Contact: John Couretas, Acton Institute, 616-454-3080

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Nov. 15, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- The first full-length English-language publication of Abraham Kuyper's writings on common grace is slated to be released during the annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS) in San Francisco (Nov. 16-18). Wisdom & Wonder: Common Grace in Science & Art explores the views of the Dutch theologian on the relationship between the Christian faith, culture, and God's preserving work in the world.

"The Evangelical Theological Society meeting is a natural place to present this text," said Dr. Stephen J. Grabill, a co-editor of the book and director of programs at the Acton Institute. "Kuyper's influence on evangelicalism has been significant, and this work on common grace is critically important to ongoing evangelical engagement of culture." The ETS, founded in 1949, is the largest evangelical scholarly society in North America and is focused on fostering "conservative Biblical scholarship by providing a medium for the oral exchange and written expression of thought and research in the general field of the theological disciplines as centered in the Scriptures."

Chuck Colson, the founder of Prison Fellowship and the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, is a leading figure responsible for communicating Kuyper's ideas into the broader evangelical world. "Abraham Kuyper was a profound theologian, an encyclopedic thinker, and a deeply spiritual man who believed that it is the believer's task 'to know God in all his works,'" said Colson. Referring to the new publication of Wisdom & Wonder, Colson said, "In a day when secular science is seeking to establish hegemony over all knowing, and when postmodern art is threatening to bring an end to art, Kuyper's solid, Biblical insights can help to restore perspective and sanity to these two critical areas of human life."

The book is available for pre-order now on the Christian's Library Press website for those not able to attend the ETS meeting. Wisdom & Wonder will be available for purchase in stores and online beginning Monday, Nov. 21.

In addition to the book's introduction at the ETS meeting, Christian's Library Press, the publisher of the book, will also be hosting a launch event in Grand Rapids on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 10 a.m. at Calvin Theological Seminary. The Grand Rapids event, "Another Amazing Grace," will feature a talk by Dr. Vincent E. Bacote, a professor of theology at Wheaton College and the author of the introduction to Wisdom & Wonder. The event at Calvin Seminary will also feature a Q&A panel discussion with Bacote, Dr. Nelson Kloosterman (the volume's translator), and Dr. Mike Wittmer of Grand Rapids Theological Seminary.

The publication of Wisdom & Wonder represents the first published English-language selection from the broader project led by the Acton Institute and Kuyper College in collaboration with other institutions to publish a complete translation of Abraham Kuyper's three-volume work on common grace, totaling over 1,700 pages. Volume one of Common Grace is scheduled to appear in fall 2012.

About the Author: Abraham Kuyper (1837-1920) is a significant figure in the history of the Netherlands and modern Protestant theology. A prolific intellectual, he founded a political party and a university, and served as the prime minister of the Netherlands from 1901-1905. His enduring passion was to develop a theology for the general public, particularly through his extensive elaboration of the doctrine of common grace.

Wisdom & Wonder: Common Grace in Science & Art is available at www.clpress.com or by calling (616) 454-3080. The cost is $24.99 for hardcover and $14.99 for paperback.

About the publisher: Founded in 1979 by Gerard Berghoef and Lester DeKoster, Christian's Library Press has been committed to publishing influential texts on church leadership, the vocation of work, and stewardship for more than 30 years. For more information about Christian's Library Press, visit www.clpress.com.

Christian's Library Press is an imprint of the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion & Liberty. The Acton Institute is a nonprofit, ecumenical think tank working internationally to "promote a free and virtuous society characterized by individual liberty and sustained by religious principles." For more on the Acton Institute, please visit www.acton.org.