Corrections and Suggestions for Kuyper’s Stone Lectures
by Harry Van Dyke
August 2012
Part 1 appeared here.
Lecture Four
—“cosmical” and “Evolutional” L “cosmic” and “evolutionist”
—“love for science” should be “love of science”
—“a people in whose very life-principle love for science is involved” L “a people whose very life principle implies love of science.”
—how much we need unity of view L how much we need a unified vision
—Calvinism restored to science its domain L . . . its own proper domain
—John . . . listened to the hymns of the Cherubim and the Redeemed L replace capitals with lower case
—But in as much as the Humanist contented himself with a plea for a proper acknowledgment of secular life, the Calvinist was his ally.
L in as much as = inasmuch as = because/since
Better: L No sooner did the humanist advocate a proper acknowledgment of earthly life, than the Calvinist was his ally.
—“. . . if you now . . . proceed from these experimental facts . . .”
the Dutch simply has “these facts” ; perhaps “empirical” was intended, following the Dutch word proefondervindelijk
—“. . . on the one hand it lacks . . . , and on the other it errs by the undervaluation of human nature to which it leads.”
L “. . . on the one hand it lacks . . . , and on the other it leads to a devaluation of earthly life.”
—“This is the false dualism, to which a previous Lecture pointed, in the carnival.”
L “This false dilemma is best illustrated in carnivals.”
—“. . . the stylite . . . severs himself from everything earthly . . .”
L “. . . the stylite cuts himself off from all things earthly . . .”
—“. . . the yet more silent penitent who causes himself to immured in his subterranean cave.”
L “. . . the still more silent penitent who has himself walled in in his cell.”
—exorcism in baptism L exorcism at baptism
—The only remaining question was . . .
This short paragraph is more elaborate in the Dutch original.
—From this point of view it was unimaginable L . . . it was unthinkable
—The next sentence talks about “the seeking love” for “de zoekende liefde” Somehow the English does not sound right. Zoekende liefde is used in the context of evangelism and in works of mercy and charity: seeking the lost and the needy. Is there some English near-equivalent?
—in the same sentence “Christianity” should be “Christendom”
Three sentences later the original “christenheid” is translated correctly.
A very common error! The Dutch “christendom” is our “Christianity”;
christendom is the religion, christenheid is the society/culture/civilization.
—“. . . both of which have a suggestion about the supreme Being of their own as the point of departure for their world-view.”
L “. . . have incorporated in their worldview a theology all their own.”
OR: . . . a distinctive theology.
—“. . . without reserve the entire modern theology finds its home in the science of the Normalists.”
L “... all of theological modernism without any reservations belongs to...”
—“A Normalist . . . is an amphibious scholar . . .” (for halfslachtig)
L how about: a “vacillating” or “ambivalent” scholar?
—“This consciousness, just on account of . . .”
L “This consciousness, precisely on account of . . .
—six sentences later: there must be a better translation for sensus divinitatis than “God-feeling” ! How about “sense of the divine”?
—the thrilling saying of Christ himself L the trenchant saying? (for snijdend)
—two paragraphs later starts with: “The parts have now exchanged.”
L “The roles have been reversed.”
The Dutch interjects: mark well
—last full paragraph: “. . . Europe yielded to the enchantment of one world-Church, until the reformation dispelled this illusion, also, thus opening . . .”
L “. . . Europe yielded to the temptation of one universal church, until the Reformation dispelled this illusion as well, thus opening . . .”
—“. . . by refusing the scientific name to whatsoever investigator dare not unroll . . . from which his conclusions derive their power.”
L ”. . . by denying the name of scholar to any researcher who is afraid to unroll . . . from which his conclusions derive their strength.”
Penultimate paragraph: for liberty of science read academic freedom
Lecture Five
The text of Lecture V on Art is replete with errors and infelicities. Although one can appreciate the freedom taken by J. H. de Vries in redacting Kuyper’s English, not when he involves himself in further errors.
One also wonders who is responsible for the many unnecessary (and sometimes misleading) commas in the 1931 version published by Eerdmans.
