THE TRIPLE KNOWLEDGE. An Exposition of the Heidelberg Catechism. Vol. 1, by Herman Hoeksema. Published by the Reformed Free Publishing Association, Grand Rapids, Mich., 1970; 698 pages; $8.95. Reviewed by Rev. Harold Bossenbroek, pastor of the First Christian Reformed Church of Cutlerville, Michigan.
This is the first volume of a three-volume set which is a reprint of an earlier ten-volume set. This volume contains the material published under the three titles, In the Midst of Death, God’s Way Out, and The Death of the Son of God. There have been no editorial changes and no abridgement. Since several of the volumes of the original edition are out of print this present reprint is being prepared. Volume II is scheduled to appear in the Summer of 1971 and Volume III in the Winter of 1972.
Anyone who loves the Reformed faith enjoys and appreciates the Heidelberg Catechism, and, as long as this Catechism is used in the proclamation of the Word of God, the most holy faith will continue to be a blessing to God’s people. An explanation of this confession must be a welcome addition to the libraries of those who want to know and preach the whole counsel of God.
In these volumes we have the results of twenty-seven years of faithful catechism preaching by one who was a sound theologian and a good exegete. In all his work Herman Hoeksema held to the belief that the “confessions have no authority other than derivative, that is, their authority can never replace or he put on a par with that of the Holy Scriptures. The Word of God is and must remain the sale authority in the life of the individual believer and of the Church of Jesus Christ.” Also his belief was that the “contents of the Scriptures can never be subject to the criticism of the believer or of the Church but the doctrinal declarations of the confession must really constantly be subject to such criticism.”
In developing each Lord’s Day, the author, who was the founder and leader of the Protestant Reformed Churches, has used concepts and truths and expanded on them in the individual chapters rather than taking each question individually. The first Lord’s Day is developed under the chapter headings, “The Viewpoint of The Heidelberger,” “The Idea of an Only Comfort,” “The Contents of the Christian Comfort.” Some Lord’s Days have as few as two chapters and some nine and ten. Lord’s Day X is beautifully explained in three chapters under the themes of “The Idea,” “The Scope,” and “The Goal” of God’s Providence.
This is an excellent explanation of the Heidelberg Catechism. It is Scriptural, faithful to the purpose and intent of the author, and true to the historic Christian faith, except on the issue of “Common Grace.” The fact that the author is the founder and for forty years the sole leader of a denomination must spell out the fact that he was a strong-minded man, had deep convictions, and was very defensive on the particular issue that led to the rupture with the Christian Reformed Church. This shines through in the work he authored. To him there is no favor of God whatsoever to the non-elect; and to defend this he is not afraid to dispute with Calvin, Kuyper, Hodge, and with so much of the Christian church. He seeks continually to line up Ursinus with his view if at all possible. In his denial of the doctrine of common grace Hoeksema is more philosophical and rationalistic than Scriptural, and this we believe to be a weakness in his treatment of the Catechism. The Catechism does not at all make an issue of “Common Grace” but Hoeksema does assail the teaching wherever possible. His strong “Supra” position brings into question whether he does justice to man in the Covenant of Works and to God in the presentation of the Gospel to all men.
In spite of this bias, this is a great and good work on the best loved of all the confessions. Anyone who wishes to grow in the knowledge of the truth and who would build himself up on the most holy faith, will do well to own and study this work carefully. In our day of “flighty faddism which threatens to destroy true theology” this is a solid work and one which merits our attention.
IN DEFENSE OF LIFE, N. J. Right to Life Committee, Box 1213, Trenton, N.J. 08607; 174 pp., $3.50. Reviewed by Edwin H. Palmer.
This is the title of a 174-page mimeographed book that is loaded with all kinds of information on the abortion issue from a pro-life -that is, anti-abortion-viewpoint. It has everything: charts, articles, bibliography, organizational tips, addresses of Right to Life Committees and a picture of an aborted baby in a bucket. Lawyers, theologians, gynecologists, legislators, and professors present well thought out articles. There are mature articles—the result of long study—on the legal, medical, legislative, historical and ethical perspective.
At this writing there were only four hundred copies left. Every reader should buy one.
THE REFORMATIONAL UNDERSTANDING OF FAMILY AND MARRIAGE (University Series: Historical Studies), by E. L. Hebden Taylor. Published by Craig Press, Nutley, New jersey. $1.50. Reviewed by Rev. John B. Hulst, Campus Minister and Instructor of Bible at Dordt College, Sioux Center, Iowa.
The author begins the last chapter of this book with the following paragraph:
“Unfortunately, God’s structural principles for family and marriage have become disrupted by sin, both original and actual. In fact, in no other sphere of human life does Satan try so hard to put asunder what God hath joined together. Satan knows that marriage and family are the bedrock of Christian civilization, so he does his utmost to sow his evil seeds of suspicion, strife, and discord between husbands and wives, parents and children. The antithesis is operating within married and family life as it does in all other spheres of life” (p. 78).
Out of this concern and, using as a tool the “scripturally oriented philosophy of marriage . . . worked out by Herman Dooyeweerd,” Taylor seeks to alert the reader to those forces which have been and are threatening marriage and the family. At the same time, and from a biblical perspective, he presents the laws according to which marriage and the family must be established and governed if they are to fulfill their God-ordained purpose and bring true happiness to man.
The reader will not find this to be an easy or superficial treatment of the issues involved. Rather he will find the author endeavoring, in the light of God’s Word, to get at the heart of the historical and philosophical forces which are seeking to degrade marriage and the family. This is not to say, however, that practical and contemporary issues are left untouched. Quite the contrary is true. Taylor forthrightly confronts and evaluates such matters as divorce, illegitimacy, abortion, the status of woman, education, and so forth. But, again, this is done from a Christian perspective which gives his writing meaningful direction throughout.
