Albert M. Wolters
Encyclopedia
Albert Wolters is a professor of Religion & Theology, and Classical Studies at Redeemer University College
in Ancaster, Ontario
(near Hamilton
) and has provided expert commentary for the Copper Scroll
in the Encyclopedia of the Dead Sea Scrolls (ISBN 0-19-508450-0), and also in a Nova
documentary.
After World War II
, his family left the Netherlands for Canada. He studied in the preseminary program at Calvin College
, despite being an agnostic at the time of his application. While in the program, he converted to Christianity, citing one of his professors, H. Evan Runner
, as a major influence. As part of his conversion, he concluded that his calling was not towards the ministry, but towards philosophy. Consequently he returned to the Netherlands and studied the history of philosophy at the Free University
in Amsterdam, where he wrote a dissertation on Plotinus
before moving back to Canada.
His first teaching job was in philosophy at the Institute for Christian Studies
in Toronto. Notes from his lectures there were transformed into Creation Regained (1985), which became heavily influential in reformational philosophy
and was successful in South Korea. From there his research moved towards biblical studies, and he was hired by Redeemer College, a university he had previous associations with. There his work has focused on the Dead Sea Scrolls
, particularly the Copper Scroll. His current projects include work on the book of Zechariah
.
He is fluent in Dutch, Frisian, German, English, Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic,and other languages.
based on Reformed theology. The book draws from the philosophy of Herman Dooyeweerd
and Abraham Kuyper
, as well as the Bible
. It was published by Eerdmans Publishing Corporation, first in 1985, and again in 2005.
The book makes the argument that it is necessary for a Christian to have a Christian worldview. A worldview is the various preconceived notions that all human beings hold. Wolters believes that a Christian worldview needs to stem directly out of the Bible. From this worldview, a Christian philosophy
can be developed for the sake of examining the world through a Christian perspective. The worldview that Wolters presents is from a specifically Calvinist
angle.
Redeemer University College
Redeemer University College is an undergraduate Christian Liberal Arts and Science University located in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1982, Redeemer stands in the Reformed Tradition and offers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education, and Bachelor of Science degrees.-History:The college...
in Ancaster, Ontario
Ancaster, Ontario
Ancaster is a picturesque and historic community located on the Niagara escarpment, within the greater area of the city of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. This former town was founded officially in 1793 and was one of the oldest European communities established in present day Ontario along with Windsor...
(near Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
) and has provided expert commentary for the Copper Scroll
Copper Scroll
The Copper Scroll is one of the Dead Sea Scrolls found in Cave 3 near Khirbet Qumran, but differs significantly from the others. Whereas the other scrolls are written on parchment or papyrus, this scroll is written on metal: copper mixed with about 1 percent tin...
in the Encyclopedia of the Dead Sea Scrolls (ISBN 0-19-508450-0), and also in a Nova
NOVA (TV series)
Nova is a popular science television series from the U.S. produced by WGBH Boston. It can be seen on the Public Broadcasting Service in the United States, and in more than 100 other countries...
documentary.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, his family left the Netherlands for Canada. He studied in the preseminary program at Calvin College
Calvin College
Calvin College is a comprehensive liberal arts college located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1876, Calvin College is an educational institution of the Christian Reformed Church and stands in the Reformed tradition of Protestantism...
, despite being an agnostic at the time of his application. While in the program, he converted to Christianity, citing one of his professors, H. Evan Runner
H. Evan Runner
Howard Evan Runner, often referred to as H. Evan Runner, was professor of philosophy at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA from 1951 until his retirement in 1981....
, as a major influence. As part of his conversion, he concluded that his calling was not towards the ministry, but towards philosophy. Consequently he returned to the Netherlands and studied the history of philosophy at the Free University
Vrije Universiteit
The Vrije Universiteit is a university in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The Dutch name is often abbreviated as VU and in English the university uses the name "VU University". The university is located on a compact urban campus in the southern part of Amsterdam in the Buitenveldert district...
in Amsterdam, where he wrote a dissertation on Plotinus
Plotinus
Plotinus was a major philosopher of the ancient world. In his system of theory there are the three principles: the One, the Intellect, and the Soul. His teacher was Ammonius Saccas and he is of the Platonic tradition...
before moving back to Canada.
His first teaching job was in philosophy at the Institute for Christian Studies
Institute for Christian Studies
The Institute for Christian Studies Toronto, Ontario is one of several unrelated institutions bearing that name.ICS Toronto is an independent graduate school of inter-disciplinary philosophy. At ICS, Junior Members and Senior members take part in shared learning through participatory seminars,...
in Toronto. Notes from his lectures there were transformed into Creation Regained (1985), which became heavily influential in reformational philosophy
Reformational philosophy
Reformational philosophy is a Neo-Calvinistic movement pioneered by Herman Dooyeweerd and D. H. Th. Vollenhoven that seeks to develop philosophical thought in a radically Protestant Christian direction.- Historical overview :...
and was successful in South Korea. From there his research moved towards biblical studies, and he was hired by Redeemer College, a university he had previous associations with. There his work has focused on the Dead Sea Scrolls
Dead Sea scrolls
The Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of 972 texts from the Hebrew Bible and extra-biblical documents found between 1947 and 1956 on the northwest shore of the Dead Sea, from which they derive their name...
