Biografie van WD Jonker

BIOGRAFIE VAN WD JONKER

Willem Daniël Jonker is op 1 Maart 1929 in die distrik Lichtenburg, Wes-Transvaal gebore. Na matriek in Lichtenburg (1945), het hy aan die Universiteit van Pretoria (MA en BD) studeer (1946 – 1952). Hy het daarna sy Th.D. by die Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam verwerf (1952 – 1955). Hy trou in 1952 met Elizabeth Rossouw. Tussen 1954 en 1960 is vier kinders gebore: Ria, Martina, Willi en Sabet.

1955 – 1968: Predikant van die NG Kerk van Transvaal, onderbreek deur een jaar (1960) toe hy met ’n beurs Kerkreg in Nederland, Duitsland en Skotland gaan studeer het.
1965 – 1966: Professor by UNISA.
1968 – 1971: Professor aan die Universiteit van Kampen, Nederland.
1971 – 1992 (tot sy aftrede): Professor aan die Universiteit Stellenbosch. Prof WD Jonker was Dekaan van die Fakulteit Teologie vir twee termyne. Hy was ook lid van die Raad van die Universiteit Stellenbosch, 1987–1992.

Willie Jonker het tot in 2003 in Stellenbosch gebly. Hy het op Maandag, 28 Augustus 2006 in Benadéhof in die Strand gesterf.

Sy professionele lidmaatskap het ingesluit:

  • Dogmatiese Werkgemeenskap
  • Afrikaanse Skrywerskring
  • Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns

Sy toekennings het ingesluit:

  • Beurs van die Unie van Suid-Afrika, 1952
  • Senior beurs van die RGN, 1960
  • Ad hoc-toekenning van die RGN, 1980
  • British Council, 1980
  • Senior beurs van die RGN, 1983
  • Rapportryers-toekenning vir Teologiese Publikasie, 1980
  • Credo-prys vir Teologiese Publikasies, 1982
  • Totius-prys vir Teologie, 1990
  • Andrew Murray-prys vir Teologiese Publikasies, 1991 en 1997
  • Doctor honoris causa van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch, 1997
  • Doctor honoris causa, Universiteit van Potchefstroom, 1999
  • Van Wyk Louw-medalje, 2001
  • Doctor honoris causa, Universiteit van die Vrystaat, 2004.

Willem Daniël Jonker was born on 1 March 1929 in the district Lichtenburg, West-Transvaal. After matriculation in Lichtenburg (1945) he studied at the University of Pretoria (M.A. and B.D.), 1946 – 1952, and at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam (Th.D.), 1952 – 1955. 
He married Elizabeth Rossouw in 1952, and four children were born between 1954 and 1960: Ria, Martina, Willi en Sabet.

  • 1955 – 1968: Minister of NG Kerk of Transvaal, interrupted by one year (1960 when he received a bursary to study Church Polity in the Netherlands, Germany and Scotland)
  • 1965 – 1966: Professor at UNISA
  • 1968 – 1971: Professor at the University of Kampen, Holland
  • 1971 – 1992 (until retirement): Professor at Stellenbosch University. WD Jonker was Dean of the Faculty of Theology for two terms and member of the Council of Stellenbosch University, 1987 – 1992.
  • Willie Jonker lived in Stellenbosch until 2003. He died on Monday, 28 August 2006, at Benadéhof in Strand.

His professional memberships included:

  • Dogmatiese Werkgemeenskap
  • Afrikaanse Skrywerskring
  • Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns.

His awards, included:

  • Scholarship of the Union of South Africa, 1952;
  • Senior scholarship HSRC, 1960;
  • Ad hoc-grant HSRC, 1980;
  • British Council grant, 1980;
  • Senior scholarship HSRC, 1983;
  • Rapportryers-grant for theological publication, 1980;
  • Credo Prize for Theological publications 1982;
  • Totius Prize for Theology 1990;
  • Andrew Murray Prize for Theological publications 1991 and 1997;
  • Doctor honoris causa from the University of Stellenbosch, 1997;
  • Doctor honoris causa, University of Potchefstroom, 1999;
  • NP van Wyk Louw Medal 2001;
  • Doctor honoris causa, University of the Free State, 2004.

A list of works include books, numerous contributions to books, over 100 academic publications in journals and popular essays in newspapers and magazines. A weekly column, for several years, ’n Woord onderweg in Beeld, and from 1974 – 1992: Geestelike Waardes in Die Burger, and internationally Gereformeerd Weekblad.

Books, include:

  • Mistieke liggaam en kerk in die nuwe Rooms-Katolieke teologie – 1955;
  • En as jou broeder sondig – 1959, 1978;
  • Die sendingbepalinge van die Ned Gereformeerde Kerk van Transvaal – 1962;
  • Om die regering van Christus in Sy kerk – 1965;
  • Aandag vir die kerk – 1965;
  • Die Brief aan die Romeine – 1966/67,1976 1983;
  • Theologie en praktijk – 1968;
  • Als een riet in de wind – 1970;
  • Op weg met die teologie – 1974;
  • Die Bybel en Gods wil vir ons lewe – 1975;
  • Ek glo in die Heilige Gees – 1975;
  • Die liefde van Christus dring ons – 1975;
  • Die Woord as opdrag – 1976
; Christus die Middelaar – 1977;
  • The Mary cult in the Roman Catholic Church – 1979;
  • Vreemde gemeenskap – 1979;
  • Discussie rondom de prediking – 1981;
  • Die Gees van Christus – 1981;
  • In diens van die Woord – 1981;
  • Soms kom dit later – 1982;
  • Vreemde geregtigheid – 1983;
  • ’n Brief aan doopouers – 1984, 1986;
  • Die hand wat my vashou – 1987;
  • Die relevansie van die kerk – 1987;
  • Hoe kan ek seker wees? – 1988;
  • Uit vrye guns alleen – 1989;
  • Vreemde bevryding – 1989;
  • ’n Bevrydende waarheid – 1994;
  • Ons posisie in Christus en ons aardse realiteite 1997;
  • Selfs die kerk kan verander – 1998.
  • Die Relevansie van die Kerk – (posthumously) 2008

Jonker’s extensive writings—sermons, essays, notebooks, publications and correspondence – are central to understanding both the evolution of his own theology in particular and South African intellectual history and religious culture in general. His Rustenburg-confession, among others – not to mention his theological writings – have exerted a formative influence on South African society to the present day. A central figure in the days leading to the political abolishment of the Apartheid, Jonker also became South Africa’s most incisive and sophisticated observer of the struggle, cited and emulated by religious leaders in South Africa, The Netherlands, Germany and beyond during the late 20th-century. Jonker preached and wrote in the generation immediately preceding the democratic era of 1994 – though many historians, secular and religious, view him as the father of a new and uniquely powerful South African reconciliation that would flourish in politically post-South Africa. Reconciliation and biblical guidance in the post-1994 era, drew on Jonker’s ethical and theological thought – though not always acknowledged. To this day, Jonker is a subject and signifier of theological rifts that strike to the very heart of this country’s character, assumptions, and beliefs.