Johann Jacob Van Oosterzee
Johann Jacob Van Oosterzee [1]
a noted Dutch theologian, was born April 1, 1817, at Rotterdam. He studied at Utrecht, and on leaving the university in 1840 was made doctor of theology for presenting his Disputatio Theologica de Jesu, e Virgine Maria Nato. In 1841 he was preacher at Eemnes, in 1843 at Alkmaar, in 1844 at Rotterdam. In 1862 he became professor of theology at Utrecht, and opened his lectures with a Latin oration, De Scepticismo Hodiernis Theologis Caute Vitando. Oosterzee lectured upon almost all the branches of theology, and soon became the recognized leader of the evangelical school of Holland. In learning, eloquence, and piety he ranked with the greatest divines of his age. He was also a voluminous writer. Several of his works have been translated, and commend themselves very highly to practical and conservative religious minds in Great Britain and America.
Oosterzee died July 29, 1882, at Wiesbaden, Germany, where he had gone to restore his broken health. Besides his opening addresses, as, Hoe moet het modern Naturalisme bestreden werden? (1863): — Zollen wij nog Theologie studeeren of niet? (1865): — Welke Theologie is in Staat, de Stormen van dezen Dagen te verduren? (1866): — Van welke Theologen is iets goeds voor de Toekomst der Kerk te verwachten? (1867): — and valuable essays which he published in the Jaarboeken voor wetenschappelijke Theologie, edited by himself, and in other reviews, we mention, Jacques Saurin (1855): — Christologie des Oude en Nieuwe Verbonds (1855-57, 2 parts): — Het Leven van Jezus (2d ed. 1863-65): — Historie of Roman? het Leven van Jezus door Renan vorlooping toegelicht (1863): — Het Johannes Evangelie, een viertal apologetische Voorlezingen (1867): — De Theologie des Nieuwven Verbonds (2d ed. 1872; Engl. transl. Lond. 1870; 4th ed. 1882): — Voor Keork en Theologie, Mededeelingen en Bijdragen (1871-75, 2 parts): — Christelijke Dogmatick (2d ed. 1876, 2 parts; Engl. transl., Lond. and New York, 1874; 2d ed. 1878): — Practische Theologie (Engl. transl. 1878, 2 parts): — Theopneustie (1882). For Lange's Bible Work Oosterzee wrote the commentary on Luke (1859; Engl. transl. New York, 1866); the Pastoral Epistles and Philemon (1861; transl. 1868); and with Lange he prepared the commentary on James's epistle (1862; Engl. transl. 1867). His Sermons comprise twelve volumes. Oosterzee left an autobiography and a work upon apologetics. See Zickler, in Beweis des Glaubens, 1882; Evans, in Catholic Presbyterian, October 1882; Zuchold, Bibl. Theol. 2:959; Neue evangel. Kirchenzeitung, 1882, No. 36; Luthardt, Lutherische Kirchenzeitung, 1882, col. 810. (B.P.)
