29
October 1837 A.D. Abraham
Kuyper Born—Dutch Politician & Theologian
Summary
Abraham Kuijper
(Maassluis, 29 October 1837– Den Haag, 8 November 1920) generally known as
Abraham Kuyper, was a Dutch politician, journalist, statesman and theologian.
He founded the Anti-Revolutionary Party and was prime minister of the
Netherlands between 1901 and 1905.
October 29, 1837,
Maassluis
Maassluis
November 8, 1920,
The Hague
The Hague
Biography
Source: Wikipedia
Widely recognized as
historian, theologian, philosopher, writer, and professor-educator, Kuyper was
born in Maassluis, the son of a State Church (Reformed) pastor, later to
accompany his family to the university town of Leyden, where his father
accepted a charge. In 1862 Kuyper was awarded the doctor of theology from
Leyden University. Having fully embraced orthodox Calvinism, Kuyper held
pastorates in Utrecht, Amsterdam, and elsewhere. Prompted by his interest in
the legitimacy of private schools, he became affiliated with the
Anti-Revolutionary Party (opposition to godless revolution and support for the
Word of God and its implications for life), ultimately becoming its head. He
edited a weekly De Heraut (The Herald), "for a free church and a free
church school in a free land," as well as a daily party organ, De
Standaard (The Standard).
Beginning in 1874,
Kuyper served repeatedly as a member of one or the other of the two houses of
the Netherlands' legislature. He continued to champion the recognition of
private education (common and higher) by government. On October 20, 1880,
through the work of Kuyper and cofounders, the Amsterdam Free University was
opened, dedicated to a Calvinistic orientation, a tribute to Kuyper's
persistence in striving for the right of private higher education in the
Netherlands.
In 1886 he led the break
from the State Church, establishing the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands.
Kampen became the seminary of the denomination. Kuyper's close association with
Herman Bavinck, professor of systematic theology at the seminary, came during
this period. In 1901 Kuyper became prime minister of his homeland, a position
he held for four years.
Kuyper's copious
writings include some 16,800 Standard editorials, nineteen major convention
addresses, sermons, the Encyclopedia of Sacred Theology (1898), Calvinism
(1899), and The Work of the Holy Spirit(1900).
Work of the Holy Spirit
"Even
though we honor the Father and believe on the Son, how little do we live in the
Holy Spirit!" Throughout the history of the Christian tradition, the Holy
Spirit has been one of the most elusive aspects of the faith. During Kuyper's
time, very little attention had been given to the person and works of the Holy
Spirit. Kuyper recognized this void, and as the editor of the weekly religious
publication entitled The Herald, Kuyper dedicated approximately one
hundred short entries to the works of the Holy Spirit. The Work of the Holy
Spirit is a compilation of these entries organized into three Volumes.
Volume One addresses the influence of the Holy Spirit in the Church as a whole,
while Volumes Two and Three focus on the works of the Holy Spirit in the individual.
Kuyper's entries provide a comprehensive study of the Holy Spirit, exploring in
detail how the Holy Spirit sanctifies both the Church and its members.
Calvinism: Six Stone-lectures
The Stone
Lectures are an annual series at Princeton Theological Seminary. They seek to
invite internationally-renowned speakers, and have hosted such names as
Nicholas Wolterstorff and Abraham Kuyper. Kuyper's lectures, gathered here, are
an outline of his Calvinist theology and its impact on every aspect of society
(Kuyper is known for his phrase "every square inch"). His first
lecture is "Calvinism A Life System," and the remaining five relate
Calvinism to religion, politics, science, art, and the future. Kuyper is an
important figure in Calvinism and a leader in theology development. His passion
for education resulted in the founding of Amsterdam Free University and
numerous other colleges. Readers familiar with this tradition will appreciate
these six foundational lectures.
You Can Do Greater Things Than Christ
This selection
from Kuyper’s Pro Rege was translated primarily for Nigerian Christians.
They are squeezed between their old Animistic worldview and the new Christian
one. The new worldview itself has a rift between Western traditional Christians
and Charismatics. Kuyper’s treatment of miracles plays a holistic mediating
role between these three perspectives. His holistic perspective on miracles,
demons and science has turned out to be of great interest for Western readers
as well.
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