Born on December 13, 1854, in Hoogeveen, Drenthe, Holland, Herman Bavinck was the son of the Reverend Jan Bavinck, a leading figure in the secession from the State Church of the Netherlands in 1834. After theological study in Kampen, and at the University of Leiden, he graduated in 1880, and served as the minister of the congregation at Franeker, Friesland, for a year. According to his biographers, large crowds gathered to hear his outstanding exposition of the Scriptures.In 1882, he was appointed a Professor of theology at Kampen, and taught there from 1883 until his appointment, in 1902, to the chair of systematic Theology in the Free University of Amsterdam, where he succeeded the great Abraham Kuyper, then recently appointed Prime Minister of the Netherlands. In this capacity — an appointment he had twice before declined — Bavinck served until his death in 1921.
This is the first book that I have read on the economy of the Trinity. I was throughly impressed by Bavinck's explanation and the devotional way that he was able to explain and even apply this profound doctrine. To cap off an already great work, Bavinck then explains why it is necessary to confess a divine Trinity. Fantastic work, would recommend.
Relatively short introduction to the doctrine of the Trinity. Enjoyable conclusion highlighting what believers mean when we confess, "I believe in God, the Father, the Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only-begotten Son, our Lord. And I believe also in the Holy Spirit." Bavinck states, "Thus the confession of the trinity is the sum of Christian religion. Without it neither the creation nor the redemption nor the sanctification can be purely maintained...We can truly proclaim the mighty works of God only when we recognize and confess them as the one great work of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In the love of the Father, the grace of the Son, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit is contained the whole salvation of men."