William R. Bright, known to his many friends as Bill, died on July 19, 2003, at his home in Orlando, Florida, at the age of 81. This leading evangelical was at the cutting edge of missions. He brought the Gospel outside the wall of the church buildings, and reached people…

When I reflected on my spiritual pilgrimage, Reformed thinkers came to mind who became my mentors. The Dutch theologian Dr. Herman Bavinck heads the list. I was introduced to his theology through his magisterial work, the four-volume Gereformeerde Dogmatiek (1906-1911) [Reformed Dogmatics], a gift from a generous host at whose…

During the late 19th and early 20th century, Dutch Calvinism was dominated by the magisterial Abraham Kuyper, one of the major figures in his nation’s history. His dynamic leadership attracted “the little people” (de kleine luyden). The antithesis principle was basic to his thought and work. According to Kuyper, neutrality…

My introduction to the powerful, creative writings of C.S. Lewis came through his Pilgrim’s Regress, which I had to study for a course in English literature. Ever since I have consulted his works and greatly benefited from them. Lewis is undoubtedly our century’s most popular and influential Christian author, who achieved…

Why write an article about a relatively unknown Dutch theologian in North American Reformed circles? Why choose Dr. Wentsel instead of a well-known Dutch theologian whose works are available in English? In 2007, the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRC) celebrated its founding year -1857. Ever since, there has been a…

The apostle Paul said in one of his letters that his sole motivation in life was to know Christ. Paul had been won over by the Lord and for His sake he counted all else but loss (Phil. 3:8). All religiosity was rubbish in the sight of God. Paul said…

In December 1984, Dr. L. Praamsma passed away. His family and friends will miss him. He was a family man, a warm hearted pastor, a scholar, theologian, poet and an outstanding church historian with a rare writing skill. Over the years, through an occasional visit and correspondence, I came to…

Jacques Ellul, Reformed theologian, historian, jurist, social analyst, author of more than 40 books and 1,500 articles, died of cancer of the lymphatic system at his home in Pessac, France, on May 19 at the age of 82. Ellul had an eventful life. He became a convinced Christian at the…

Dorothy L. Sayers, who wrote chiefly in the first half of the twentieth century in England, was one of the most versatile and imaginative authors of her generation. Her career cut a path through the worlds of advertising, journalism, drama, broadcasting, and popular literature. She was a formidable intellect, and…

Dr. Carl F. Henry was a brilliant thinker, an educator, and an editor. He was the best known and most widely read of evangelical theologians, and left an indelible imprint on the evangelical movement of the past half century. He defined and called evangelicals to a worldview shaped by the…