14 Facts About Johan Heyns

Johan Adam Heyns was an Afrikaner Calvinist theologian and moderator of the general synod of the Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk in South Africa.

Johan Heyns was assassinated at his home in Waterkloof Ridge, Pretoria.

At school Johan Heyns was an average student, and showed little interest in the subjects at hand.

Johan Heyns completed his training as a minister at the University of Pretoria, and decided to continue his theological studies at the Free University in Amsterdam.

Johan Heyns's thesis was titled Die Teologiese Antropologie van Karl Barth vanuit Wysgerig-Antropologiese Orientering.

In 1954, after completion of his theological studies in Amsterdam, Johan Heyns became an ordained minister and served at the Ysterplaat congregation of the NGK.

Johan Heyns was distinguished by a large number of publications and he filled many public positions in the church, causing him to be regarded as one of the best known theologians in the NGK.

Johan Heyns responded with grace, but expressed his serious concern about Le Roux's deductions from historical criticism.

Johan Heyns replied that if the acceptance of the results of historical criticism were to lead and force theologians into such interpretations, it would in his view set systematic theologians, besides biblical scholars, on a perilous course.

Johan Heyns's words were prophetic, in light of Le Roux's notably supportive review of Fatherless in Galilee, the pioneering historical book by the Jesus Seminar scholar, Andries Van Aarde.

In 1982 Johan Heyns publicly rejected the notion that apartheid was the will of God, and caused a furore at that year's synod by openly supporting multiracial marriages.

Johan Heyns immediately tried to persuade the church that there was no biblical foundation for apartheid.

In September 1989, at a time when the government indiscriminately crushed all protest marches, mediation by NGK leadership under Johan Heyns convinced the government to allow peaceful protests.

In 1990, speaking for the NGK, Johan Heyns declared apartheid a sin.