Jan Jakob van Oosterzee
Encyclopedia
Jan Jacob van Oosterzee (April 1, 1817 – July 29, 1882), Dutch
divine, was born at Rotterdam
. He was educated at the University of Utrecht 1835 – 1839. He was also known as Jan Jakob van Oosterzee, JJ van Oosterzee, or Johannes Jacobus van Oosterzee.
After acting as pastor at Eemnes-Binnen
1814–43, Alkmaar
1843–44 and Rotterdam 1844–62, in 1863 he was made professor of biblical and practical theology
at the University of Utrecht, with which he was variously connected until the end of his life. Oosterzee earned a reputation as a preacher, was editor of the Theolog. Jahrbücher from 1845, wrote a number of noteworthy books on religious history, and published poems in Dutch (1882).
Of his sermon
s, some 270 were printed in more than twelve volumes 1846–70, including Mozes (Rotterdam, 1859; English translation, Moses: a Biblical Study, Edinburgh, 1876. He likewise published De Heidelbergsche Catechismus in fifty-two lectures (1869), and issued many individual sermons which were widely circulated. In these sermons Van Oosterzee laid his entire stress (in somewhat rhetorical fashion) on the preaching of the Gospel
, the proclamation of Christ according to the Scriptures, and the announcing of salvation
; but regarded the pulpit
least of all the place from which to transcend the Gospel into the regions of dogma
tic speculation. His avowed aim as a preacher was rather to edify than instruct. Holding himself aloof from the radical, naturalistic, and purely ethical tendencies, remaining neutral toward negative criticism, and in Christology
maintaining a distinctly supernaturalistic position, he was pleased to call himself "Evangelical, or Christian Orthodox."
With all his activity as a preacher, Van Oosterze devoted himself zealously to theological science. This phase of his activity he began with the first article, Verhandeling over den tegenwoordigen toestand der Apologetiek, in the newly founded Jaarboeken voor wetenschappelijke theologie, followed the next year by his treatise "On the Value of the Acts of the Apostles" (1846). To this same period belongs his Christologie (Rotterdam, 1855–61; English translation, The Image of Christ as Presented in Scripture, London, (1874) and by his commentaries on Luke (Bielefeld and Leipsic, 1859), the pastoral epistles and Philemon (1861), and James (in collaboration with J. P. Lange, 1862) for J. P. Lange's Bibelwerk.
After his professorial appointment at Utrecht in 1863, Van Oosterzee wrote his brief Theologie des Nieuwen Verbonds (Utrecht, 1867; Eng. transl., Theology of the New Testament, New York, 1893), which was followed by the larger Christelijke dogmatiek (2 parts, 1870–72; English translation, Christian Dogmatics, 2 vols., New York, 1876). The best of his academic works, however, was his Praktische theologie (2 parts, Utrecht, 1877–78; English transl., New York, 1879), in which he considered homiletics, liturgics, catechetics, pastoral theology, missions, and even apologetics.
In 1877, with the passage of the law forbidding the theological faculty to lecture on Biblical, dogmatic, and practical theology, Van Oosterzee was compelled, against his will, to teach the philosophy of religion, New Testament
introduction, and the history of Christian dogma, in which he gave instruction until his death. His memoirs appeared posthumously under the title Uit Mijn Levensboek, voor, mijne Vrienden (Utrecht, 1883), and collections of his minor writings were published later in two groups comprising: Redevoeringen, verhandelingen en verspreide geschriften (Rotterdam, 1857); Varia. Verspreide geschriften (1861); Christelijk-litterairische opstellen (Amsterdam, 1877); Christelijk-historische opstellen (1879). Mention should also be made of his popular devotional book, Het jaar des heils: Levenswoorden voor iederen dag (1874; English transl., Year of salvation: Words of Life for every Day, New York, 1875), and of the posthumous collection of his poems entitled Uit de dichterlijke nalatenshap (Amsterdam, 1884).
A collected edition of Oosterzee's works was published in French, Œuvres complètes, in three volumes (1877-1880). His autobiography appeared in 1882. His book Practical Theology was one of two "most influential" works on that topic in the United States
. His theological position is described as premillennial and mild chiliast
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
divine, was born at Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
. He was educated at the University of Utrecht 1835 – 1839. He was also known as Jan Jakob van Oosterzee, JJ van Oosterzee, or Johannes Jacobus van Oosterzee.
After acting as pastor at Eemnes-Binnen
Eemnes
Eemnes is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of Utrecht.-The town of Eemnes :Eemnes formerly consisted of two villages, Eemnes-Binnen and Eemnes-Buiten...
