R.C. Sproul was an influential American theologian, author, pastor and founder of Ligonier Ministries. His teaching and writing focused on the holiness of God, the authority of Scripture and the need for personal repentance and regeneration through faith in Christ.
Robert Charles Sproul was born in 1939 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. From an early age, he had a passion for theology and apologetics. He went on to earn degrees from Westminster College, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and the Free University of Amsterdam. He was ordained as a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America.
In 1971, Sproul founded Ligonier Ministries with the goal of promoting biblical literacy and helping Christians think more deeply about their faith. Through this ministry, he was able to reach a wide audience through conferences, a radio program called Renewing Your Mind, and teaching series on topics like the holiness of God, ethics, apologetics and church history. Many of these teaching series were adapted into books and other media.
Some of Sproul’s most influential books include The Holiness of God, Chosen by God, Knowing Scripture, The Invisible Hand, and Defending Your Faith. He was also known for his clear, passionate articulation of Reformed theology in an accessible way. Some of the concepts he emphasized included:
- The sovereignty of God – God is in complete control over everything that happens.
- The authority of Scripture – The Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God that has supreme authority in the lives of believers.
- The sinfulness of humanity – All people are sinful by nature and fall short of God’s perfect standards.
- Salvation by grace alone – Salvation cannot be earned; it is an undeserved gift received only through faith in Jesus Christ.
- The Lordship of Christ – When someone becomes a Christian, Jesus becomes their Lord over every area of life.
- The work of the Holy Spirit – The Holy Spirit empowers and transforms believers to become more like Christ.
In addition to his prolific work with Ligonier, Sproul was the founder of Reformation Bible College and Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Florida. He also served as co-pastor at Saint Andrew’s for many years. He was awarded numerous honors and recognitions from evangelical institutions for his lifetime of service.
R.C. Sproul had a gift for breaking down complex theological concepts in ways everyday Christians could grasp and apply. He emphasized not just accumulating biblical knowledge, but truly living in light of biblical truths. Through his books, audio teachings and conferences, he helped renew interest in Reformed theology among American evangelicals during the late 20th century.
Even as he aged, Sproul maintained an active writing and teaching ministry. But in 2011, he was diagnosed with a lung condition called COPD that eventually led to hospitalization and a lengthy recovery period. Over the next several years, the effects of the disease limited his public ministry. Sproul died in December 2017 at the age of 78.
R.C. Sproul left behind an extensive written legacy, a thriving ministry in Ligonier, and an influence on generations of Christians who continue to be shaped by his passion for the holiness of God and the authority of Scripture. Through his books and audio teachings, believers can continue learning from and being inspired by this great modern theologian for years to come.
Some key contributions and legacies of R.C. Sproul include:
- Renewing interest in and teaching on God’s attributes like holiness, sovereignty, righteousness and justice
- Defending biblical inerrancy and authority in an age of skepticism
- Explaining and promoting Reformed/Calvinist theology in a way average people could understand
- Emphasizing the relationship between theology and Christian living
- Founding Ligonier Ministries which continues to provide in-depth biblical teaching through online and in-person resources
- Stressing the need for personal repentance and revival within the church
- Prolific author of over 100 books explaining Christian doctrine
- Long-running radio program Renewing Your Mind broadcast daily to millions around the world
- Training generations of pastors, theologians and church leaders through Ligonier and Reformation Bible College
- Speaking passionately on protecting the unborn and upholding the sanctity of human life
R.C. Sproul stands as an important figure in late 20th century evangelicalism. Through his commitment to biblical truths and gift for teaching, he helped spark a renewed interest in Reformed theology which continues to influence the church today. His body of written work and recorded teachings provide Christians rich resources for ongoing biblical education and spiritual growth.
Early Life and Education
Robert Charles Sproul was born on February 13, 1939 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His family was active in the Presbyterian church, which early on exposed him to Reformed theology and a high view of Scripture. Even as a young boy, he had a passion for learning theology and defending the Christian faith.
Sproul attended Westminster College, a Christian liberal arts school in Pennsylvania, earning his B.A. in philosophy. There he studied under the famous philosopher Gordon H. Clark, who had a formative influence on his thinking. He went on to earn a Master of Divinity degree from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, where he was mentored by John Gerstner. Gerstner, a noted evangelical scholar, awakened Sproul’s interest in the teachings of Reformed theologian Jonathan Edwards and further shaped his Reformed theology.
