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Titelgegevens / Bibliographic Description Titel Embracing Leer and Leven: the theology of Simon Oomius in the context of Nadere Reformatie orthodoxy / by Gregory D. Schuringa. Auteur(s) Schuringa, G.D. Details Grand Rapids, Michigan, [s.n.], 2003. IX, 349 p. Copyright 2007 / G.D. Schuringa | Claves pietatis. Producent Claves pietatis / 2007.08.30; versie 1.0 Bron / Source Onderzoeksarchief / Research Archive Nadere Reformatie Annotatie(s) Proefschrift Calvin Theological Seminary. Website Sleutel tot de Nadere Reformatie Nummer B06002127 De digitale tekst is vrij beschikbaar voor The digital text is free for personal use, persoonlijk gebruik, voor onderzoek en for research and education. Each user onderwijs. Respecteer de rechten van de has to respect the rights of the copyright rechthebbenden. Commercieel gebruik holders. Commercial use is prohibited. is niet toegestaan. Het 'Onderzoeksarchief Nadere The 'Research Archive Nadere Reformatie' bevat digitale documenten Reformatie' contains digital documents over het gereformeerd Piëtisme en de about reformed Pietism and the Nadere Nadere Reformatie in Nederland tot Reformatie in the Netherlands until 1800. Het is doorzoekbaar met de 1800. These can be retrieved by 'Bibliografie van het gereformeerd searching the 'Bibliography of the Piëtisme in Nederland (BPN)' op de reformed Pietism in the Netherlands website 'Sleutel tot de Nadere (BPN)' database at the 'Sleutel tot de Reformatie'. Nadere Reformatie' website. CALVIN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY EMBRACING LEER AND LEVEN: THE THEOLOGY OF SIMON OOMIUS IN THE CONTEXT OF NADERE REFORMATIE ORTHODOXY A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF CALVIN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY BY GREGORY D. SCHURINGA GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN MAY 2003 Copyright © 2003 by Gregory D. Schuringa All rights reserved To Sarah CONTENTS Acknowledgements…..vii Abstract…..ix PART I: SIMON OOMIUS IN CONTEXT 1 Oomius in the Context of the Nadere Reformatie and Reformed Orthodoxy…..1 1.1 Thesis of This Study…..1 1.2 Scholarship on the Nadere Reformatie and Reformed Orthodoxy…..2 1.3 Goal and Method of This Study…..9 2 The Life and Works of Oomius…..18 2.1 Biography…..18 2.1.1 Introduction…..18 2.1.2 Family…..19 2.1.3 Academic Training…..27 2.1.4 Pastorates…..34 2.2 Published Writings…..39 2.2.1 Introduction…..39 2.2.2 On the Christian Life…..42 2.2.3 Occasional…..44 2.2.4 Polemical…..45 2.2.5 Dogmatic…..46 2.2.6 Programmatic…..47 PART II: INTRODUCTION TO THE THEOLOGY OF OOMIUS 3 Oomius’ Understanding of Theology…..49 3.1 Theologia…..51 3.1.1 Term…..51 3.1.2 Archetypal and Ectypal Division…..53 3.1.3 Genus and Goal…..60 3.2 Theologia Practica…..65 3.2.1 Term…..67 3.2.2 Theology: Theoretical or Practical?.....74 iv 4 The Theological Program of Oomius…..85 4.1 A Practical Theology for the Unlearned…..85 4.2 The Need for an Institutiones Theologiae Practicae…..96 4.2.1 The Academic Need…..96 4.2.2 The Ecclesial Need…..103 4.2.3 The Need in Books and Other Writings…..107 4.3 Description of the Institutiones Theologiae Practicae…..118 4.3.1 Occasion and Audience…..119 4.3.2 Structure…..120 4.3.3 Language and Style…..124 4.3.4 Method…..126 4.3.5 Sources…..128 4.3.6 Theological Placement…..131 PART III: THE DOCTRINE OF SCRIPTURE 5 The Explanation and Defense of the Doctrine…..134 5.1 Introduction and Overview of the Doctrine in Oomius’ Institutiones…..134 5.2 Scripture in General…..138 5.3 The Necessity, Divinity, Divine Authority, and Excellence of Scripture…..144 6 Duties with Regard to Holy Scripture.....158 6.1 Duties Toward God and Others…..160 6.2 Internal Duties…..161 6.2.1 Esteem and Heartfelt Love for God’s Word…..162 6.2.2 Spiritual Longing and Desire for God’s Word…..165 6.2.3 Spiritual Pleasure in God’s Word…..167 6.2.4 The Contemplation of God’s Word…..168 6.3 External Duties…..170 6.3.1 Scripture Read in Private…..171 6.3.2 Scripture Read in Public…..177 6.3.3 Scripture Sung…..180 6.3.4 Scripture Preached…..187 6.3.5 Scripture Catechized…..196 6.3.6 Scripture Discussed with Others…..202 6.4 Special Duties…..204 6.4.1 For Theologians…..205 6.4.2 For Everyone…..210 v PART IV: THE DOCTRINE OF GOD 7 The Explanation and Defense of the Doctrine….215 7.1 Introduction and Overview of the Doctrine in Oomius’ Institutiones…..215 7.2 God in General…..221 7.3 God’s Being and Names…..233 7.4 God’s Attributes and the Divine Persons…..237 8 The Being, Names, and Attributes of God in the Practice…..247 8.1 Being and Names…..247 8.2 Attributes of Being…..252 8.2.1 Primacy