Sproul: Robb Moser
Genesis to Revelation Bible Blogs
R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was a prominent American Reformed theologian, author, and pastor who spent his life making deep theological concepts accessible to laypeople. He is widely regarded as a key figure in the late 20th century recovery of Reformed theology in America.
Ministry and Leadership
Sproul’s influence was primarily through the organizations he founded:
Ligonier Ministries: Founded in 1971 near Ligonier, PA, this ministry focuses on equipping Christians through various media and educational resources.
Renewing Your Mind: His daily radio program, which began in 1994, continues to reach millions of listeners globally.
Saint Andrew’s Chapel: He served as the founding pastor of this congregation in Sanford, Florida.
Reformation Bible College: He was the first president of this institution, established to provide formal theological education.
Key Theological Contributions
Sproul was a “staunch defender” of several core Protestant doctrines:
The Holiness of God: This was his central theme; he famously emphasized that God’s holiness is the only attribute repeated to the third degree (”Holy, holy, holy”) in Scripture.
Biblical Inerrancy: He was a primary architect and signer of the 1978 Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy, which defended the total truthfulness of the Bible.
Justification by Faith Alone: He spent much of the 1990s defending this “sola” against ecumenical efforts he believed compromised the Gospel.
Notable Works
Sproul authored more than 100 books, many of which are considered contemporary Christian classics:
The Holiness of God: His most famous work, exploring the character of God.
Chosen by God: An accessible defense of predestination and divine sovereignty.
The Reformation Study Bible: He served as the general editor for this widely used resource.
Essential Truths of the Christian Faith: A survey of over 100 doctrines written for laypeople.