Chair on Systematic Theology

The Chair of Systematic Theology focuses on the systematic reflection on the content of Christian faith in God within the context of today. Since December 1, 2022, Hans Burger (1974) has been Professor of Systematic Theology. Before that, he had been at Utrecht Theological University as a post-doc researcher and lecturer since 2011.

Thinking through the content of faith is necessary to keep the Reformed tradition alive. In every context, new questions arise or old questions take on new urgency. Think of the impact of secularization and de-churching, the ecological crisis, or the rise of the Pentecostal movement.

Systematic theology deals with big questions: does God exist? Who is He? What is the relationship between God and this world as God’s creation? What has gone wrong in our world and with ourselves? Who is Jesus Christ to us? How is the Holy Spirit present in lives of believers? What is the good news of God’s kingdom – does it really work out? What kind of community do Christians form together? Is there a heaven, a hell, a new earth, and what is meant by that?

The goal of undergraduate teaching is for students to gain an overview of the whole of systematic theology. In the masters, the teaching is more thematically focused. The subject of symbolism gives attention to the Reformed confession, hermeneutics to the understanding of the Bible.

Research in systematic theology takes place within research group Biblical Exegesis and Systematic Theology, a collaboration with Theological University Apeldoorn. In this, biblical scholars and systematic theologians seek fruitful interaction together. The 2018-2023 research program is entitled “Discriminating love.