RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA
Rode Roerdam
forced to modify the radicalism of his theories. He continued his advocacy of rationalism in the journal published by him under the successive names of Predigerlitteratur (1810-14), Neue und neueste Predigerlitteratur (1815-19), and Kritische Prediger-Bibliothek (1820-48). He was at the same time involved in polemics with all who differed from him, until the untenability of the position of popular rationalism was effectually shown by Hase after a bitter controversy. Rohr likewise savagely assailed the school of Scheiermacher after the death of its founder. The character of Rohr, both as a theologian and as a man, is mirrored in his sermons, which appeared in several collections, as in his Christologische Predigten (2 vols., Weimar, 1831-37), as well as in the Magazin fiir christliche Prediger, which he edited after 1828. He also wrote Lehrbuch der Anthropologie fiir Volksschulen und den Selbstunterricht (Zeitz, 1815); Palastina oder historisch-geographische Beschreibung des judischen Landes zur Zeit Jesu (1816); Luthers Leben und Wirken (1818); Kleine theologische Schriften (Schleusingen, 1841); and Die gute Sache des Protestantismus (Leipsic, 1842).
(G. FRANKf.) Bibliography: B. Hain, Neue Nekrolog der Deutschen, xxvi. 1 (1848), 451; G. Frank, Geschichte der protestantischen Theologie, iii. 368, Leipsic, 1875; ABB, xxx. 92.
ROELL, rul, HERMANN ALEXANDER: Dutch Reformed; b. at Dolbergh, Westphalia, 1653; d. at Amsterdam July 12, 1718. He was educated at Hamm (1669-70), Utrecht (1670-71), and Groningen (1671-72), but he was forced by the siege to leave the latter city, and remained in Germany and Switzerland until 1674, when he resumed his studies at Hamm (1674-75), completing them at Utrecht. He then lived for a time at Leyden, after which he was chaplain of the Princess Palatine Elizabeth (1679-80) and of Albertina Agnes, widow of William Frederick, stadtholder of Friesland (1680-82). For four years he was pastor at De venter, but in 1686 was appointed professor of theology at Franeker, where he remained until 1704, when he accepted a similar appointment at Utrecht. Toward the end of his life he resided in Amsterdam. Roell belonged to the school of Cocceius and Descartes, and as a rigid critic, holding that reason could not be in conflict with revelation, he sought to harmonize the two, maintaining that revelation had been given to supplement the inadequacy of reason. Working along the lines of his inaugural address at Franeker, De religione naturali (Franeker, 1686), Roell became the object of severe criticism, particularly from the rigidly Calvinistic Ulrich Huber, professor of jurisprudence. Before the controversy was ended by the command of the estates of Friesland, Roell, who was supported by his Franeker colleagues J. van der Waeyen and R. ab Andala, had written, in reply to the critiques of Huber, his Kort onderzoek over de twaalf stellingen van Ulr. Huber (Franeker, 1687) and Vindicice examinis brevis duodecim positionum Ulr. Huberi (1687). Meanwhile his deference to the importance of reason and his non-Calvinistic views on the eternal generation of the Son had aroused suspicion. He taught that "generation" here implied merely that X.— 5
the second person of the Trinity possessed the same nature and essence as the first, coexisting with the Father from eternity, appearing in the flesh, and revealing the glory of the Father in his works. The terms "Father" and "Son," moreover, connoted simply an extremely close association of the two, the relation between the divine sender and the divine envoy. He also taught that the earthly death of the righteous satisfies divine justice and is sufficient to obtain forgiveness; and at the same time he was suspected of entertaining heretical views on the eternity of the divine decree and the divine obligation to punish sin, as well as on satisfaction, justification, and other doctrines.
These views were assailed by Roell's colleague, C. Vitringa, in 1689, whereupon Roell defended a series of Theses theologicce de generatione Filii et morte fidelium (Franeker, 1689), following this up with the publication of his own two dissertations De generatione Filii (1689) in answer to the strictures of Vitringa. The controversy was finally ended in 1691 and Roell, to prevent any further misunderstanding, wrote the Kort en eenvoudig berigt van het verschil over de geboorte des Soons (Amsterdam, 1691), while the senate forbade all professors, pastors, and ecclesiastical bodies to occupy themselves longer with the matter. Despite all this, the Synod of South Holland condemned the teachings of Roell in 1691, similar courses being pursued by the synods of North Holland, Utrecht, and Groningen. Even with Roell's death bitterness against him did not disappear, for until the end of the eighteenth century some synods issued an annual warning against his doctrines. At the same time, though condemned by his church, Roell enjoyed the support of the civil authorities, and, thanks to his gentle disposition, had an honorable career as a teacher. Among his works not already mentioned, special allusion may be made to his De theologice et theologice supranaturalis prw naturali prmstantia (Utrecht, 1704); Commentarius in epistolam ad Ephesios (2 parts, 1715-31); and Explicatio cathecheseos Heidelbergensis (1728), as well as to his editions of the writings of A. Gulichius, A. Rouze, and T. Nemethi.
(S. D. van Veen.)
Bibliography: A Vita is in Bibliotheca Bremensis, Class II., pp. 707-723, Bremen, 1760-66; the Judicium ecclesiasticum was published at Leyden, 1723; B. Glasius, Godgeleerd Nederland, iii. 189-197, Bois-le-Duc, 1851- 1856; W. B. S. Boeles, Frieslands Hoogeschool en het Rijks Athenaeum te Franeker, ii. 309-318, Leeuwarden, 1889.
ROERDAM, rur'dom, THOMAS SKAT: Danish bishop; b. at Laastrup (15 m. n. of Viborg) Feb. 11, 1832; d. at Copenhagen Sept. 25, 1909. Having acquired the degree of B.A. in 1848, he continued study under his father and at the University of Copenhagen (candidate in theology, 1855), specializing in the Semitic languages; as a result he published Paul of Telia's Judges and Ruth in the Syriac from the Septuagint (Libri Judicum et Ruth secundum versionem Syriaco-Hexaplarem, Copenhagen, 1859-61), with Greek translation, notes, and dissertation. During 1858-69 he resided in Copenhagen, studying and teaching, in 1866 publishing Historisk Oplysning om den hellige Skrift, and in 1868 Den kristelige Lcere fremstillet i Sammenhamg. He was
Boeubli Kog-ers