Reformed Social Ethics
Perspectives on Society, Culture, State, Church, and the Kingdom of God
Published on 10. June 2025
Book
Hardback
240 pages
978-1-5409-6812-8 (ISBN)
Description
The companion series to renowned theologian Herman Bavinck's Reformed Dogmatics masterwork
Herman Bavinck's four-volume Reformed Dogmatics is one of the most important theological works of the twentieth century. The English translation was edited by world-class Bavinck scholar John Bolt, who now brings forth a manuscript from Bavinck that is being published for the first time. Serving as a companion to Reformed Dogmatics, Reformed Ethics offers readers Bavinck's mature reflections on ethical issues.
In the process of translating Herman Bavinck's Reformed Ethics, John Bolt and his editorial colleagues discovered that the social ethics portion was unfinished. The first section will now be published as Reformed Ethics, vol. 3. The other five sections were outlined by Bavinck, but not completed. Following Bavinck's outline, John Bolt has reconstructed those last five sections on the basis of his extensive knowledge of Bavinck's work, culling Bavinck's other writings, in both Dutch and English, to summarize his teachings.
This companion to Reformed Ethics offers readers Bavinck's main convictions and perspectives on critical topics of social ethics: society, art, scholarship, education, the state, the church, humanity, and the kingdom of God.
Reformed Social Ethics completes the Reformed Ethics project and provides readers with a fuller picture of Bavinck's ethics. All four volumes are available in a specially priced set.
Herman Bavinck's four-volume Reformed Dogmatics is one of the most important theological works of the twentieth century. The English translation was edited by world-class Bavinck scholar John Bolt, who now brings forth a manuscript from Bavinck that is being published for the first time. Serving as a companion to Reformed Dogmatics, Reformed Ethics offers readers Bavinck's mature reflections on ethical issues.
In the process of translating Herman Bavinck's Reformed Ethics, John Bolt and his editorial colleagues discovered that the social ethics portion was unfinished. The first section will now be published as Reformed Ethics, vol. 3. The other five sections were outlined by Bavinck, but not completed. Following Bavinck's outline, John Bolt has reconstructed those last five sections on the basis of his extensive knowledge of Bavinck's work, culling Bavinck's other writings, in both Dutch and English, to summarize his teachings.
This companion to Reformed Ethics offers readers Bavinck's main convictions and perspectives on critical topics of social ethics: society, art, scholarship, education, the state, the church, humanity, and the kingdom of God.
Reformed Social Ethics completes the Reformed Ethics project and provides readers with a fuller picture of Bavinck's ethics. All four volumes are available in a specially priced set.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Ada, MI
United States
Publishing group
Baker Publishing Group
Target group
College/higher education
Product notice
With dust jacket
Dimensions
Height: 232 mm
Width: 158 mm
Thickness: 24 mm
Weight
499 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5409-6812-8 (9781540968128)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Herman Bavinck (1854-1921) succeeded Abraham Kuyper as professor of systematic theology at the Free University of Amsterdam in 1902.
John Bolt (PhD, University of St. Michael's College) is the Jean and Kenneth Baker Professor of Systematic Theology, emeritus, at Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He edited Bavinck's four-volume Reformed Dogmatics.
John Bolt (PhD, University of St. Michael's College) is the Jean and Kenneth Baker Professor of Systematic Theology, emeritus, at Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He edited Bavinck's four-volume Reformed Dogmatics.
Content
1. Society
Introduction: Creation, and Humanity's Twofold Vocation
1. The Social Question
a. Bavinck's "General Biblical Principles" (1891)
b. Bavinck's "On Inequality" (1913)
2. Economic Life: Ownership, Property, Possessions
A Note on Riches, Capitalism, and Usury
3. Hospitality, Friendship, Sociability
Games and Leisure/Amusement
Appendix A: "Masters and Servants"
Appendix B: "The Right to Life of the Unborn"
2. Art and Scholarship (School)
1. Creation Is the Foundation
2. Art (Aesthetics)
3. Schools and Pedagogy
4. Christian Scholarship
a. Context: The Neo-Calvinist Revival
b. The Two Options: Christianity or Positivism
c. Bavinck's Christian Worldview
5. A Christian University
3. The State
1. Origins of the State
2. Power, Coercion, War and Peace
3. Article 36 of the Belgic Confession
4. Church and Politics
4. The Church
1. Summary of an Address to the Twenty-Fifth General Dutch Conference on Missions
2. Eight Propositions on "the Idea and Necessity of Evangelization"
3. "Evangelization"
The "Gospel" of Caesar Augustus
"Gospel" in the Old Testament
"Gospel" in the New Testament and Early Church
Challenges to Gospel Teaching
Evangelization as Renewal and Reform
The Rise of Modern Unbelief; Its Spiritual and Social Consequences
Amelioration Efforts; The Inner Mission
5. Humanity and the Kingdom of God
The Kingdom of God, the Highest Good
Introduction
1. The Essence of the Kingdom of God
2. The Kingdom of God and the Individual
3. The Kingdom of God and the Community (Family, State, Church, Culture)
4. The Completion of the Kingdom of God
Indexes
Introduction: Creation, and Humanity's Twofold Vocation
1. The Social Question
a. Bavinck's "General Biblical Principles" (1891)
b. Bavinck's "On Inequality" (1913)
2. Economic Life: Ownership, Property, Possessions
A Note on Riches, Capitalism, and Usury
3. Hospitality, Friendship, Sociability
Games and Leisure/Amusement
Appendix A: "Masters and Servants"
Appendix B: "The Right to Life of the Unborn"
2. Art and Scholarship (School)
1. Creation Is the Foundation
2. Art (Aesthetics)
3. Schools and Pedagogy
4. Christian Scholarship
a. Context: The Neo-Calvinist Revival
b. The Two Options: Christianity or Positivism
c. Bavinck's Christian Worldview
5. A Christian University
3. The State
1. Origins of the State
2. Power, Coercion, War and Peace
3. Article 36 of the Belgic Confession
4. Church and Politics
4. The Church
1. Summary of an Address to the Twenty-Fifth General Dutch Conference on Missions
2. Eight Propositions on "the Idea and Necessity of Evangelization"
3. "Evangelization"
The "Gospel" of Caesar Augustus
"Gospel" in the Old Testament
"Gospel" in the New Testament and Early Church
Challenges to Gospel Teaching
Evangelization as Renewal and Reform
The Rise of Modern Unbelief; Its Spiritual and Social Consequences
Amelioration Efforts; The Inner Mission
5. Humanity and the Kingdom of God
The Kingdom of God, the Highest Good
Introduction
1. The Essence of the Kingdom of God
2. The Kingdom of God and the Individual
3. The Kingdom of God and the Community (Family, State, Church, Culture)
4. The Completion of the Kingdom of God
Indexes