Albert Geyser
| Albertus Stephanus Geyser | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
10 February 1918 Naboomspruit, South Africa |
| Died | 13 June 1985 (aged 67) Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| Occupation | Theologian / academic |
| Spouse(s) | Celia Geyser (nee van der Westhuisen) |
| Parent(s) | Petrus and Nina Geyser |
Albertus (Albert) Stephanus Geyser (10 February 1918 – 13 June 1985) was a South African cleric, scholar and anti-apartheid theologian. Geyser was a deeply religious man who died an outcast of the Afrikaner community because of his unshakeable opposition to apartheid. A brilliant scholar with master's degrees in Greek, Latin and French, he was appointed professor at the age of 27 in the Theological Faculty of the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk (NHK) at the University of Pretoria. He paid the price for being one of the first Afrikaner nationalists to speak out against the Broederbond and apartheid on theological grounds. He is also known for his work as one of a number of scholars involved in the first annotated edition (1953–1958) of the Bible in Afrikaans.
One of three children, Albert Geyser was born on 10 February 1918 to Nina and Petrus Geyser in Naboomspruit in the former Transvaal province (now Mookgophong in the Limpopo Province). From an early age he demonstrated a rich intellect and a sharp critical, scientific sense. After matriculating from Ermelose Hoërskool (High School) in 1935 he was admitted to the University of Pretoria in 1936 where he completed a BA degree cum laude in Greek and Latin in 1938. His BD followed in 1941 and an MA in Greek and Latin in 1943. In the same year he obtained his Doctor Divinitatis degree with distinction, also at the University of Pretoria. He completed additional courses in Aramaic and Syriac in 1945. Geyser married fellow Afrikaner Celia van der Westhuisen in Rustenburg in the early 1940s and the couple had three sons and two daughters.
Geyser served the NHK as minister in Heilbron in the Orange Free State (1941–1943) and Pretoria North-West (1944–1945). He was only 27 years old when in 1946 he became Professor of New Testament Studies in the Faculty of Theology (Section A) at the University of Pretoria. Geyser's first years at the University of Pretoria (i.e. from 1946 until 1952) were characterised by his loyal support of both the policies of the government of the day and of his Church's missionary policy. At the time he endorsed the principle adopted by the NHK that only whites belonged to it. The position of the Church was that missionary work should be aimed at the establishment of separate indigenous churches.
...
Wikipedia