Herman Bavinck on Preaching and Preachers

by Herman Bavinck, James Eglinton (Translation)

Dutch theologian Herman Bavinck (1854-1921) is widely celebrated as one of the most eloquent divines in the Reformed tradition. And yet there is a curious gap between Bavinck the theologian and the preachers who read him in the present day. How Bavinck preached, or what and how he thought about the act of preaching, are largely unknown. The largest barrier is that his writings on preaching were previously untranslated--until now. Herman Bavinck on Preaching & Preachers is a welcome translation from Dutch of Bavinck's thoughts on preaching and preachers, and includes one of his only written sermons.


For Bavinck, the sermon was the most important part of the worship service, and the preaching of the word is the decisive mark of the church. He believed that the preacher must be a student of the word, search it in all its riches and depth, in its unity and diversity. Translator and editor James Eglinton describes this book as a "useful and very interesting text on how to preach theology" and a "message that sorely needs to be heard if pulpits during our own time are to improve." This is the first time this book is in print. Herman Bavinck on Preaching & Preachers has never been published before in either Dutch or English.

Genres: Theology, Christian

136 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2017

About the author

Herman Bavinck (1854-1921) succeeded Abraham Kuyper as professor of systematic theology at the Free University of Amsterdam in 1902.

His nephew was Johan Herman Bavinck.

Reviews

[Jeremy Fritz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful little book! The lecture on eloquence was excellent.

[Samuel Kassing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating read! Bavinck lived a little over a hundred years ago but this book felt like it could have been written yesterday. Preaching/teaching must flow from study, an impassioned heart, and should aim to be simple and clear. The preachers job isn’t to entertain. It’s to love people by helping them understand the Bible and how it intersects with their life. This is the crux of Bavinck’s essays and they are gold.

[Ben House · Rating 5 out of 5]

Encouraging, enlightening, and sometimes quite witty, this work gives a different type of glimpse into the mind and theology of the Dutch theologian Herman Bavinck. The bulk of this short work is a lengthy article titled "Eloquence." This is good reading for the preacher, Sunday teacher, or person who speaks in any setting in front of an audience. Filled with quotes from the Dutch poet Bilderdijk, this is an enjoyable look into the Calvinistic culture that was formed by such men as Bavinck, Kuyper, and Groen.
Put this book on the shelf alongside of Spurgeon's Lectures to My Students. One could wish that there was more to hear from Bavinck on the subject.
Also, the book contains what might be the only written text of a sermon by Bavinck.
Finished the book today, but have not begun to be finished with it. High on the "books to re-read and use again" list.

[Matt Pitts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bavinck was brilliant, and there are parts of this collection that shine. 3.5 stars.

[Alan Rennê · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excepcional!

[Jake Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collection of writings from Bavinck ranging from topics like eloquence in particular to his observations of the church in North America generally.

Can confidently say his writing on eloquence was eloquent.

At the end of the day, my biggest takeaway from these writings wasn’t necessarily what he said as to how he said it. He issued critiques in a gracious way, he called out the wolves when necessary, he handled the desired topics at hand with nuance without sacrificing clarity. Really like this guy, hope to get coffee with him sometime soon

[Russell Sigler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bavinck's words are piercing, even 100+ years removed. His sermon on faith as God's instrument against evil rings true just as much today.

[Samuel Kassing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating read! Bavinck lived a little over a hundred years ago but this book felt like it could have been written yesterday. Preaching/teaching must flow from study, an impassioned heart, and should aim to be simple and clear. The preachers job isn’t to entertain. It’s to love people by helping them understand the Bible and how it intersects with their life. This is the crux of Bavincks essays.

[Peter Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave the reader a different side of Bavinck than say his Dogmatics or some other writings. The bulk of the book is his essay entitled Eloquence, which was excellent. It reminded me of the need to constantly improve my speaking, taking seriously the need to persuade those in my congregation that God's Word is true and how their lives should change based on it.

[Trevor Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great, short work. This book has several selections from Bavinck centered around the idea of preaching and preachers. Bavinck is a theologian caught between two worlds: Victorian and Modern. In this way, he is an excellent theologian to study, as I feel people today are caught between two worlds. Highly recommend.

[Rylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I normally give five stars to books I would recommend to everybody, this one might break the rule. Perhaps of interest only to a smaller niche of people. In any case, I found this to be a surprising gem of a read!

