and of course thoroughly scriptural. Herman bavincks organic inspiration of the scriptures. He was a significant scholar in the calvinist tradition, alongside abraham kuyper and b. Bavinck concludes the chapter with a discussion on traducianism, the doctrine that mans soul is born at the same time of his body, and contrasts it with creationism.
The net result of bavincks investigation is a moderate realism5 which seeks on the one hand to avoid the extremes of realism, but on the other hand to avoid the extremes of idealism. Doctrine of godtheology book information in partnership with the dutch reformed translation society, baker academic is proud to offer the second volume of herman bavincks complete reformed dogmatics in english for the very first time. Herman bavincks 18541921 fourvolume reformed dogmatics is one of the most important theological works of the twentieth century. Herman bavinck on creation orthodox presbyterian church. Doctrine of god by herman bavinck banner of truth usa. Because the essence of the christian religion consists in the recreation of the cosmos into a kingdom of god, bavinck writes that the great question, which returns always and everywhere, is this. Herman bavinck christian classics ethereal library. But he did contribute to a new understanding of the organic inspiration of. It has served well as a synopsis of bavinck s larger, fourvolume dogmatics, for it presents in clear persepctive all the fundamental doctrines of the bible. Bavinck sensed the open question caused by the subjectivistic tendency of friedrich schleiermachers doctrine of revelation. Herman bavinck december 1854, hoogeveen, drenthe 29 july 1921, amsterdam was a dutch reformed theologian and churchman. Topics covered in this volume include to doctrine of god, the trinity, creation, heaven and earth, and the doctrine of humanity. A comparison of herman bavinck and johan herman bavinck. Bavinck was born in the town of hoogeveen in the netherlands to a german father, jan bavinck 18261909 who was.
Deeply concerned with the problem of objectivism and subjectivism in the doctrine of revelation, he employed schleiermachers doctrine of revelation in his own way and regarded the bible as the objective standard for his. Born on december, 1854, in hoogeveen, drenthe, holland, herman bavinck was the son of the reverend jan bavinck, a leading figure in the secession from the state church of the netherlands in 1834. Visser, pastor of the protestant church in the netherlands amsterdam and chairman of the foundation for the promoting of reformed missiology and ecumenics, delivered the following lecture at the 2008 bavinck conference. Out of him and through him and to him are all things. God is a personal being, selfexistent, having the source of life in himself, selfconscious, and selfwilling, not shut in by nature but exalted above nature, creator of heaven and earth. He was well aware that the bible confronts modern man with many questions. Carlton wynne and charles williams speak about the new edition of herman bavincks the wonderful works of god published by westminster seminary press. Olson this thesis paper will address the question, does god use means to communicate his benefits to his people. The recently completed english translation has received wide acclaim, and has now been distilled into a more accessible one volume abridged edition likewise entitled reformed dogmatics focuses on the most crucial elements of the reformed theological tradition. Herman bavinck uncluttered collection of writings from. Gaffin, emeritus professor of biblical and systematic theology, westminster theological seminary, delivered the following lecture at the 2008 bavinck conference. Eric bristley, guide to the writings of herman bavinck rhb, 2008.
Gods incomprehensibility, gods knowability, gods names, gods incommunicable attributes, gods communicable attributes, the holy trinity, and gods counsel. As i previously shared, the dutch calvinists were not encumbered in fundamentalist debates over inerrancy like their american calvinist counterparts. The christian family bavinck reformation heritage books. The attributes of god herman bavinck, reformed dogmatics, vol. Bavincks early life and education herman bavinck was born in hoogeveen, the netherlands, on december. While roman catholic, eastern orthodox, and reformed theologians generally embraced creationism, lutherans embraced traducianism because they locate the image of god solely in a. Through christ, the last adam, god aims to restore his people to covenant fellowship and thereby achieve his ultimate aim for human life in the state of glorification. Herman bavinck s perspectives on the outward and ordinary means of grace robert j. Bavinck breaks down the doctrine of god into 7 categories.
He graduated magna cum laude in 1880 from leiden with a double major. Sin and salvation in christ looks at the fallen nature of creation through a reformed microscope. Providence and confession of faith bavinck the reformed. Herman bavinck uncluttered collection of writings from and. Roberts abstract this article outlines the main contours of herman bavincks prolegomena. Indeed, augustine and aquinas appear to get more play in his doctrine of god than calvin, luther, or even later postreformation sources. Bavinck s doctrine of god is richly informative, very detailed, and difficult to read. Bavinck was first and foremost a verbi divini minister, a servant of the powerful and authoritative word of god. Gods word in servant form by richard gaffin the bavinck. Each of these of course is further subdivided in a logical format. Against this position bavinck once again reiterates the doctrine that all knowledge must begin from observation. Jan 01, 1978 the doctrine of god is the foundation of christian theology and the prerequisite of all true faith.
