The following is a review by Henry J. Hoekstra of Herman Bavinck's Biblical and Religious Psychology (Jenison: Reformed Free Publishing Association, 2024). This review was originally published in 17,2 (2025), p.261-263 of the Puritan Reformed Journal (PRJ). Read more from the PRJ here and subscribe here.

Herman Bavinck. Biblical and Religious Psychology. Translated by Herman Hanko. Revised by Annemarieke Ryskamp. Edited and translated by Gregory Parker, Jr. Reformed Free Publishing Association, 2024. 288 pp. Hardcover. $39.95. 

Biblical and Religious Psychology provides a view of Herman Bavinck’s mature grasp concerning Scripture’s testimony of man’s psychosomatic unity and God’s revelation being mediated to humanity psychologically. Many understand God’s revelation to humanity mediated by Scripture and end at a mechanical understanding of His revelation. Bavinck moves to a holistic and organic understanding of God’s revelation psychologically, mediated by the Holy Spirit, without neglecting Scripture as the foundation or letting experience come first. Thus, this book is for anyone looking for an experiential understanding of the doctrine of humanity.

Today, many in the church do not give psychology its due respect. They believe that a theological understanding of Scripture is sufficient, and there is no need for a psychological study of man. There are others outside the church who neglect the Scriptures. They say that the Bible is outdated and has little to contribute to psychology. Bavinck takes a different route. Scripture is his foundation for psychology; as such, psychology has a right to exist as an aid for religious life. Thus, he sets forth on a quest to understand humanity as a psychosomatic whole.

Salvation is given entirely by the work and power of the Holy Spirit, and yet there is a psychological dimension to it. Bavinck answers questions as to how the Holy Spirit mediates this salvation to a person in his daily experience. For Bavinck, this study is complementary to a theological understanding. For example, conversion can be explained psychologically. T he psychology of conversion is simply an observation and description of the personal and relational change that takes place in the life of a given person upon coming to repentance and saving faith. Bavinck gives clarity to this when he states, “The work of the Holy Spirit is mediated by the way of psychological structures and capacities—soul, mind, will, affections—that are a part of the image of God in us” (xxxi). The self-consciousness within every human—the understanding of myself as an “I” between God, the world, and one’s fellow man—is our psychological experience. The Bible is deeply psychological, and for too long this has been neglected, to the  detriment of the church on the grounds that a dogmatic approach is opposed to an empirical approach (in reality, the two approaches do not necessarily conflict).

The first part of the book deals with biblical psychology. Here Bavinck uses Scripture to gain a perception of “human psychology only in terms of human experience on its own, albeit biblically understood” so that we, today, might reap its benefits (xxxiii). The second part of the book, religious psychology, focuses on psychology in terms of man’s experience of the soul in relationship with God. Addressed here is humanity’s understanding of self-consciousness or religious disposition as it is experienced in a relationship with God.

Biblical and Religious Psychology is worth reading, not only for the academic, but also for the layperson who desires to know more of the general working of his own soul. It is especially important for the Christian school teacher, parents of covenant children, and covenant children themselves. It gives a biblically-sound understanding of psychology and the experiences of the Christian life from childhood, to adolescence, and through adulthood. Christian readers will gain a deep and rich understanding of their spiritual life. The book can help identify where they are on the right track, where they need work, and where the solution can be found. Bavinck’s Biblical and Religious Psychology is worth reading because it gives attention and deep understanding to a subject that has been muddied by secular psychology— which has jettisoned a scriptural basis—as well as by biblicists who reject psychology as a field of study to be respected in its own right.

When we think of psychology, we primarily think of humanity apart from God and the mental issues that we suffer on a day-to-day basis. Bavinck’s route is different. He places humanity in a relationship with God (both the believer and the unbeliever are in this relationship, though in different ways). Bavinck assumes all people are moral and religious. There is, therefore, no true understanding of human psychology and the details of individual psychology apart from God. All of humanity has a religious disposition that worships the true God or worships something else in His place. Often, Bavinck quotes Augustine’s famous saying that cuts to the heart of our problem of worship: “Our hearts are restless until they find rest in God.” This is not only important for a right understanding of the body-soul relationship as a psychosomatic whole but has an apologetic emphasis as well.

Bavinck’s work on psychology is a breath of fresh air in a day and age when God is often ignored, and man is often considered to be the center of this subject. These articles not only serve the church in their understanding of psychology, but they also contain a missionary emphasis for the lost world that shows them their great need to be made whole in Jesus Christ as they come to a true understanding of themselves. Bavinck recaptures the psychological wealth within the Scriptures, writing in an interesting, concise, and readable manner. As he states, “No book reveals to us the nature of man as the Scriptures do, and not even an author such as Shakespeare, who was a master at understanding human beings, can be of such service to us in studying humanity” (83).

There is much to be gained from this book for teenagers, parents, ministers, educators, psychologists, and counselors. Bavinck understood psychology, using the Scriptures as his foundation as God’s Word sheds light on the study of the soul. This work is necessary reading for all those who are curious about their own inner soul life and those who are helping others navigate theirs. Bavinck helps the reader understand psychology in theory and, most importantly, in the daily experience of the soul. He helps the reader understand how God applies salvation by the Holy Spirit. The reader can hardly keep himself from breaking out in praise by giving all the glory to God for the intricate, organic design and detail of human psychology. While Bavinck’s writing is often deep, he always adds a devotional tone that sparks worship and praise. The reader will, without a doubt, be moved to worship God as he grows in deeper knowledge of the artistry behind human design. Humanity truly is fearfully and wonderfully made.

—Henry J. Hoekstra

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