Klaas Jan Popma (1903-1986) was part of the second generation of reformational scholars. He was born in The Hague. From 1928 to 1955, he taught classical languages in Gymnasium (high school). He received his doctorate in classical languages from the University of Leiden in 1931; his supervisor was B. A. Groningen.
From 1954, he held the Chair of Reformational philosophy in Utrecht and Groningen. He retired in 1974.
Popma was succeeded at Utrecht and Groningen by Jan Dengerink.
A full bibliography of Popma by L. Derksen and A. M. Petersen (Uitgave Filosofisch Instituut VU, 1977) is available here [pdf – off-site]
Some of his work, in Dutch, is available here
Chronology
1903 born in The Hague, Netherlands.
1928-1955 taught classical languages in Gymnasium (high school) in Apeldoorn.
1931 received a doctorate in classical languages from the University of Leiden.
1936 Classical, human, and cynic published in Philosophia Reformata.
1954 Chair of Christian philosophy in Utrecht and Groningen.
Select Publications
A bibliography of Popma’s work from Het leven beschouwd is available here.
1950. First the Jew but also the Greek Anakainosis 6(3) a translation of the Introduction and Chapter One of Popma’s book Eerst de Jood maar ook de Griek (Franeker: T. Weyer, 1950).
1988. A Battle for Righteousness: The Message of the Book of Job. Translated by J. Van Meggelen (Originally published by Essence: Ontario)
1973. Patristic evaluation of culture. Philosophia Reformata 38 (1973): 97-113.
Levensbeschouwing (View of Life)—a seven-volume reflection on the Heidelberg Catechism (in Dutch)
2020. Scriptural Reflections on History. Translated by Harry van Dyke (Aalten: Wordbridge)
2021. God and History Translated by Harry van Dyke (Aalten: Wordbridge)
On Popma
H. Hart 2026. “Popma” in: Campbell Campbell-Jack and Gavin J. McGrath (ed.) New Dictionary of Christian Apologetics (Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press).
O. C. Broek Roelofs. 1974. “Popma’s Wijsgerige Benadering van de Theologie”. In: Het Leven Beschouwd. Facetten van het were van Prof. Dr K. J. Popma. (Amsterdam: Buijten & Schipperheijn/Kampen: J. H. Kok), 128-147. This has been translated by Chris Gousmett. In Findings 4 (2023).
A selection of Popma’s Dutch book covers
allofliferedeemed 