Reviews Of Books -- By: Anonymous

Journal: Westminster Theological Journal
Volume: WTJ 03:1 (Nov 1940)
Article: Reviews Of Books
Author: Anonymous


Reviews Of Books

Klaas Schilder: Christ in His Suffering; Christ on Trial; Christ Crucified. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. 1938, 1939, 1940. 467, 549, 561 respectively. $3.00 each.

Dr. Schilder, Professor of Dogmatics at the Kampen Theological School of the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands, ranks as one of the most brilliant theologians of this generation. The three volumes under review are abundant evidence to that effect.

Translation is always difficult. Because of Schilder’s originality of expression, to translate him must be exceptionally difficult. But Henry Zylstra, a graduate student of comparative philology at Harvard University, has done extremely well in rendering these volumes from Dutch into English. Evidently he is master of both languages. In recent years Zylstra has also translated a few of the practical works of Abraham Kuyper, and these translations too are excellent, far better than any earlier renderings of the writings of that great theologian. It is a pity that the beautiful volumes now before us are marred by some serious typographical errors. For one example, on page 184, line 7, of Christ Crucified, “children” should read “chiton”. But for such oversights the proofreader rather than the translator must be held responsible.

Schilder deals only with those sufferings of our Lord that came toward the very close of his earthly ministry. He does not mean to deny that the Saviour suffered throughout his earthly sojourn, least of all does he agree with those who teach that only on the cross did Christ endure the penalty of sin for others, but he would stress the fact that Christ’s sufferings culminated in the last week of his life and reached their very acme on Calvary. The first volume ends with Christ’s capture in Gethsemane, the second with his condemnation by Pilate, the third with his burial. The titles of the second and third volumes are unimpeachable, but that of the first is obviously illogical. Christ in His Suffering is the theme, not only of the first volume, but of the other two as well. In fact, it could serve admirably as a comprehensive title for the trilogy.

A striking characteristic of this work is the virility of the author’s style. His style is beautiful too, but its beauty is not that of flowers which one moment spread their fragrance on the air and the next, when

the wind passes over them, are gone. Rather is its beauty like that of the sturdy oak whose strong trunk and massive crown are shaken but a little by mighty winds. It is the beauty of masculinity. No wonder that the volumes teem with paradoxes and antitheses. These are strong expressions of truth. One example ...

You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
Click here to subscribe
visitor : : uid: ()