GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. (November 5, 2014)—The second and third parts of the first volume of English translations of Abraham Kuyper’s most famous work, Common Grace, are now available from Christian’s Library Press. This project is a collaboration among participants in the Abraham Kuyper Translation Society, led by Acton Institute and Kuyper College. In all, there will be 3 volumes in this series.
Abraham Kuyper (1837-1920) is one of the most prominent figures in the history of the Netherlands as well as Protestant theology. He was prime minister of the Netherlands, founded the “Anti-Revolutionary Party,” and made significant contribution to the formulation and understanding of the doctrine of Common Grace which Kuyper called “the root conviction for all Reformed people.”
Common Grace (De gemeene gratie) was originally published from 1901-1905 while Kuyper was prime minister. The three volume work is the capstone of his practical public theology based on a series of newspaper editorials he wrote to help lay people in their everyday lives. This new translation is for modern Christians who want to know more about their proper role in public life and the vastness of the gospel message.
The first volume, also known as “The Historical Section,” offers Kuyper’s insights about God’s plan and mercies in the context of salvation history as recorded in Scripture. Kuyper argued that “the fixed historical starting point for the doctrine of common grace lies in God’s establishment of a covenant with Noah, after the flood.” The two latest additions conclude Kuyper’s historical argument: ‘Part 2: Temptation – Babel’ and ‘Part 3: Abraham –Parousia.’ ‘Part 1: Noah – Adam’ was published in November 2013.
Richard Mouw, professor of faith and public life at Fuller Theological Seminary, said that:
Abraham Kuyper’s Common Grace is founded on a deep devotion to the notions of God’s sovereignty and our obligation to participate in the divine call to be obedient to the lordship of Jesus Christ in all areas of life. The release of this multivolume series is timely because many Christians these days—Wesleyans, Baptists, Lutherans, Catholics, Mennonites, and others beyond the boundaries of Reformed/Presbyterian life and thought—are looking for resources for equipping Christians to find alternatives to the various ‘world-flight’ spiritualities that have long afflicted the broader Christian community. This work gives us a much-needed opportunity to absorb Kuyper’s insights about God’s marvelous designs for human cultural life.
The Abraham Kuyper Translation Society, along with Acton Institute and Kuyper College, gratefully acknowledges the financial support and leadership received from Calvin College, Fuller Theological Seminary, Mid-America Reformed Seminary, and the Andreas Center for Reformed Scholarship and Service at Dordt College in the translation of Abraham Kuyper’s seminal three-volume work on common grace (De gemeene gratie).
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. During that time Berghoef and DeKoster wrote significant works including The Deacons Handbook, The Elders Handbook, and God’s Yardstick, which still are in demand today. After the death of Lester DeKoster in 2009, the imprint is now administered by the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion & Liberty. For more information about Christian’s Library Press, visit www.clpress.com.
Kuyper College is a Ministry-Focused Christian Leadership college that educates and trains Christian leaders for service through the integration of high academic curriculum and biblical Reformed worldview. For more information about Kuyper College, visit www.kuyper.edu.