Journal: Westminster Theological Journal
Volume: WTJ 66:2 (Fall 2004)
Article: Biblical Studies
Author: Riemer Roukema

WTJ 66:2 (Fall 2004) p. 259

Biblical Studies

Herman Ridderbos’s Redemptive-Historical Exegesis of the New Testament

Riemer Roukema

[Riemer Roukema is New Testament professor at Kampen Theological University (Koornmarkt/Oudestraat), the Netherlands. This article is a translation of the Dutch original that appeared as “Heilshistorische exegese. Herman Ridderbos” in Profiel: Theologiebeoefening in Kampen 1970–1990 (ed. J. van Gelderen and C. Houtman; Kampen: Uitgeverij Kok, 2004), 53–70. This book was published on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Kampen Theological University.]

I. Introduction

On November 13, 1936, Herman Nicolaas Ridderbos obtained his doctorate (with distinction) from the Free University at Amsterdam under Professor Frederik Willem Grosheide. His dissertation entitled “The Tenor of the Sermon on the Mount according to Matthew” demonstrated that Ridderbos was a skilful exegete.1 He was 27 years old at the time, and had been the minister of the Reformed (Gereformeerd) Church in Eefde-Gorssel (the Netherlands) since 1934.2 He became minister in Rotterdam-Charlois in 1939, where in 1941 he finished the first part of his commentary The Gospel according to Matthew.3 On January 21, 1943, during a period of great national difficulties, he succeeded Seakle Greijdanus as New Testament professor at Kampen Theological Seminary.4 In this function he produced an impressive amount of publications, the most important of which were also published in English. Aside from his numerous articles and a few brochures, Ridderbos wrote the books listed below.5

WTJ 66:2 (Fall 2004) p. 260

In 1946 the second part of The Gospel according to Matthew was published. In the same year he published a treatise based on his rectorial address “Self-revelation and self-concealment: The historical character of Jesus’ Messianic self-revelation according to the Synoptic Gospels.”6 In 1950, his voluminous work The Coming of the Kingdom appeared in Dutch.7 Ridderbos then widened his area of research and in 1952 published Paul and Jesus: Origin and General Character of Paul’s Preaching of Christ8 (in Dutch), a book he characterized as “an introduction to Paul.”9 In 1953 his resear...