—It is not the prevailing tendency L It is not current fashion
—not with the pencil or chisel L not with paintbrush [!] or chisel
et passim
—by means of music and of the stage L . . . of music and the theater
—than the common race for wealth L than greedy money-making
for: het schraapzuchtig geld maken
—the Saint Sophia at Byzantium L the Aya Sofia
Latin: Sancta Sophia
—Calvinism is looked upon as standing perplexed
L Calvinism is regarded as standing embarrassingly empty-handed
for: verlegen and met lege handen staan
—the Parthenon and . . . Saint Peter are stone-embroidered witnesses
L . . . are witnesses frozen in stone
Du: de in steen vastgevroren getuigen
—Calvinism . . . has led to a multiformity of life-tendencies
L . . . to a plurality of denominations
—And Von Hartman . . . declares that: Originally
L And Hartmann . . . declares: “Originally
(Eduard von Hartmann is meant)
—the pulsebeat of the religious life in our times
L the pulse of religious life in our times
—. . . return to the playthings of his infancy.
L . . . return to the toys of his childhood.
—. . . an Eternal Beautiful which flows from the fountain of the Infinite.
L an Eternal Beauty which flows . . .
The Dutch edition adds: . . . and which elevates to the Infinite.
—and no amusement that is added to life
L and not a bit of entertainment that is added onto life
— . . . superstition, insanity or fanaticism.
After this sentence the Dutch inserts:
Hypertrophy of the head, accompanied by atrophy of the heart, results in a pathological development.
—which laughs at the whispering of conscience
L literally: which causes conscience to pale from anemia
—even of common sport L even of ordinary entertainment
for: gewoon vermaak
—. . . not only “His Eternal Power,” but also His “Divinity,” from the very creation, has been perceived in His creature, both spiritually and somatically.
Quoting Rom. 1:20, in the KJV:
“. . . not only his ‘eternal power’ but also his ‘Godhead’ are clearly seen from the creation of the world by the things that are made.”
If the RSV is preferred:
“. . . ever since the creation of the world his ‘eternal power’ and his ‘deity’ have been perceived in the things that have been made.”
—After the quote from Rom. 1, the Dutch text continues:
“and this ‘divinity’ is that pure harmony, that pure proportion, of the beautiful.”
—first recognized its majority
L was the first to declare it had come of age.
—a struggle for life or death
L a struggle of life and death OR a life and death struggle
—beyond the Northern Alps L to north of the Alps
(Is “Northern Alps” an existing geographical term?)
—more sharply even than any other Reformed
L more sharply than any other form of religion [!]
—Michel Angelo and Raphael, stored the Romish Cathedrals
L Michaelangelo and Raphael, enriched Catholic cathedrals
—Just as Von Hartmann truly observes:
L As Hartmann correctly notes:
—First under the impulses of Calvinism, our fathers broke with
L Only under the stirring impulses of Calvinism did our fathers break with
OR: Not until Calvinism’s stirring impulses did our fathers break with
(A common mistranslation of “eerst”)
—. . . can only go out from believers.
L can only proceed from believers.
More literally: is only the portion of believers.
—But just in proportion as Israel shines forth from within the domain of Religion, so it is equally backward when you compare . . .
L But as richly as Israel sparkles in religion, so it pales in comparison with
—the Romans . . . the domain of Law and of State.
L the Romans . . . the areas of law and government.
—remains classical, tone-giving L remains classical, trend-setting
—Hence there is no question that, simply as an involuntary result of its opposition to the Hierarchy of Rome, Calvinism should at the same time have encouraged the emancipation of art.
L Thus there can be no question that Calvinism encouraged the emancipation of art simply as an unintended consequence of its opposition to the hierarchy of Rome. [!]
—to afford the Church a place in which to continue her combats;
L to afford the Church a place to carry on her warfare;
—life-utterances (passim) is translated “life expressions” elsewhere in the Stone Lectures
—Even your brokers have respect for
L the Dutch has: Even the brokers in Wallstreet [sic] have respect for
—though less widely known, is notwithstanding highly important
L though less widely known, is no less of great significance
—Bourgeois adopted the harmony or the song of several parts.
