HOFSTEDE DE GROOT

hofstede de groot, petrus (1802-1886), dutch theologian, was born at leer in east friesland, prussia, on the 8th of october 1802, and was educated at the gymnasium and university of groningen. for three years (1826-1829) he was pastor of the reformed church at ulrum, and then entered upon his lifelong duties as professor of theology at groningen. with his colleagues l. g. pareau, j. f. van vordt, and w. muurling he edited from 1837 to 1872 the _waarheid in liefde_. in this review and in his numerous books he vigorously upheld the orthodox faith against the dutch "modern theology" movement. many of his works were written in latin, including _disputatio, qua ep. ad hebraeos cum paulin. epistolis comparatur_ (1826), _institutiones historiae ecclesiae_ (1835), _institutio theologiae naturalis_ (1842), _encyclopaedia theologi christiani_ (1844). others, in dutch, were: _the divine education of humanity up to the coming of jesus christ_ (3 vols., 1846), _the nature of the gospel ministry_ (1858), _the "modern theology" of the netherlands_ (1869), _the old catholic movement_ (1877). he became professor emeritus in 1872, and died at groningen on the 5th of december 1886.