Theologians have long appreciated
Herman Bavinck's four-volume
masterpiece, Gereformeerde Dogmatiek,
published in 1895-99, for its
comprehensive treatment of dogmatic
theology. Unfortunately, this magnum
opus from the great Reformed theologian
has only been available in Dutch, and
therefore has been inaccessible to most
readers. Now, thanks to the Dutch
Reformed Translation Society and the
work of translator John Vriend and
editor John Bolt, the first volume of
Bavinck's magisterial Reformed
Dogmatics is available in English for
the first time. Bolt's tireless work
updating the documentation augments
this significant work.
The seventeen chapters of this volume
are grouped into sections: Introduction
to Dogmatics, The History and
Literature of Dogmatics, Foundations of
Dogmatic Theology, Revelation, and
Faith. Bavinck's approach throughout is
meticulous, though he wears his vast
learning lightly. As he moves
throughout the subject of dogmatic
theology, he stands on the shoulders of
giants such as Augustine, John Calvin,
Francis Turretin, and Charles Hodge.
Editor John Bolt characterizes the work
as follows: "Reformed Dogmatics is
biblically and confessionally faithful,
pastorally sensitive, challenging, and
still relevant. Bavinck's life and
thought reflect a serious effort to be
pious, orthodox, and thoroughly
contemporary. To pietists fearful of
the modern world on one hand and to
critics of orthodoxy skeptical about
its continuing relevance on the other,
Bavinck's example suggests a model
answer: an engaging Trinitarian vision
of Christian discipleship in God's
world."
This masterwork will appeal to scholars
and students of theology, research and
theological libraries, and pastors and
laity who read serious works of
Reformed theology.