'n Kerkhistoriese bibliografiese studie van die boek as draer van die Nederduitse Gereformeerde belydenis in Suid-Afrika, 1652-c.1814

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorBrown, E.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorVan Zijl, Willem Jacobusen_ZA
dc.contributor.otherStellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology.en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2012-08-27T12:27:01Z
dc.date.available2012-08-27T12:27:01Z
dc.date.issued1991-08
dc.descriptionThesis (DTh)--Stellenbosch University, 1991.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractIn the history of books bearing the Dutch Reformed confessions in South Africa, four broad phases can be distinguished, i.e.: - An initial phase of importing and distributing according to regulation and demand (1652-1814). - A second phase when books were made available by book societies and enterprises (1814-1903). - A third phase of synodal-ecclesiastical ministering through books (1903-1974). - The current phase of utility companies without gain to publish books. This pioneer exploration focuses on the initial phase and aims at researching and recording the history of Dutch Reformed books in South Africa up to 1814. The relevant sources, several of which were discovered for the first time in this investigation, were systematised into bibliographies. As study objects were selected those books, published during the review period, which primarily aimed at the average church member and which were frequently found in several sources. These books were classified into categories, with the aid of which bibliographical-chronological dissections were made for the entire period under review. A coherent hypothesis was corroborated by the research findings. The following became evident. The history of Dutch Reformed books in South Africa began in 1652 when the founders brought with them at least those Reformed books essential to the practice of the Reformed religion. Circumstantial evidence suggests that these were the Statenbybel as well as a few religious books from each of the different categories. The survey findings reveal that, as the settlement at the Cape became established and expanded, a greater number and variety of Dutch Reformed books came into ever wider circulation. It was further evident that more than any other book the Statenbybel as the Dutch Reformed book par excellence, remained in constant demand during the period under review and was circulated amongst church members even in the remotest of areas. It also became apparent that, unlike the Statenbybel, the relevant books in the other categories were bearers of theological accents unique to the 17th and 18th century ecclesiastical movements and schools of thought, the emphasis of which deviated from the Reformed confession. While some books do touch on the rationalism and humanism of the day, nearly every category is dominated by the pietistic-orientated accents of exponents of the Nearer Reformation. It varied from a narrow demonstration of piety - with apparent appeal principally in Cape Town and environs - to an archconservatism found particularly among church members in the far-off interior. Both these life-styles deviated from the Reformed conviction as framed in the Dutch Reformed confessions. Irrelevant and barren intellectual preaching did not reach the hearts of church members. Under the pioneering conditions regular pastoral counselling was also impossible. It was therefore essentially the printed word, as expressed in the Statenbybel and concomitantly in other Dutch Reformed books - especially those of the popular "oude schrijvers" – which framed and gave meaning to the reformed creeds in the daily walk of church members during the period under survey.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractAFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Oorsigtelik gesien, word vier fases onderskei in die geskiedenis van die boek as draer van die Nederduitse Gereformeerde belydenis in Suid-Afrika, te wete: - 'n Aanvangsfase toe boeke ingevoer en versprei is volgens voorskrif en aanvraag (1652- 1814). - 'n Tweede fase toe boeke deur ondernemings uit kerklike geledere beskikbaar gestel is (1814-1903) - 'n Derde fase toe boeke in terme van 'n sinodaal-kerklike bedieningsaksie uitgegee is (1903-1974). - Die huidige fase waarin gebruik gemaak word van nutsverenigings om boeke uit te gee. Hierdie verkenning fokus op die aanvangs fase en het ten doel die navorsing en optekening van die geskiedenis van die-Nederduitse Gereformeerde boek in Suid-Afrika tot 1814. Die boeke wat uit die tersaaklike periode dateer en bewaar gebly het, is opgespoor en in bibliografieë gesistematiseer. Vervolgens is as studievoorwerpe geneem dié boeke wat op die deursnee-lidmaat gerig en meermale in afsonderlike bronne aangetref is. Hierdie boeke is ingedeel in kategoriee met behulp waarvan bibliografies-chronologiese langsnitte deur die oorsigtydperk gemaak is. Aan die hand van 'n samehangende hipotese is tot die volgende bevindings gekom: Die geskiedenis van die boek as draer van die Nederduitse Gereformeerde belydenis in Suid-Afrika het in 1652 begin toe die volksplanters minstens dié geestelike boeke essensieel vir die gereformeerde godsdiensbeoefening, saamgebring het. Omstandigheidsgetuienis dui daarop dat dit die Statenbybel was, asook enkeles uit die kategorieë boeke vir gebruik in die openbare godsdiens. Die opnamegegewens toon dat, namate die Kaapse gemeenskap gevestig geraak en uitgebrei het, meer Nederduitse Gereformeerde boeke, van 'n groter verskeidenheid, wyer in omloop gekom het. Verder is afgelei dat die Statenbybel, as die Nederduitse Gereformeerde boek by uitnemendheid, tydens die oorsigperiode in aanvraag gebly het en versprei is tot in die verste uithoeke waar kerklidmate hulle bevind het. Dit het geblyk dat die onderhawige boeke, anders as die Statenbybel, teologiese aksente vertoon wat eie was aan die 17de- en 18de-eeuse kerklike bewegings en denkrigtings, met 'n klemverskuiwing weg van die Reformatoriese kerugma. Terwyl etlike boeke aksente van die destydse rasionalisme en humanisme openbaar, word byna elke kategorie oorheers deur eksponente van die Nadere Reformasie se piëtisties-geneigde oorbeklemtonings. Dit het gewissel van 'n versmalde vroomheidsuiting - wat klaarblyklik besondere inslag gevind het hoofsaaklik in Kaapstad en omgewing - tot 'n lewenstyl van aartskonservatisme by veral lidmate in die afgeleë binneland. Albei hierdie lewensuitings het die gereformeerd-konfessionele wêreld- en lewensbeskouing skeefgetrek. Irrelevante en dor intellektuele prediking het in gebreke gebly om die lidmate aan te spreek. Weens die pioniersomstandighede was huisbesoek ook nie altyd moontlik nie. In die lig hiervan het die krag van die gedrukte woord soos primêr uitgedra deur die Statenbybel asook ander Nederduitse Gereformeerde boeke - veral die van die gewilde "oude schrijvers" – bygedra tot 'n omlyning van en singewing aan die gereformeerde belydenis in die lewe van kerklidmate in die tydperk onder oorsig.af_ZA
dc.description.versionDoctoralen_ZA
dc.format.extent244 pages : ill.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/69316
dc.language.isoafaf_ZA
dc.publisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch Universityen_ZA
dc.rights.holderStellenbosch Universityen_ZA
dc.subjectBible. Dutch -- Versions -- Historyen_ZA
dc.subjectChristian literature, Dutch -- South Africa -- History and criticismen_ZA
dc.subjectDevotional literature -- History and criticismen_ZA
dc.title'n Kerkhistoriese bibliografiese studie van die boek as draer van die Nederduitse Gereformeerde belydenis in Suid-Afrika, 1652-c.1814af_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
vanzijl_kerkhistoriese_1991.pdf
Size:
40.74 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download Thesis
Download
Collections
Doctoral Degrees (Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology)