JOHANNES BOGERMAN (1576–1637)

Johannes Bogerman is best known for his chairmanship of the renowned Synod of Dort (1618–1619) and for his active role in the “Statenvertaling” (i.e., a Dutch translation of the Bible comparable to the King James Version in English). In reality, however, his role in the Second Refor-mation is much more pervasive.

Like most of the Dutch Second Reformation divines, Bogerman was highly educated. He pursued theological studies throughout the 1590s at nearly all of the leading schools of his day (including Franeker, Heidelberg, Geneva, Zurich, Lausanne, Oxford, and Cambridge). Happily, the Lord blessed these studies abundantly in Bogerman’s life.

Bogerman was ordained to the ministry at Sneek in 1599. His second pastorate was Enkhuizen (1603) and his third, Leeuwaarden (1604). Throughout these pastorates, Bogerman manifested qualities of leadership that led to his being chosen clerk or president at several provincial synods. Due to leadership and language capabilities, he was increasingly drawn into the Reformed debate with the Remonstrants (followers of Arminius).

Hence it was no surprise that Bogerman was chosen as chairman of the 1618–19 Synod of Dort. In this capacity, he strongly advocated the need for a new Bible translation. At his suggestion, the apocryphal books were to be included in the translation and the most common designation for God in the Old Testament was to be translated as HEERE. Bogerman himself was given a primary role in the Old Testament translation.

Subsequently, Bogerman’s firm hand in guiding Synod’s discussions with the Remonstrants (Episcopius et al.) is well-known. When the Remonstrants attempted repeatedly to stall Synod and use political machinations, Bogerman’s patience finally came to an end. In a burst of emotional energy he commanded Episcopius and his followers to leave, so that Synod could move on in formulating its Biblical/doctrinal formulations. In these formulations, Bogerman diplomatically led several groups of varying Reformed emphases and methodologies to unite in the signing of the beautifully articulated Canons as we know them today. So widespread was his influence that Bogerman has been called “the personification of the Canons.”

In 1625, Bogerman nearly died of sickness, but the Lord graciously healed him to such a degree that he was chosen chairman for the Old Testament translation (to be called “Statenvertaling”) only one year later. This translation consumed a great deal of his time from 1626 to its completion on September 1, 1632.

Bogerman accepted the professorial office in 1636 at Franeker, but died shortly thereafter in 1637. He left behind surprisingly little in writing, but his sermons and life reveal a profound commitment to the historic doctrines of free grace as evidenced in Reformed Orthodoxy. He particularly emphasized predestination as a rich, comforting, and “lovely” doctrine. Unfortunately, as with most of the “Nadere Reformatie” divines, almost nothing is available on Bogerman in English.

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