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A remarkable collection of writings that are prescient and show Bavinck’s sensitivity to crafting theology that’s beautiful and poetic.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but helpful translations of a few sermons by Bavinck. Only downside is the endnotes rather than footnotes make it difficult to look up references.

[Zach Byrd · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume contains a collection of essays and a sermon. The sermon was fantastic; the essays were fair to middling. Some of the same topics are covered by R.L. Dabney who says more with less.

[Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each individual essay is worth the price of the book.

[Alexander Proudfoot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably one of the best down-to-earth discussions on homiletics I've read. Bavinck does not set out to give a particular theory of preaching, but instead offers insightful comments and suggestions based upon issues he saw in his own day. He stresses the balance between pastor and scholar (which is classically Bavinck).

[Jon Pentecost · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of essays on preaching (as well as one sermon). The meat of the book is Bavinck's essay on eloquence. Though more classical and 19th century references than I was familiar with to wade through, his basic points about the purpose of Christian eloquence (derived from understanding and heartfelt belief in the Scripture) as opposed to general rhetoric are extremely valuable.

If you're a pastor drawn towards thinking too much about how you say things instead of what you're saying, and how that affects you, this is a useful corrective.

His brief meditation on the sermon and the Christian worship service was a gentle encouragement to me. His description of the state of preaching and education in America during his own time provide a helpful outside view, and a reminder of how things were back then in that country.

[mpsiple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good. The meat of the book is an essay called "Eloquence" (5 stars for this!). In some ways, Bavinck doesn't say anything new here, but he says it well. Preaching is an act of whole person; true eloquence comes from a life of eloquence. Talent demands art, and art needs talent. This is a well written reminder of the essentials of preaching, as well as the high calling that comes with it.

(Only 4 stars because of the marketing/packaging: $15 for a 120pp paperback, a 20pp fluff "biography" at the beginning, some apparently extra, somewhat unrelated essays, and way too many end notes that don't add anything of substance.)

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an exceptional read. These were powerful, concise, beautifully written essays, lectures, and sermons. It had been a while since I'd come across Reformed Dogmatics, and I guess I simply forgot what an eloquent, easy to read writer Bavinck is. He speaks in a timeless, direct, relevant way, which is powerfully grounded in Scripture, and the arguments seem to flow effortlessly, and the reading is easy while also thought provoking. Eloquence is a necessary skill, and one which must be lifted up, because the church, of all places, should have the upper ground in the competition for people's attention to things that matter, spoken with enthusiasm and passion.

[Adam T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is much wisdom to be mined from this book. I was surprised to find myself laughing at times at Bavinck's wit. His essay on Sermon and Service is worth the read by itself as Bavinck lays forward the goal of a Sunday morning gathering. Written nearly 100 years ago and in a different cultural context, I was struck by how often it would seem that he was an American writing in our current cultural climate. This gives credence to the reality that truth does not change and the word of God is relevant yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

[Zach Hollifield · Rating 5 out of 5]

How rare it is to have the thoughts of a top tier theologian on preaching. And yet here we have been given just that. Bavinck’s essay, Eloquence, should be required reading for all those entering any kind of preaching ministry. His understanding of the unbearable weight of preaching made bearable by the decisive role of the Spirit is incredibly encouraging. Each of these short writings have much to offer pastors today.

[Landon Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The chapters on "eloquence" and "the sermon and the service" are quite helpful for those who preach to a congregation, week in and week out. There is a chapter that consists simply of one of Bavinck's sermon manuscripts - it's a sermon on faith. The short chapter on American religion and American preaching is fascinating. Parts of that chapter have proved timeless, and others have undergone change over the last century.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. It was a pretty easy read. I read it on a day off. Bavinck has lots will reference in the future as I prepare to teach and preach. But I think his concept of eloquence is easily applicable to the conversations we have daily.

[wyclif · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent new book on Bavinck's homiletics by a historical scholar. Eglinton's larger biography of Bavinck is one of my must-reads for 2021.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good couple of essays on eloquence and preaching.

[Evan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very insightful, as Bavinck always is

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book on the nature of preaching.

[Tim Hazelbaker]

When I first heard that Bavinck had written (spoken) on preaching and preachers, I thought, "Yeah but he's a theologian." But his lecture on eloquence is worth the price of admission.

[Pat O'Keeffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I was rating the essay on Eloquence alone, I think I could have pushed up to 5 stars. I loved the way Bavinck framed the task of preaching, called preachers to pursue the art of the sermon in accordance with their gifts, and reminded of the great comfort to the preacher of the Doctrines of Grace and the power of the Word.