and Independence…..253 8.2.2 Simplicity…..254 8.2.3 Immutability…..255 8.2.4 Perfection and All-Sufficiency…..257 8.2.5 Eternity…..259 8.2.6 Immeasurability and Omnipresence…..261 8.2.7 Incomprehensibility…..263 8.2.8 The Infinite God as the Portion of the True Believer…..263 8.3 Attributes of Life…..265 8.3.1 Attributes of Power…..266 8.3.2 Attributes of Morals…..274 8.3.3 Attributes Where God’s Highest Excellence is Displayed…..280 9 The Trinity in the Practice…..285 9.1 God the Father…..288 9.2 God the Son…..290 9.3 God the Holy Spirit…..292 9.3.1 Grieving the Spirit…..298 9.3.2 Extinguishing the Spirit…..301 9.3.3 Displaying That One is a Temple of the Spirit…..305 9.3.4 Being Led by the Spirit…..309 10 Conclusion…..315 Appendix A Bibliography of Simon Oomius…..324 Appendix B Dissertation Propositions…..331 BIBLIOGRAPHY…..333 vi Acknowledgements This dissertation marks the end of my formal education. It is my desire that at the same time it mark the beginning of a life of productive service in the Lord’s kingdom. As Simon Oomius might put it, I hope that it signifies the beginning—and continuing—of a life of growing in both “leer” and “leven” and helping others do the same. I would like to thank three groups of people who meant much to me during my Ph.D. studies. First, I am thankful for Calvin Theological Seminary. The seminary provided me with scholarships, assistantships, and a fellowship. Without this substantial financial assistance my studies would simply not have been possible. My advisor, Dr. Richard Muller, is somewhat unique, I believe, in that he is highly respected and productive in his field of study, yet always available to his students. We had many conversations—over lunch, at the library, in the office, at a café in Utrecht—about Oomius, the Nadere Reformatie, Reformed orthodoxy, as well as about the church and pastoring. Thank you for your patient guidance. Without fail, each meeting we had gave me inspiration to move forward in my research and writing. I have much appreciated Dr. Ronald Feenstra both as the head of the Ph.D. program at Calvin and as an excellent professor who develops clarity, charity, and precision in his students. Thanks too to other professors who taught in the program, such as Dr. John Bolt, who also was a reader for this dissertation. Thanks to Dr. James De Jong, former president of the seminary and also a reader for this dissertation, for his leadership in starting a doctoral program at the seminary, and for good conversations over the years, dating back to his encouragement, while I was still in college, to attend Calvin Seminary and enter the ordained ministry. At Hekman Library, the staff as whole was very helpful, but theological librarians Paul Fields and Lugene Schemper deserve a special note of recognition for their tireless efforts to assist students in their research. They both provided excellent help throughout the program and especially when I ordered many works of Oomius on microform. I am grateful for good conversations and friendships developed among fellow students of theology while I was in the program at Calvin. I think especially of Brian Lee, James Mayer, Pieter Tuit, Adriaan Neele, Luis Mattos, Milan Norgauer, Paul Mpindi, Joel Kim, Henry Knapp, Yudha Thianto, Hidalgo Garcia, Jerry Stutzman, Tom McCall, Dolf te Velde, and Keith Stanglin. Brian was a wonderful “office-mate”—thank you for your friendship. It was especially good to share the experience of spending a year in the Netherlands, though we only overlapped a few weeks. vii A second group of people who deserve thanks are those who were of assistance in the Netherlands. With my family I was able to spend most of 2001 in Utrecht and in Kampen researching and writing. It was there that I discovered the precise topic for this dissertation and learned much about the Nadere Reformatie and scholarship on the period in general. Above all I thank Dr. Fred van Lieburg and his family who helped make us feel at home in the Netherlands. Fred’s knowledge of general Dutch history as well as seventeenth-century church history was extremely valuable. His research experience in the libraries and various archives in the Netherlands, as well as his connections with church historians throughout the country, were of incredible value. Anne and Els Geurtsen also provided kind friendship in Utrecht. Thanks too to Dr. Willem van Asselt, a reader for this dissertation, for many helpful conversations and guidance. I had the privilege of auditing two of his courses at the Universiteit Utrecht and of participating in two workgroups, which he led, in the field of my dissertation.