Nadere Reformatie

Part of the series on 17th Century Scholasticism
Title page of the Calov Bible
Background
Protestant Reformation Counter-Reformation Aristotelianism Scholasticism Patristics
17th Century Scholastics
Second scholasticism of the Jesuits Lutheran scholasticism during Lutheran Orthodoxy Ramism among the Calvinist scholastics Metaphysical poets in the Church of England
Reactions within Christianity
Labadists against the Jesuits Pietism against orthodox Lutherans Nadere Reformatie within Dutch Calvinism Richard Hooker against the Ramists
Reactions within Philosophy
Modernists against Roman Catholics Neologists against Lutherans Spinozists against Dutch Calvinists Deists against English Christianity John Locke against Bishop Stillingfleet
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Nadere Reformatie is a Dutch term that refers to a period of church history in the Netherlands, following the Reformation, from roughly 1600 until 1750. The term is most often translated into English as either "Dutch Second Reformation" or "Further Reformation," with the latter translation being preferred.

In broad terms, the period and its representatives are known for their desire to apply the principles of the Reformation to their day — their homes, churches, and, indeed, all sectors of Dutch society in the seventeenth and early eighteenth century. In their balance and value of both orthodoxy as well as piety, the Nadere Reformatie resembles English Puritanism. In fact, Puritanism had much influence on the Nadere Reformatie. Many Puritan works were translated into Dutch during this time.

The two leading figures of the period are a professor, Gisbertus Voetius, and a pastor, Wilhelmus a Brakel. Brakel's main work, the Redelijke Godsdienst, an explanation, defense, and application of the Reformed faith, has been translated into English (see below).

While much had been written on the period in Dutch language church historical literature in the past decades, very little can be found in English. Dr. Joel Beeke of the Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary is one of few scholars who has written in English on the subject. Several students of Dr. Richard Muller, professor at Calvin Theological Seminary, have also shown interest in the period. One wrote a dissertation in 2003 on a lesser known, but representative figure from the period, Simon Oomius.

Chronological Listing of Notable Representatives of the Further Reformation

• Jean Taffin (1529-1602),
• Guilelmus Amesius (1576-1633),
• Willem Teellinck (1579-1629),
• Godefridus Udemans (1582-1649),
• Gisbertus Voetius (1589-1676),
• Theodorus à Brakel (1608-1669),
• Petrus Wittewrongel (1609-1662),
• Cornelis Gentman (1617-1696),
• Andreas Essenius (1618-1677),
• Jodocus van Lodenstein (1620-1677),
• Franciscus Ridderus (1620-1683),
• Petrus de Witte (1622-1669),
• Willem Sluiter (1627-1673),
• Guiljelmus Saldenus (1627-1694),
• Simon Simonides (1629-1664),
• Petrus van Mastricht (1630-1706),
• Simon Oomius (1630-1706),
• Gregorius Mees (1631-1694),
• Jacobus Koelman (1631-1695),
• Florentius Costerus (1635-1703),
• Hermanus Witsius (1636-1708),
• Wilhelmus à Brakel (1635-1711),
• David Knibbe (1639-1701),
• Melchior Leydekker (1642-1712),
• Abraham Hellenbroek (1658-1731),
• Jacobus Fruytier (1659-1731),
• Bernardus Smytegelt (1665-1739),
• Johan Verschuir (1680-1737),
• Friedrich Adolph Lampe (1683-1729),
• Aegidius Francken (1699-1743),
• Wilhelmus Schortinghuis (1700-1750),
• Theodorus van der Groe (1705-1784),
• Alexander Comrie (1706-1774)

The Further Reformation on the Internet

• Sources and History of the Nadere Reformatie

Primary sources in English

• Ames, William. The Marrow of Theology. Translated by John Dykstra Eusden. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books, 1997.
• Brakel, Wilhelmus a. The Christian's Reasonable Service, 4 vols. Translated by Bartel Elshout. Morgan, Pennsylvania: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1992.
• Koelman, Jacobus. The Duties of Parents. Translated by John Vriend. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2003.
• Taffin, Jean. The Marks of God's Children. Translated by Peter Y. De Jong. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2003.
• Teellinck, Willem. The Path of True Godliness. Translated by Annemie Godbehere. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2003.
• Voetius, Gisbertus and Johannes Hoornbeeck." Translated by John Vriend and Harry Boonstra. Grand Rapids, Michigan, Baker Academic, 2003.
• Witsius, Herman. The Economy of the Covenants Between God and Man. 2 vols. Translated by William Crookshank. Reprint. Escondido, California: The den Dulk Christian Foundation, 1990.
• Witsius, Herman. The Apostles' Creed. 2 vols. Translated by Donald Fraser, 1823. Reprint. Escondido, California: The den Dulk Christian Foundation, 1993.
• Witsius, Herman. The Lord's Prayer. Translated by William Pringle, 1839. Reprint. Escondido, California: The den Dulk Christian Foundation, 1994.

Secondary Literature about the Period

• Beeke, Joel R. The Quest for Full Assurance: The Legacy of Calvin and His Successors. Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Banner of Truth Trust, 1999.
• Beeke, Joel R. “Insights for the Church from the Dutch Second Reformation,” Calvin Theological Journal 28 (1993): 420-424.
• Brienen, T., K. Exalto, et al. De Nadere Reformatie: Beschrijving van haar Voornaamste Vertegenwoordigers. ‘s-Gravenhage: Uitgeverij Boekcentrum B.V., 1986.
• Brienen, T., K. Exalto, et al. De Nadere Reformatie en het Gereformeerd Piëtisme. ‘s-Gravenhage: Uitgeverij Boekensentrum B.V., 1989.
• Brienen, T., K. Exalto, et al. Theologische Aspecten van de Nadere Reformatie. Zoetermeer: Uitgeverij Boekencentrum B.V., 1993.
• de Reuver, Arie. Sweet Communion: Trajectories of Spirituality from the Middle Ages through the Further Reformation. Trans. James A. De Jong (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007).
• Elshout, Bartel. The Pastoral and Practical Theology of Wilhelmus à Brakel. Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 1997.
• Heppe, Heinrich. Geschichte des Pietismus und der Mystik in der Reformirten Kirche, Namentlich der Niederlande. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1879.
• Muller, Richard. Scholasticism and Orthodoxy in the Reformed Tradition: An Attempt at Definition. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Calvin Theological Seminary, 1995.
• Schuringa, Gregory D. "Embracing Leer and Leven: The Theology of Simon Oomius in the Context of Nadere Reformatie Orthodoxy." Grand Rapids, Michigan: Ph.D. dissertation, Calvin Theological Seminary, 2003.
• Shantz, Douglas H. Between Sardis and Philadelphia: the Life and World of Pietist Court Preacher Conrad Bröske. Leiden: Brill, 2008.
• van Asselt, W. J. and E. Dekker, eds. De Scholastieke Voetius. Zoetermeer: Boekencentrum, 1995.
• van Asselt, W. J. Reformation and Scholasticism: An Ecumenical Enterprise. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 2001.
• van Lieburg, Fred. From Pure Church to Pious Culture. The Further Reformation in the Seventeenth-Century Dutch Republic In Later Calvinism. International Perspectives, edited by W. Fred Graham (Kirksville, 1994).
• van 't Spijker, W., et al. Oude Schrijvers. Houten: Den Hertog, 1997.