, particularly the Copper Scroll. His current projects include work on the book of Zechariah
Book of Zechariah
The Book of Zechariah is the penultimate book of the twelve minor prophets in the Hebrew and Christian Bible, attributed to the prophet Zechariah.-Historical context:...
.
He is fluent in Dutch, Frisian, German, English, Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic,and other languages.
Creation Regained
Creation Regained is the main book that Dr Wolters has released. The book focuses on establishing and developing a Christian worldviewChristian worldview
Christian worldview refers to the framework of ideas and beliefs through which a Christian individual, group or culture interprets the world and interacts with it. Different denominations of Christianity have varying worldviews...
based on Reformed theology. The book draws from the philosophy of Herman Dooyeweerd
Herman Dooyeweerd
Herman Dooyeweerd was a Dutch juridical scholar by training, who by vocation was a philosopher and the founder of the philosophy of the cosmonomic idea. He received early support for his work from his brother-in-law D. H. Th. Vollenhoven...
and Abraham Kuyper
Abraham Kuyper
Abraham Kuijper generally known as Abraham Kuyper, was a Dutch politician, journalist, statesman and theologian...
, as well as the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
. It was published by Eerdmans Publishing Corporation, first in 1985, and again in 2005.
The book makes the argument that it is necessary for a Christian to have a Christian worldview. A worldview is the various preconceived notions that all human beings hold. Wolters believes that a Christian worldview needs to stem directly out of the Bible. From this worldview, a Christian philosophy
Christian philosophy
Christian philosophy may refer to any development in philosophy that is characterised by coming from a Christian tradition.- Origins of Christian philosophy :...
can be developed for the sake of examining the world through a Christian perspective. The worldview that Wolters presents is from a specifically Calvinist
Neo-Calvinism
Neo-Calvinism, a form of Dutch Calvinism, is the movement initiated by the theologian and former Dutch prime minister Abraham Kuyper.- Introduction :...
angle.
Publications
- Plotinus: "On Eros." A Detailed Exegetical Study of Enneads III, 5 (Toronto: Wedge, 1984).
- Creation Regained: Biblical Basics for a Reformational Worldview (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1985; 2nd edition 2005), ISBN 0-8028-2969-4
- The Copper Scroll: Overview, Text and Translation (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1996).
- The Song of the Valiant Woman: Studies in the Interpretation of Proverbs 31:10-31 (Carlisle UK: Paternoster Press).
- "The Importance of H. Evan Runner," Comment 21.1 (2003) 20-26. Reprinted as "Runner's Impact on the Academy and Beyond: Personal Reflections," Pro Rege 32 (2003) 1-7.
- "Palaeography and Literary Structure as Guides to Reading the Copper Scroll," in Copper Scroll Studies (ed. George J. Brooke and Philip R. Davies; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 2002) [appeared in 2003] 311-333.
- A Semantic Study of authentes and its Derivatives," Journal of Greco-Roman Christianity and Judaism 1 (2004) 145-175.
- Reading the Gospels Canonically: A Methodological Dialogue with Brevard Childs," in Reading the Gospels Today (ed. Stanley E. Porter; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004) 179- 192.
- Zechariah 14 and Biblical Theology: Patristic and Contemporary Case Studies," in Out of Egypt: Biblical Theology and Biblical Interpretation (Scripture and Hermeneutics Series, Vol. 5; ed. Craig BartholomewCraig BartholomewCraig Bartholomew is the H. Evan Runner Professor of philosophy at Redeemer University College. He has published a great number of works, and is involved in a number of different Academic communities...
et al.; Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004) 261-285.
- Co-editor of Herman Dooyeweerd, Reformation and Scholasticism in Philosophy. Volume I: The Greek Prelude (trans. Ray Togtman; Lewiston/Queenston/Lampeter: Edwin Mellen Press, 2004). I served as editor of the extensive Greek quotations.
- "Text and Textual Criticism" in Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books (Downers Grove IL: InterVarsity, 2005) 954-960.
Others
- Ancient Refuge in the Holy Land Nova special in which Wolters provided expert commentary on the Copper ScrollCopper ScrollThe Copper Scroll is one of the Dead Sea Scrolls found in Cave 3 near Khirbet Qumran, but differs significantly from the others. Whereas the other scrolls are written on parchment or papyrus, this scroll is written on metal: copper mixed with about 1 percent tin...
.