Venema on Kuyper

Venema, Cornelius, P. (1998), ‘Abraham Kuyper--his life and legacy. Part 1 of 6', Outlook, (Sept), 3-8.
Venema, Cornelius, P. (1998), ‘Abraham Kuyper--his life and legacy. Part 2 of 6’, Outlook , (Oct), 18-23.
Venema, Cornelius, P. (1998), ‘Abraham Kuyper--his life and legacy. Part 3 of 6’, Outlook , (Nov), 18-23.
Venema, Cornelius, P. (1998), ‘Abraham Kuyper--his life and legacy. Part 4 of 6’ Outlook , (Dec), 13-17.
Venema, Cornelius, P. (1999), ‘Abraham Kuyper--his life and legacy. Part 5 of 6’, Outlook , (Jan), 15-19.
Venema, Cornelius, P. (1999), ‘Abraham Kuyper--his life and legacy. Part 6 of 6’, Outlook, (Feb), 17-21.

This series of six articles, by Cornelius Venema, form an excellent overview of Kuyper's life and thought.
We are first introduced to Kuyper through a brief biography - he is seen as a church reformer, an educator, journalist and statesman. He rightly sees Kuyper as being more than a product of his 'time and temperament'. He examines what Kuyper means by Calvinism - it is more a worldview than a church confession or structure. He then looks at Kuyper's view of church: there is a contrast between a national and free church, between organism and institution and there is a stress on the pluriformity of the church.

Key areas of Kuyper's thought are then examined. These are: sphere sovereignty, the antithesis, the twofold development of science, and common grace.

In the final two articles Venema shows his Kuyperian sympathies by defending Kuyper against some criticisms. These take the form of questions:

• Was Kuyper a congregationalist? 
• Should the 'pluriformity' of the church be encouraged?
• Sphere sovereignty or sphere responsibility?

The final paper continues looking at objections by focusing on the antithesis and common grace.

Venema's series provide a great introduction to Kuyper.