Distinctive Calvinism
[Note: Today, in electronic communications, it is commonly thought that the use of “all caps” is a form of shouting. Such was not the case in the 1930’s. The typewriters used in radio and telegraphic communications up through World War II were “all cap” writers, typing the message out in all caps on strips of paper that were then glued to a telegraph form. That was just the system of the day.]
R. B. Kuiper was not unknown to the faculty and trustees of this new Presbyterian seminary in Philadelphia. He had served the first year of its existence as professor of Systematic Theology, but then had left it to become the president of Calvin College. Now he was being asked to return two years later to become the professor of practical theology. The prospective teacher had all the spiritual gifts necessary for such a post.
Born January 31, 1886 in the Netherlands to a ministerial father, the family had emigrated to the United States so the father could take a congregation in Michigan of the Christian Reformed Church.
Later, R. B. Kuiper was educated at the University of Chicago, Indiana University, and with a diploma from Calvin Theological Seminary, he finished up his training at Princeton Seminary in 1912.
After this latter instruction from some of the finest minds of the Presbyterian world, such as B.B. Warfield, R.B. Kuiper began his ministry in the pastorate, serving several congregations in Michigan. He would have all that was necessary to be a pastor of practical theology from that experience.
Below, the Westminster faculty as composed upon Kuiper’s arrival, 1933-34.
Among that broad span of the whole counsel of God, and one which seminary professors and students often fail, is the area of Reformed evangelism. Listen to his words in his book “To be or Not to Be Reformed.” He wrote “May God forbid that we should become complacent about our progress in evangelism! Our zeal for evangelism is not nearly as warm as it ought to be. Our evangelistic labors are not nearly as abundant as they should be. Our prayers for the translation of souls from darkness into God’s marvelous light must become far more fervent.” (p. 77) What R. B. Kuiper wrote fifty years ago is no less true in our day. Ask yourselves the question? Am I a zealous evangelist?
“Divine election, and it alone, guarantees results for evangelism.” R.B. Kuiper
Pictured above: Some of the courses taught by R.B. Kuiper in his first year at Westminster.
