Gerard Bolland
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Gerardus Johannes Petrus Josephus Bolland (1854– 1922) was a Dutch linguist, philosopher, biblical scholar, and lecturer.
He became an expert in German idealism, being especially interested in the works of Eduard von Hartmann and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel. He began researching the formation of Christianity in 1891, and was extremely literate in religious history. He was associated with the Dutch radical school.
He effected a revival in Hegelianism in the Netherlands around 1900 by arranging a new edition of Hegel’s works, and stimulating a renewal of interest in philosophy in the Netherlands. He had a quirky style in his use of the Dutch language causing linguist J.A. Dèr Mouw, among others, to criticise him sharply.
Life
Bolland was born into a simple Catholic family in Groningen. He reached the position of professor of philosophy at the University of Leiden in 1896 after a career as a teacher in Katwijk aan Zee and as a teacher of English and German in Batavia (Dutch East-Indies).
He published "Hegel: An Historical Investigation" ("Hegel. Eene Historische Studie") in 1898, and a year later he started publishing Hegel’s most important works. In 1904 he published "Pure Reason. A book for the Friends of Wisdom" ("Zuivere Rede. Een boek voor vrienden der wijsheid").
Bolland had a "charismatic and eccentric personality, (was) harshly critical to various social groups and institutions, thus making lots of decided enemies, but also adorers.". He described himself as “mystic and a “desperate sceptical agnostic”. Although critical of Christianity and clericalism he was a religious man. After his death, Hegelians of the right formed the Bolland Association (Bolland Genootschap).
- "The unique position of Bolland in Dutch intellectual history was a paradox in that it was a climax and a fiasco at one and the same time.
Bolland’s theory of early Christianity
Bolland continued Bruno Bauer's "concepts about Philo, the Caesars, and their influence" on the development of Christianity. He believed that the basis for Christianity developed among strongly syncretised, Hellenized Jews in Alexandria and Judeophile Greeks in the early Common Era. These early beliefs revolved around a mythical Chrestos figure, and were not connected to a nationalistic Messiah figure. Among the influences in these theosophical circles were Gnosticism and Hermeticism. Philo’s writings were also a step in this development, especially the concept of the Logos.
The development of Christianity took place during the first century in the decades after the Second Temple’s fall when the mythic Chrestos figure became transformed into the legendary Jesus. Bolland states that the transformed Chrestos received the name of Moses’ successor, Joshua the son of Nun, who became "leader of the people of Israel, as Moses failed to complete the task to guide the people into the promised land".
According to Bolland, the Gospel of Matthew is the oldest, followed by Luke’s and then Mark’s.
Linking in in 2024
Andrzej Niemojewski, Basic Library of Dutch Literature, Bolland, Christ myth theory, De Vrije Gedachte, George F. C. Griss, Gerrit Mannoury, H. A. Sinclair de Rochemont, List of Christ myth theory proponents, Quest for the historical Jesus, Radical criticism, Sarphatipark, The Christ Myth, The Denial of the Historicity of Jesus in Past and Present, The Pagan Christ, The Quest of the Historical Jesus