L Bourgeois adopted harmony or singing in parts.
Lecture Six
Geerhardus Vos did a very creative job on this one, but somehow a few errors crept in.
Infelicities? De gustibus non disputandum.
The first three paragraphs are quite different in the Dutch version of 1899, but this may be due to a rewrite by Kuyper.
For “dogmatical” one could just as well read “theological” (p. 1 et passim).
Calvinism . . . expanded in a life-system L . . . expanded into . . .
. . . its dominating principle L its ruling principle
. . . to clean and to water it, and to cause it L to cleanse and water it and so cause it
(In general, far too many commas are used.)
Our personal life . . . subsist not in . . . L . . . subsists not in . . .
Tolstoi’s . . . social theory is a protest along the whole line . . .
L . . . is a running protest . . .
. . . by the bitter consciousness that . . . L . . . by the bitter awareness . . .
In the Roman empire alone has the dark night of boundless demoralization been broken by the dawn of a higher life.
L Only in the Roman Empire was the dark night of boundless moral decadence relieved by the dawn of a higher life. (For: zedenverbastering)
. . . but to receive at its goal L . . . but to bring it to its end
. . . the body suffered from amnesia, and blood-poisoning even had set in . . .
L . . . and even sepsis (septicemia) had set in . . .
Du: bloedarmoede and bloedvergiftiging
. . . duties in reference to humanity . . . L . . . duties toward humanity (mankind) . . .
. . . the September murders of Mazas L . . . the September massacres of Marat [!]
L Mazas was a composer, Marat the revolutionary agitator whose journalism is said to have touched off the September massacres
. . . the voice of the country districts L the voice of the countryside (of the rural areas)
for: het platteland
. . . on an established proposition L . . . as a foregone conclusion
. . . a coarse and overbearing kratistocracy L a coarse and staggering rule of the strong
. . . the Christian religion [is] abnormalistic in principle and mode of manifestation . . .
L . . . on principle and in manifestation . . .
. . . This, however, does not in the least involve . . . L does not at all imply
. . . develops energy L . . . generates strength (for: macht ontwikkelen)
. . . possibly rejoice as in the realization of his ideal if he beheld the conditions
L . . . possibly hail as the realization of his ideal if he beheld the sorry conditions
. . . not posterior, but anterior to Protestantism, reaching back to the Stoa and to Epicurus
L not posterior to Protestantism but anterior to Christianity [itself], harking back to pagan Antiquity.
. . . the Calvinistic principle as the sole trustworthy foundation on which to build.
L the Calvinistic foundations as the only reliable basis on which to build.
. . . In the ordinary run of things eighty percent L Du: 90 pCt.
. . . have I commended to you the Calvinism of history
L This remark corroborates the guess about the original title of Lecture I
. . . university education, springing . . . from individual initiative
L . . . from private initiative
. . . nomistic Sabbath-observance L . . . legalistic observance of the Lord’s Day
. . . No love without knowledge. L To be unknown is to be unloved.
. . . Only through such study will there become possible
L Only such study can make possible
. . . sciences that demand Calvinistic treatment
L . . . sciences that call for an approach in terms of Calvinism
. . . to practice in word, deed, and whole manner of life.
L . . . to practice in word, in deed, and in one’s whole life-style.
. . . if only that seed be sound and whole, instinct with . . .
L as long as the seed is healthy and whole, scintillating with . . .
For: tintelend
. . . The perception of difference the very source . . .
L The reality of difference is the very source . . .
For: Dat bestaan
. . . if insect, butterfly rather than spider;
L if insect, fly rather than spider;
Cf. next paragraph: . . . and the spider goes on entrapping the fly . . .
. . . Not forsooth, on account of what it urges upon us as a truth . . .
L Not of course on account of what it passes off as truth . . .
For: uitventen (very pejorative)
. . . that the breeze might wake its music into life.
L. . . that the wind might play its heavenly/celestial chords upon it.
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