Paul J. Visser

In this study one finds the missiological inheritance of the first Reformed missiologist Johan Herman Bavinck in an organized and systematic form. The following topics are discussed: theology of religion, biblical theology of missions, elenctics (mission apologetics), and practical subjects such as inculturation, ecumenism and the race issue. The context in which Bavinck developed his vision is discussed in an explicit way. Special attention is given to the influence of Hendrik Kramer on Bavinck's development as well as the psychological dimension in his theologizing. The author evaluates the relevancy of Bavinck's missiology for the development of a Reformed missiology. The above is made complete by an extensive biographical sketch shedding light on the background and way of life of this Johan Herman Bavinck.

The Life and Thought of a Reformed Pioneer Missiologist, Johan Herman Bavinck, 1895-1964

Heart for the Gospel, Heart for the World

John Bolt

James D. Bratt

Johan Herman Bavinck

Crucial themes and issues explored by a premier missiologist Johan Herman Bavinck (1895-1964) was a prominent twentieth-century Dutch Calvinist missiologist who wrestled with the tension between religious absolutism and relativism, as many Christians do in today's pluralistic context. The J. H. Bavinck Reader gathers together a choice selection of Bavinck's significant writings that are essential for understanding his theology of missions, his approach to world religions, and his religious psychology. His treatment of religious consciousness and Christian faith expands on the brief treatment of it in his own work The Church Between Temple and Mosque. The concluding chapters show how Bavinck's theoretical reflection on religious consciousness was rooted in his close observation during his years as a missionary in Indonesia. Offering a constructive way forward, Bavinck affirms both the particularity of salvation in Christ and the universality of the Christian hope. A substantial introduction enhances the book with the most thorough biographical sketch of Bavinck available.

Paul J. Visser

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