He graduated in 1880 from leiden having completed a dissertation on ulrich zwingli a year later, bavinck was appointed professor of dogmatics at kampen theological seminary. Hart, author of the lost soul of american protestantism bavinck s dutch masterwork was the everest of which the textbooks by louis berkhof and auguste lecerf were foothills and berkouwers studies in. Hart, author of the lost soul of american protestantism bavincks dutch masterwork was the everest of which the textbooks by louis berkhof and auguste lecerf were foothills and berkouwers studies in. As a human being a man is the son, the likeness, or offs. In our treatment of the doctrine of the image of god, then, we must highlight, in accordance with scripture and the reformed confession, the idea that a human being does not bear or have the image of god but that he or she is the image of god.
Oct 17, 2008 this year marks the one hundredth anniversary of bavincks stone lectures at princeton theological seminary, and the appearance in english of the final volume of his fourvolumed reformed dogmatics1. Herman bavinck s 18541921 fourvolume reformed dogmatics is one of the most important theological works of the twentieth century. Aug 25, 2016 bavinck on divine simplicity now christian theology has always been more or less conscious of this calling. Second, work that bavinck did on christian education significantly influenced those who began calvin college in the 1930s.
Dutch theologian herman bavinck 18541921 is widely celebrated as a leading divine in the reformed tradition, and through the ongoing labor of translation teams, editors, and publishers, his vast writings are reaching english readers. This translation provides, in the words of hendriksen, a spiritual treat for the serious reader. Hes wellattuned to the riches to be discovered across the wider christian heritage. The blessings of herman bavinck christian reformed church. Bavinck dissects and lays open the origin, nature, and punishment for sin. In his purpose of election, god intends nothing less than the redemption of a new humanity within the context of his comprehensive work of recreation. Nearly three decades of close involvement with bavincks theology has given me. Translators introduction1 william brede kristensen 18671953 was a norwegian scholar of classical languages and ancient mesopotamian religions. He graduated in 1880 from leiden having completed a dissertation on ulrich zwingli. Bavinck on divine simplicity now christian theology has always been more or less conscious of this calling. Berkhof, however, did not present his own original theology, it was for the most part, in structure and content, the theology of herman bavinck.
After theological study in kampen, and at the university of leiden, he graduated in 1880, and served as the minister of the congregation at. Bavinck also deals with the doctrine of the covenant in the third volume of his reformed dogmatics, where he takes up the topic of gods work of redemption in christ. Selected shorter works of herman bavinck ebook monergism. The doctrine of god is the foundation of christian theology and the prerequisite of all true faith.
Clearly, therefore, the works of god in the arrangement or completion of the. Readers will discover more than bavinck the theologian in these volumes. God is the architect and builder of all those deeds, the source and the final end of them. On the whole, its teaching has been that god is simple, that is, sublimely free from all composition, and that therefore one cannot make any real i. This god can appear and reveal himself in definite places, at definite times, to. Despite its clear reformed emphasis, bavincks theology is broadly catholic in the best sense of the term. Taking on the project of pre paring a onevolume outline of a fourvolume magisterial work like bavincks is not something to be done lightly. In this consoling fashion scripture deals with the providence of god. Yet by gods power the unchanging essence of marriage and the family remains proof, as bavinck notes, that gods purpose with the human race has not yet been achieved.
The deeds of god form a circle which mounts upward in the form of a spiral. Herman bavinck explained this comfort well in the closing statements of his discussion on gods providence. The attributes of god herman bavinck, reformed dogmatics. A practical handbook of theology, it is an outstanding comprehensive statement of christian faith and doctrine. An introduction to the reformed doctrines of grace. It has served well as a synopsis of bavincks larger, fourvolume dogmatics, for it presents in clear persepctive all the fundamental doctrines of the bible. Yet, despite this, few books expound the biblical teaching on the being and character of god himself, or encourage that glorifying of his name for which man is made and redeemed. He first went to theological school at kampen, but then moved on to leiden for further training. Neither a tenstep guide nor a onesided approach, this book embodies a christian theology of marriage and the family.
This year marks the one hundredth anniversary of bavincks stone lectures at princeton theological seminary, and the appearance in english of the final volume of his fourvolumed reformed dogmatics1. Herman bavinck was a dutch calvinist who wrote an influential reformed dogmatics, and this is part two in my analysis of bavincks doctrine of inspiration of the scriptures. He graduated magna cum laude in 1880 from leiden with a double major in systematic theology and old testament. Bavinck was born in the town of hoogeveen in the netherlands to a german father. If that question is answered in the affirmative, the westminster shorter catechism proceeds to ask, what are the outward means whereby. Bavincks doctrine of god is richly informative, very detailed, and difficult to read. Bavinck was a towering figure among the dutch reformed in the netherlands during the midnineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Bavinck stayed closer to the spirit of the reformation, and especially. Jan 20, 2018 herman bavinck explained this comfort well in the closing statements of his discussion on gods providence. The time is ripe, therefore, to get reacquainted with bavinck. At the time, it took me about an hour to read one page. This popular digest of herman bavincks classic fourvolume reformed dogmatics clearly presents the fundamental doctrines of biblical theology. God moved us to the netherlands and eventually to kampen, the city where bavinck taught systematic theology and ethics for twenty years. Some have suggested that bavinck questioned the authority of scripture.
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