1814–43, Alkmaar
Alkmaar
Alkmaar is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of Noord Holland. Alkmaar is well known for its traditional cheese market. For tourists, it is a popular cultural destination.-History:...
1843–44 and Rotterdam 1844–62, in 1863 he was made professor of biblical and practical theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at the University of Utrecht, with which he was variously connected until the end of his life. Oosterzee earned a reputation as a preacher, was editor of the Theolog. Jahrbücher from 1845, wrote a number of noteworthy books on religious history, and published poems in Dutch (1882).
Of his sermon
Sermon
A sermon is an oration by a prophet or member of the clergy. Sermons address a Biblical, theological, religious, or moral topic, usually expounding on a type of belief, law or behavior within both past and present contexts...
s, some 270 were printed in more than twelve volumes 1846–70, including Mozes (Rotterdam, 1859; English translation, Moses: a Biblical Study, Edinburgh, 1876. He likewise published De Heidelbergsche Catechismus in fifty-two lectures (1869), and issued many individual sermons which were widely circulated. In these sermons Van Oosterzee laid his entire stress (in somewhat rhetorical fashion) on the preaching of the Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
, the proclamation of Christ according to the Scriptures, and the announcing of salvation
Salvation
Within religion salvation is the phenomenon of being saved from the undesirable condition of bondage or suffering experienced by the psyche or soul that has arisen as a result of unskillful or immoral actions generically referred to as sins. Salvation may also be called "deliverance" or...
; but regarded the pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
least of all the place from which to transcend the Gospel into the regions of dogma
Dogma
Dogma is the established belief or doctrine held by a religion, or a particular group or organization. It is authoritative and not to be disputed, doubted, or diverged from, by the practitioners or believers...
tic speculation. His avowed aim as a preacher was rather to edify than instruct. Holding himself aloof from the radical, naturalistic, and purely ethical tendencies, remaining neutral toward negative criticism, and in Christology
Christology
Christology is the field of study within Christian theology which is primarily concerned with the nature and person of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament. Primary considerations include the relationship of Jesus' nature and person with the nature...
maintaining a distinctly supernaturalistic position, he was pleased to call himself "Evangelical, or Christian Orthodox."
With all his activity as a preacher, Van Oosterze devoted himself zealously to theological science. This phase of his activity he began with the first article, Verhandeling over den tegenwoordigen toestand der Apologetiek, in the newly founded Jaarboeken voor wetenschappelijke theologie, followed the next year by his treatise "On the Value of the Acts of the Apostles" (1846). To this same period belongs his Christologie (Rotterdam, 1855–61; English translation, The Image of Christ as Presented in Scripture, London, (1874) and by his commentaries on Luke (Bielefeld and Leipsic, 1859), the pastoral epistles and Philemon (1861), and James (in collaboration with J. P. Lange, 1862) for J. P. Lange's Bibelwerk.
After his professorial appointment at Utrecht in 1863, Van Oosterzee wrote his brief Theologie des Nieuwen Verbonds (Utrecht, 1867; Eng. transl., Theology of the New Testament, New York, 1893), which was followed by the larger Christelijke dogmatiek (2 parts, 1870–72; English translation, Christian Dogmatics, 2 vols., New York, 1876). The best of his academic works, however, was his Praktische theologie (2 parts, Utrecht, 1877–78; English transl., New York, 1879), in which he considered homiletics, liturgics, catechetics, pastoral theology, missions, and even apologetics.
In 1877, with the passage of the law forbidding the theological faculty to lecture on Biblical, dogmatic, and practical theology, Van Oosterzee was compelled, against his will, to teach the philosophy of religion, New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
introduction, and the history of Christian dogma, in which he gave instruction until his death. His memoirs appeared posthumously under the title Uit Mijn Levensboek, voor, mijne Vrienden (Utrecht, 1883), and collections of his minor writings were published later in two groups comprising: Redevoeringen, verhandelingen en verspreide geschriften (Rotterdam, 1857); Varia. Verspreide geschriften (1861); Christelijk-litterairische opstellen (Amsterdam, 1877); Christelijk-historische opstellen (1879). Mention should also be made of his popular devotional book, Het jaar des heils: Levenswoorden voor iederen dag (1874; English transl., Year of salvation: Words of Life for every Day, New York, 1875), and of the posthumous collection of his poems entitled Uit de dichterlijke nalatenshap (Amsterdam, 1884).
A collected edition of Oosterzee's works was published in French, Œuvres complètes, in three volumes (1877-1880). His autobiography appeared in 1882. His book Practical Theology was one of two "most influential" works on that topic in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. His theological position is described as premillennial and mild chiliast