ENCYCLOPEDIA

of

SACRED THEOLOGY

ITS PRINCIPLES

by

ABRAHAM KUYPER, D.D.

free university, amsterdam

translated from the dutch

By REV. J. HENDRIK DE VRIES, M.A.

with an introduction by

PROFESSOR BENJAMIN B. WARFIELD, D.D., LL.D.

of princeton theological seminary

NEW YORK

CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS

1898

copyright, 1898, by charles scribner’s sons

Norwood Press

J. S. Cushing & Co.—Berwick & Smith

Norwood Mass. U.S.A.

The translation of this Theological Encyclopedia was undertaken by appointment of the author, with whose cooperation also the proof-sheets have been read. In the original, this work consists of three volumes, the contents of which are stated in Dr. Warfield’s “Introductory Note.” The volume here presented contains the first fifty-three pages of Vol. I. of the original, and Vol. II. entire. The full definition of “Principium Theologiae” being given on page 341, the word “principium” as a technical term has been retained in its Latin form throughout. Grateful thanks are due to Professor B. B. Warfield, D.D., LL.D., for valuable assistance given. And it may also be stated here, that profound regard for the author, and firm faith in the standards of Calvinism which he so masterfully defends in the Netherlands, are the motives that have inspired to the end this effort of the

TRANSLATOR.

Princeton, N.J., June 20, 1898.

Preface

The original work, a part of which only is here given in English, consists of three volumes. These together form a systematic whole. The first volume contains an introduction to Theological Encyclopedia, included in pages 1–55 of this translation. This is followed by a history of Theological Encyclopedia of about five hundred pages. No such history had ever been written before. Brief, summary reviews are given in some encyclopedias, but no history of this department as such can be found. And yet the need of it is imperative for the sake of a broad study of the position which Theological Encyclopedia at present occupies in the domain of science. Moreover, the writer was impelled to undertake this task because the general history of Theology has for the most part been interpreted in a sense which does not agree with what he deems should be understood by Theology. In writing so extensive a history of Theological Encyclopedia he had a twofold purpose in view: on the one hand of conveying a fuller knowledge of Encyclopedia of Theology than had thus far been furnished, and on the other hand of giving a review of the entire history of Theology from his view-point. Upon this introductory volume follows Volume II., which is here given entire in the English translation. And then follows the third volume, almost equally large, in which the separate theological departments find their logical division and interpretation according to the author’s principles. In this third volume the principles previously developed are brought to their logical sequence, showing that only in the full acceptance of the proper principle can a pure and correct ...