Cornelis Van Dam


Cornelis Van Dam is a Canadian Old Testament scholar. He was professor of Old Testament at the Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary, from 1981 to 2011.
Van Dam holds degrees from Wilfrid Laurier University (BA), Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary (BD), Knox College at the University of Toronto (ThM), and the Theological University of Kampen (ThD).

Biography

Van Dam graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University, with a BA in 1968. After a memorable year at Westminster Theological Seminary, he transferred to the newly founded Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary from which he graduated with a BD degree in 1971.
He served in the pastoral ministry of the Canadian Reformed Churches from 1971 to 1981 in Neerlandia, Alberta, Brampton, Ontario, and Surrey, British Columbia. In the meantime he continued his studies and graduated from Knox College at the University of Toronto with a MTh degree in 1980. In 1986 he earned his doctoral degree, ThD, from the Theological University of Kampen/Utrecht.
His time in the parsonage sparked his interest in the Old Testament roots of the offices of elder and deacon eventually resulting in the publication of and . His interests in what the Bible says about government and politics got him involved in, among other endeavors, as a national board member of and as a speaker on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on a biblical perspective on, as well as, on . This interest resulted in the book .
As an academic, he also pursued his interests in topics related to the priesthood and Genesis 1 and 2, the sacrifices and feasts of ancient Israel and their ongoing relevance for Christians, and with other research still ongoing.
In 2011, a Festschrift was published in his honor. . Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2011. It includes contributions from Hans Boersma, Willem VanGemeren and Al Wolters.

Selected publications

Authored books and monographs

  • . Barrhead, AB; Hamilton, ON: Providence Books & Press; Lucerna, 2024.
  • Hamilton, ON; Carman, MB: Lucerna; Reformed Perspective Press, 2023.
  • . Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2021.
  • . With a contribution by Arjan de Visser. Lucerna; Reformed Perspective Press: Hamilton, ON; Carman, MB, 2021.
  • . Winnipeg: Premier Publishing, 2017.
  • Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 2016.
  • . Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2011.
  • . Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R, 2009.
  • . Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 1997
  • . Winnipeg: Premier, 1996.

Articles and Essays

  • on SBL’s Bible Odyssey website.
  • “Children, Passover, and the Lord’s Supper.”, edited by William den Hollander and Gerhard H. Visscher, 73-102. Hamilton, ON: Lucerna, 2019.
  • “Working Politically and Socially in Anticipation of Christ’s Coming.” In, edited by Theodore G. Van Raalte, 54-69. Lucerna; Pickwick Publications: Hamilton, ON; Eugene, OR, 2016.
  • “Inter-religious Relations and the Challenge of Multiculturalism: Some Biblical Principles” in Hallvard Hagelia and Markus Zehnder, eds.,, 31-50. London, UK: Bloomsbury T&T Clark, 2017.
  • “Interpreting Historical Narrative: Truth Claim, Truth Value, and Historicity.” In, edited by Mees te Velde and Gerhard H. Visscher, 83-115. Lucerna; Wipf & Stock: Hamilton, ON; Eugene, OR, 2014.
  • "Divination, Magic.” In, edited by Mark J. Boda and J. Gordon McConville, 159-62. Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP Academic, 2012.
  • “Golden Calf.” In, edited by T. Desmond Alexander and David W. Baker, 368-71. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2003.
  • “Priestly Clothing.” In, edited by T. Desmond Alexander and David W. Baker, 643-46. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2003.
  • “Rod, Staff.” In, edited by T. Desmond Alexander and David W. Baker, 693-94. Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP Academic, 2003.
  • 70 articles in The, edited by W. Van Gemeren. 5 vols. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1997. For a complete list see, edited by Jason van Vliet, 237-39. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2011.
  • “Elder.” In Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, edited by W. Ellwell, 197-99. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1996.
  • "Urim and Thummim.” In Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, edited by W. Ellwell, 794. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1996.
  • “Duidelijke Taal. De boodschap van de hemelen volgens Psalm 19:5a.” In Een Sprekend Begin. Opstellen aangeboden aan Prof. Drs. H. M. Ohmann, edited by R. ter Beek, E. Brink, C. Van Dam, and G. Kwakkel, 86-93. Kampen: Uitgeverij Van den Berg, 1993.
  • When Brothers Dwell in Unity .” In . Speeches and Discussions on Reformed Identity and Ecumenicity, edited by C. Van Dam, 201-212. Publication 1 of the Burlington Reformed Study Centre. Winnipeg: Premier, 1993.
  • Mid-America Journal of Theology 7 : 195-206.
  • Mid-America Journal of Theology 7 : 179-184.
  • Mid-America Journal of Theology 7 : 3-16.
  • Mid-America Journal of Theology 6 : 19-32.
  • The Meaning of bišegagâ.” In Unity in Diversity: Studies Presented to Prof. Dr. Jelle Faber on the occasion of his Retirement, edited by R. Faber, 13-24. Hamilton: The Senate of the Theological College of the Canadian Reformed Churches, 1989.
  • “The Elder as Preserver and Nurturer of Life in the Covenant.” In Proceedings of the International Conference of Reformed Churches June 19–28, 1989, 277-298 Winnipeg: Premier, 1989. Reprinted in Lux Mundi 8.3 : 9-12; 8.4 : 4-9.

Curriculum Vitae

For a complete curriculum vitae, see and the