The reader may not agree with everything the author has written. However, anyone who is at all concerned about that which is threatening the family today, will want to read this book and will be greatly helped by it.
This is the first volume of a three-volume set which is a reprint of an earlier ten-volume set. This volume contains the material published under the three titles, In the Midst of Death, God’s Way Out, and The Death of the Son of God. There have been no editorial changes and no abridgement. Since several of the volumes of the original edition are out of print this present reprint is being prepared. Volume II is scheduled to appear in the Summer of 1971 and Volume III in the Winter of 1972.
Anyone who loves the Reformed faith enjoys and appreciates the Heidelberg Catechism, and, as long as this Catechism is used in the proclamation of the Word of God, the most holy faith will continue to be a blessing to God’s people. An explanation of this confession must be a welcome addition to the libraries of those who want to know and preach the whole counsel of God.
In these volumes we have the results of twenty-seven years of faithful catechism preaching by one who was a sound theologian and a good exegete. In all his work Herman Hoeksema held to the belief that the “confessions have no authority other than derivative, that is, their authority can never replace or he put on a par with that of the Holy Scriptures. The Word of God is and must remain the sale authority in the life of the individual believer and of the Church of Jesus Christ.” Also his belief was that the “contents of the Scriptures can never be subject to the criticism of the believer or of the Church but the doctrinal declarations of the confession must really constantly be subject to such criticism.”
In developing each Lord’s Day, the author, who was the founder and leader of the Protestant Reformed Churches, has used concepts and truths and expanded on them in the individual chapters rather than taking each question individually. The first Lord’s Day is developed under the chapter headings, “The Viewpoint of The Heidelberger,” “The Idea of an Only Comfort,” “The Contents of the Christian Comfort.” Some Lord’s Days have as few as two chapters and some nine and ten. Lord’s Day X is beautifully explained in three chapters under the themes of “The Idea,” “The Scope,” and “The Goal” of God’s Providence.
This is an excellent explanation of the Heidelberg Catechism. It is Scriptural, faithful to the purpose and intent of the author, and true to the historic Christian faith, except on the issue of “Common Grace.” The fact that the author is the founder and for forty years the sole leader of a denomination must spell out the fact that he was a strong-minded man, had deep convictions, and was very defensive on the particular issue that led to the rupture with the Christian Reformed Church. This shines through in the work he authored. To him there is no favor of God whatsoever to the non-elect; and to defend this he is not afraid to dispute with Calvin, Kuyper, Hodge, and with so much of the Christian church. He seeks continually to line up Ursinus with his view if at all possible. In his denial of the doctrine of common grace Hoeksema is more philosophical and rationalistic than Scriptural, and this we believe to be a weakness in his treatment of the Catechism. The Catechism does not at all make an issue of “Common Grace” but Hoeksema does assail the teaching wherever possible. His strong “Supra” position brings into question whether he does justice to man in the Covenant of Works and to God in the presentation of the Gospel to all men.
In spite of this bias, this is a great and good work on the best loved of all the confessions. Anyone who wishes to grow in the knowledge of the truth and who would build himself up on the most holy faith, will do well to own and study this work carefully. In our day of “flighty faddism which threatens to destroy true theology” this is a solid work and one which merits our attention.
IN DEFENSE OF LIFE, N. J. Right to Life Committee, Box 1213, Trenton, N.J. 08607; 174 pp., $3.50. Reviewed by Edwin H. Palmer.
This is the title of a 174-page mimeographed book that is loaded with all kinds of information on the abortion issue from a pro-life -that is, anti-abortion-viewpoint. It has everything: charts, articles, bibliography, organizational tips, addresses of Right to Life Committees and a picture of an aborted baby in a bucket. Lawyers, theologians, gynecologists, legislators, and professors present well thought out articles. There are mature articles—the result of long study—on the legal, medical, legislative, historical and ethical perspective.
At this writing there were only four hundred copies left. Every reader should buy one.
THE REFORMATIONAL UNDERSTANDING OF FAMILY AND MARRIAGE (University Series: Historical Studies), by E. L. Hebden Taylor. Published by Craig Press, Nutley, New jersey. $1.50. Reviewed by Rev. John B. Hulst, Campus Minister and Instructor of Bible at Dordt College, Sioux Center, Iowa.
The author begins the last chapter of this book with the following paragraph:
“Unfortunately, God’s structural principles for family and marriage have become disrupted by sin, both original and actual. In fact, in no other sphere of human life does Satan try so hard to put asunder what God hath joined together. Satan knows that marriage and family are the bedrock of Christian civilization, so he does his utmost to sow his evil seeds of suspicion, strife, and discord between husbands and wives, parents and children. The antithesis is operating within married and family life as it does in all other spheres of life” (p. 78).
Out of this concern and, using as a tool the “scripturally oriented philosophy of marriage . . . worked out by Herman Dooyeweerd,” Taylor seeks to alert the reader to those forces which have been and are threatening marriage and the family. At the same time, and from a biblical perspective, he presents the laws according to which marriage and the family must be established and governed if they are to fulfill their God-ordained purpose and bring true happiness to man.
The reader will not find this to be an easy or superficial treatment of the issues involved. Rather he will find the author endeavoring, in the light of God’s Word, to get at the heart of the historical and philosophical forces which are seeking to degrade marriage and the family. This is not to say, however, that practical and contemporary issues are left untouched. Quite the contrary is true. Taylor forthrightly confronts and evaluates such matters as divorce, illegitimacy, abortion, the status of woman, education, and so forth. But, again, this is done from a Christian perspective which gives his writing meaningful direction throughout.
The reader may not agree with everything the author has written. However, anyone who is at all concerned about that which is threatening the family today, will want to read this book and will be greatly helped by it.