Adrianus van Selms, deeltydse dosent 1938-1962

Abstract

Adrianus van Selms, part-time lecturer 1938-1962 Van Selms came to Pretoria in 1938 as a senior lecturer in Semitic Languages in the Faculty of Arts. At the same time he accepted an appointment in the Faculty of Theology as a part-time lecturer in the one-year course, Biblical Archaeology. Students thus enjoyed his inspiring academic influence for a considerable period of their sojourn at the University. In this article particular attention is given to Van Selms’s view of Holy Scripture and the way in which he integrated faith and knowledge. It is also shown that, from the sixties onward, ecumenical theology tends to become the most prominent feature in his theological work, with little attention left for salvation history, an important aspect in his earlier work. The esteem in which he is held by our Faculty is shown by the dedication of HTS 41/2 (May 1985) to him, and by the establishment of the Van Selms Reading Room in which a part of his valuable library is kept.