Dr. P.C. Snijman: a forgotten Old Testament scholar

Abstract

Dr. P.C. Snijman was the first South African scholar to obtain a Ph.D. in Old Testament Studies at the Free University of Amsterdam, with a thesis on the prophecy of Zephaniah. He died shortly after returning to South Africa. The aim of this paper is to describe the life and contribution of this pioneer in the field of Old Testament Studies in South Africa. This paper starts with a biographical sketch of Snijman. He was one of the pioneers of Christelik-Nasionale Onderwys (Christian National Education). His contribution in this regard is discussed, with special reference to a paper he wrote in 1910. His contribution to the study of Zephaniah is evaluated, with a discussion of some examples of his exegesis. It is clear that his death impacted negatively on the study of the Old Testament in his own church and in South African theological circles in general.