GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan — "There is not a square inch in the whole domain of human existence over which Christ, who is sovereign over all, does not cry: ‘Mine!'," Abraham Kuyper, the Dutch Reformed theologian and politician, famously exclaimed.
Kuyper has long been admired for his intelligent and practical insights into the mysteries of God and how they relate to culture. Throughout his lifetime, Kuyper elaborated extensively on the doctrine of common grace, a theology of public service and cultural engagement of Christians' shared humanity with the rest of the world.
In November, Christian's Library Press is publishing Wisdom & Wonder: Common Grace in Science & Art, a new and complete translation of two sections that were inadvertently omitted from the first edition of Kuyper's larger three-volume work on common grace. These sections were first published separately and then added in later editions of the three volume set. Kuyper's timeless work shows us that God is not absent from the non-church areas of our common life and bestows his gifts and favor to all people.Popular in our time for his devotional material, Kuyper's Wisdom & Wonder displays his talents as a public theologian, focusing on his comprehensive and Reformed vision of science and art.
As evangelicals face massive cultural shifts, the question hangs in the air: How will they respond? What evangelicals believe influences how they respond and this will have significant ramifications for the future of a free society and its business, economic, and public sectors.
Richard Mouw, president of Fuller Theological Seminary and author of Abraham Kuyper: A Short and Personal Introduction, says that the appearance of this treatise in English translation "is for me the beginning of a larger dream come true. Kuyper's writings on common grace are much needed ‘for such a time as this' and Wisdom & Wonder is a marvelous foretaste of more that is to come!"
Sometimes the way forward is found by looking back. Wisdom & Wonder provides insight for the road ahead, appearing with a foreword by Gabe Lyons and Jon Tyson and an introduction by Vincent E. Bacote, associate professor of theology at Wheaton College and author of The Spirit in Public Theology: Appropriating the Legacy of Abraham Kuyper. The volume is edited by Jordan J. Ballor and Stephen J. Grabill and translated by Nelson D. Kloosterman.
Wisdom & Wonder is dedicated to Dr. Rimmer de Vries, in recognition of his "lifetime achievement and enduring legacy as a cultural leader, economist, visionary, and faithful follower of Christ who reflects well the Kuyperian vision of Christ's lordship over all spheres of society." The publication of Wisdom & Wonder represents the first published selection from the broader project led by the Acton Institute and Kuyper College in collaboration with other institutions to publish a complete translation of Abraham Kuyper's three-volume work on common grace, totaling over 1,700 pages. Volume one of Common Grace is scheduled to appear in fall 2012.
About the Author: Abraham Kuyper (1837-1920) is a significant figure in the history of the Netherlands and modern Protestant theology. A prolific intellectual, he founded a political party and a university, and served as the prime minister of Holland from 1901-1905. His enduring passion was to develop a theology for the general public, particularly through his extensive elaboration of the doctrine of common grace.
Wisdom & Wonder: Common Grace in Science & Art is available at www.clpress.com or by calling (616) 454-3080. The cost is $24.99 for hardcover and $14.99 for paperback.
Founded in 1979 by Gerard Berghoef and Lester DeKoster, Christian's Library Press has been committed to publishing influential texts on church leadership, the vocation of work, and stewardship for more than 30 years. For more information about Christian's Library Press, visitwww.clpress.com.
Christian's Library Press is an imprint of the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion & Liberty. The Acton Institute is a nonprofit, ecumenical think tank working internationally to "promote a free and virtuous society characterized by individual liberty and sustained by religious principles." For more on the Acton Institute, please visit www.acton.org.
Kuyper College is a ministry-focused Christian leadership college that educates and trains Christian leaders for ministry and service. Through the integration of a high-quality academic curriculum and a Reformed worldview, Kuyper provides students who desire a well-rounded biblical and academic college experience with the opportunity to see, understand, and live all of life through the lens of Scripture. For more on Kuyper College, please visit www.kuyper.edu.
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