THE NEW SCHAFF-HERZOG
in 1749 he received a call to Rotterdam. In 1770 he became also professor honorarius at the university and lectured on church history and archeology.
In 1767 there appeared at Paris a political novel Bclisaire, by J. F. de Marmontel, in which the author defended not only entire freedom of religion, but preached the doctrine that it is of no consequence what a man believes if he only lives in a virtuous manner. The work caused a sensation, and after being translated into Dutch in 1768, was attacked by Hofstede in his De Belisarius van den Heer Marmontel beoordeeld (Rotterdam, 1769). He calls Marmontel a Pelagian naturalist, because he admits the truth of revelation, but denies its necessity for salvation; because he taught that all virtuous pagans are saved; and because, according to his view, reason is entirely sufficient for salvation. He appealed to Scripture against Marmontel and undertook to prove that a closer investigation would leave little of the virtues of those pagans who have been praised most. Hofstede's work appeared in three editions in one year, and a German translation was published in Leipsic and Wesel. Being attacked by liberal theologians, especially by the Remonstrants, for statements concerning the sins of Socrates and other pagans, he now found it necessary to combat with all his powers the views of the Liberals. He contributed considerably to De Nederlandsche Bibliotheek, an orthodox periodical, founded in 1774. His principal work is Byzonderheden over de Heilige Schrift (3 parts, 1766-75), in which he shows himself a keen exegete, a good scholar, and a capable archeologist. In Godsgeleerde en Geschiedkundige Verhandeling over het klein getal der egte Martelaars (appended to the second part of his Byzonderheden) he tried to prove that in the first centuries as well as in later times there were few who revealed the true character of a martyr. In Oost- Indische kerkzaken (2 arts, 1779-80) he developed a good plan for presenting Christianity to the inhabitants of the East-Indian colonies.
(S. D. van Veen.)
Bibliography: J. P. de Bie, Het leven en de werken van Petrus Hofstede, Rotterdam, 1899. Consult also C. Sepp, Johann Stinstra en zijn ti]d, 2 vols., Amsterdam, 1865- 1866; J. Hartog, in Geloof en Vrijheid, 1875; S. D. van Veen, in the Historische Avonden collection of the Groningen Historical Society, 1896, pp. 242-264.
HOFSTEDE DE GROOT, PETRUS: A founder of the Groningen school of theology (see Groningen School); b. at Leer, in East Friesland (38 m. e. of Groningen), Oct. 8, 1802; d. at Groningen Dec. 5, 1886. He was educated at the University of Groningen, and in 1826 he became preacher of the Reformed congregation in Ulrum, province of Groningen. In 1829 he was appointed professor at Groningen as successor of Clarisse. With his colleagues, J. F. van Oordt and L. G. Pareau, he founded the Groningen School (q.v.), and edited the periodical Waarheid in Liefde, to which he contributed numerous articles of a scientific and devotional nature.
Although De Groot adhered to the reality of the facts of salvation and laid all emphasis upon the person, the work, and the life of Christ, looking
upon him as the center of universal history, he was nevertheless in open contradiction with the doctrine of the Church in important articles of belief. He qualified the doctrine of the absolute inspiration of the Bible, denied the divinity of Christ and the atoning power of his blood, and rejected the dogma of the Trinity. The orthodox party protested against his teachings, but the synod took the part of De Groot, and the number of his adherents among preachers and members of congregations increased steadily. The orthodox opposition, however, also became stronger and stronger. It can not be denied that the Groningen School paved the way for " modern theology," but De Groot was not able to follow it like some of his associates. He was too mystically inclined to find peace in its intellectualism, and his conservative spirit rebelled against its destructive criticism; but the influence of the modern tendency increased in such a way that many of his disciples and adherents forsook him. In this way De Groot was brought into closer contact with the orthodox.
Of his numerous works may be mentioned Epistula ad Hebrceos cum Paulinis epistolis comparata (Utrecht, 1825) and De Clemente Alexandrino, philosopho Christiano (Groningen, 1826). He reedited Hugo Grotius' Adnotationes in Novum Testamentum (9 parts, Groningen, 1826-34). The fruits of his studies in church history were: Geschiedenis van de Broederenkerk te Groningen (Groningen, 1832) and, in his old age, De oud-katholieke beweging in het licht der Kerkgeschiedenis (Groningen, 1877). Of text-books he published Institutio Theologice naturalis sive disquisitio philosophica de Deo hominisque cum Deo coniunctione (Groningen, 1834; 4th ed., 1861); Institutiones historiw ecclesioz Christianas (Groningen, 1835; 2d ed., 1852, under the title Lineamenta historic ecclesice Christiana); Overzicht der Bijbelsche en Kerkelijke Godgeleerdheid (Groningen, 1856). With Pareau he published Encyclopaedia theologi Christiani (Groningen, 1840; 3d ed., 1851), and Compendium dogmaticce et apologetica Christiana (Groningen, 1840; 3d ed., 1848). For a larger circle of readers he published Voorlezingen over de geschiedenis der opvoeding des menschdoms door God tot op de komst van Jezus Christus (2 vols., Groningen, 1846; 3d ed., 1855), to which, in 1885, was added a third part under the title Gods operibaring de bron van Godsdienst en Wijsbegeerte voor het menschdom (2d revised ed., 1885). He expounded the principles of the Groningen School in De Groninger Godgeleerden en hunne eigenaardigheid (Groningen, 1855; Germ, transl., Gotha, 1863). In reply to Isaak da Costa's attack on the Groningen School he wrote De benchten omtrent de Groninger Godgeleerde School van I. da Costa toegelicht (Groningen, 1848). His views on " modern theology " are found in his works Over moderne theologie . (2d ed., Groningen, 1863) and De moderne theologie in Nederland, volgens de hoo/dwerken harer beroemdste voorstanders (Groningen, 1870; Germ, transl. by W. Krafft, Bonn, 1870). (S. D. van Veen.)
Bibliography: The autobiographic Yijftig jaren in de Theologie, Groningen, 1872; J. B. F. Heerspink, Dr. P Hofstede de Groot's leven en werken, Groningen, 1898; H. G. Braam, in Geloof en Vrijheid, pp. 253-313, Rotterdam, 1887; J. Offerhaus. in Levensbcrichten der afuesturven