In 2015, Lexham Press announced the publication of a major series of new translations of Abraham Kuyper’s writings in public theology, created in partnership with the Acton Institute and the Kuyper Translation Society. Never before available in English, the Abraham Kuyper Collected Works in Public Theology has introduced a new audience to the thinking of one of Christianity’s most thoughtful public theologians. Comprised of 8 key works spread over 12 volumes, this series has finally been fully published six years after its inaugural volume in 2015. The completion of the Abraham Kuyper Collected Works in Public Theology marks a historic moment in Kuyper studies, and we hope it will deepen and enrich the church’s interest and engagement in public theology.
Praise for the Collected Works in Public Theology
“God’s redemption is as wide and high and deep as the expanse of his creation. This is the central message of Abraham Kuyper that has been heard anew by a generation of young evangelicals who have a new appreciation for the importance of Christian culture-making.”
—James K. A. Smith, The Gary and Henrietta Byker Chair in Applied Reformed Theology and Worldview, Calvin College
“The Abraham Kuyper Collected Works in Public Theology series provides depth and development in a very accessible format. Kuyper was not static as a person and the writings presented illumine a Kuyper who continually addressed the culture, context, and church of his day.”
—Jul Medenblik, president, Calvin Theological Seminary
“Abraham Kuyper is a seminal figure in public philosophy and in Christian thought and action. His global influence continues to grow, in part due to the publication of his collected works by Lexham Press.”
—Amy L. Sherman, senior fellow at the Sagamore Institute’s Center on Faith in Communities, USA
All Twelve Volumes Now Available
Common Grace (3 volumes)
In Common Grace Abraham Kuyper presents to the church a vision for cultural engagement rooted in the humanity Christians share with the rest of the world. Often considered Kuyper’s crowning work, Common Grace is an exploration of how God expresses grace even to the unsaved. Kuyper firmly believed that though many people in the world will remain unconverted, God’s grace is still shown to the world as a whole.
Pro Rege (3 volumes)
In Pro Rege, Abraham Kuyper shows how the kingship of Christ affects all areas of life, building upon the work he began in Common Grace. For this Dutch theologian, politician, journalist, and educator, it was nonsense to distinguish between Christian life inside and outside the church. If Jesus is indeed King of creation, he should be honored as such; his authority must be advanced in all spheres, both sacred and secular. In his view, seeing Jesus as King is foundational to bridging the gap between the believer’s life inside the church and outside the church.
Our Program
In Our Program, Abraham Kuyper makes a comprehensive effort to engage the secular politics of his day with a Christian alternative. In an era where the church usually either controlled or was controlled by the state, Kuyper showed that it was possible to frame a political program where church and state engage each other but remain separate. Though bound to its time, Our Program is timely for Christians looking for examples of faith working in the political sphere.
On the Church
On the Church contains seven of Kuyper’s most important essays and speeches on the nature of the church. These newly translated works show Kuyper’s conviction that Christians must take an active role in the world, a world upheld by God’s common grace but standing in need of God’s particular grace in Christ. Christians must neither hide within the doors of their church buildings nor give in to the temptation to be active in earthly institutions alone.
On Islam
Part travelogue, part cultural critique, On Islam presents a European imperialist seeing firsthand the damage colonialism had caused and the value of a religion he had never truly understood. Here, Kuyper’s doctrine of common grace shines as he displays a nuanced and respectful understanding of the Muslim world. Though an ardent Calvinist, Kuyper still knew that God’s grace is expressed to unbelievers. Kuyper saw Islam as a culture and religion with much to offer the West, but also as a threat to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Here he expresses a balanced view of early twentieth-century Islam that demands attention from the majority world today as well.
On Education
This collection of essays and speeches presents Kuyper’s theology and philosophy of education, and his understanding of the divine purpose of scholarship for human culture. Included are convocation addresses given at the Free University, parliamentary speeches, newspaper articles, and other talks and essays on the topic of education. Much of the material deals with issues still being debated today including the roles of the family and state in education, moral instruction, Christian education, and vouchers.
On Business & Economics
In this anthology of essays, speeches, and reflections, we see Kuyper’s attempts to think positively and creatively about the calling and potential of business. Included are his ideas about economic freedom, the eternal value of earthly work, stewardship and philanthropy, economic globalization, the workings of God’s grace in business, and the social function of money.
On Charity & Justice
In this anthology of articles and reflections, Kuyper articulates a Christian vision for engaging with society. Though his analysis was intended for his late-nineteenth-century Dutch context, his thoughts remain strikingly relevant for Christians living in the modern world. For Kuyper, God’s law preserved civil justice, making humane life possible. However, the law itself could not save society—only the gospel can transform the heart. But the gospel is for all of life. Kuyper elaborated a social Christian approach to politics, resulting in a distinct perspective on property, human dignity, democracy, and justice.
More from the Lexham Press blog
Praise Upon Praise for Abraham Kuyper’s on Business and Economics
Abraham Kuyper on the Positive Potential of Business- Contending with Abraham Kuyper’s Legacy
Learning from the Faithful Meditations of Abraham Kuyper
Abraham Kuyper and the Fight for Educational Liberty
Living Out Abraham Kuyper’s Theology