To pursue doctoral studies, Sproul traveled to the Netherlands and studied under G.C. Berkouwer at the Free University of Amsterdam. In 1969, he completed a dissertation on Edwards and was awarded a doctorate in philosophy. This education from some of the best evangelical scholars prepared Sproul for a lifetime of influential teaching and writing as a theologian and apologist.
Ministry and Teaching Career
From the early stages of his career, R.C. Sproul displayed a passion for explaining deep theological truths in ways everyday people could understand. He began teaching at Westminster College and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in the 1960s. In 1971, he founded Ligonier Valley Study Center as a place for Christians to grow in biblical and theological knowledge.
This study center went on to become Ligonier Ministries, which grew substantially under Sproul’s leadership. Through this ministry, he conducted conferences, produced teaching series on topics like church history and apologetics, and provided resources to help Christians think more deeply about their faith. Ligonier Ministries became well known for its emphasis on the holiness of God, the sovereignty of his grace, and the authority of Scripture.
Some key teaching series Sproul delivered through Ligonier Ministries included:
- The Holiness of God
- Chosen by God
- What is Reformed Theology?
- Defending Your Faith
- Ethics and the Christian
- The Work of Christ
- The Consequences of Ideas
- Classical Education
- Great Teachers of the Bible
Many of these in-depth teaching series were adapted into books, giving Sproul an expansive published library covering numerous topics. His clear communication skills allowed him to break down complex ideas without sacrificing depth of insight. This made his material accessible to average churchgoers while still maintaining scholarly substance.
In addition to conferences and resources, Ligonier offered correspondence courses and hosted Renewing Your Mind, a radio program featuring Sproul’s teaching that reached millions of listeners. Through this multi-media approach, he influenced generations of evangelicals with Reformed theology taught in an engaging, relatable manner.
Beyond his work with Ligonier Ministries, Sproul contributed to evangelicalism in other roles. He helped launch the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, was a council member for The Gospel Coalition, and served as chairman of Evangelicals United. For many years, he taught theology at Reformed Theological Seminary.
Displaying his passion for education, Sproul founded Ligonier Academy in 1999 as a place for students to receive biblical worldview training. In 2011, this institution expanded into Reformation Bible College in Sanford, Florida. Through Ligonier Academy and this college, R.C. Sproul was able to train young people and future church leaders with the same theological convictions that marked his ministry career.
Notable Books by R.C. Sproul
R.C. Sproul was a prolific author who wrote over 100 books in his lifetime covering a wide range of theological topics. Some of his most influential and well-known books include:
- The Holiness of God – Sproul’s classic work exploring God’s chief attribute of holiness and what it means for Christian living.
- Chosen by God – A clear explanation and defense of the Reformed doctrines of election and predestination.
- The Invisible Hand – Explains how God providentially guides all of history according to his sovereign plan.
- Defending Your Faith – An introduction to apologetics equipping believers with arguments for Christianity.
- What is Reformed Theology? – A broadly accessible overview of the key doctrines of Reformed theology.
- The Passionate Preaching of Martyn Lloyd-Jones – Explores the life and impact of the great 20th century preacher Martyn Lloyd-Jones.
- Scripture Alone – Makes the case for the Bible as the sole infallible written authority for Christians.
- The Prayer of the Lord – An in-depth, verse-by-verse examination of the Lord’s Prayer.
- The Promises of God – Focuses on how believers can trust the promises of Scripture.
- The Work of Christ – A biblical survey of Christ’s redemptive work on the cross on behalf of sinners.
This list represents just a sampling of Sproul’s prolific work as an author. Through his many books, he helped renew interest in Reformed theology among mainstream evangelicals and provided accessible resources for personal study on a wide range of topics.
Later Life and Death
R.C. Sproul continued actively ministering, writing, and teaching into his 70s. In December 2011, he was diagnosed with a chronic lung condition called COPD after experiencing complications from the flu. This led to several hospital stays and a lengthy season of limited public ministry as he regained strength and managed the disease. Due to COPD, Sproul was unable to maintain his heavy travel and speaking schedule.
Despite these health issues, Sproul carried on his work through Ligonier Ministries and Reformation Bible College, contributing written and audio material when possible. But the effects of COPD took an increasing toll in his final years. R.C. Sproul died on December 14, 2017 in Florida at the age of 78, surrounded by his wife and family.
After Sproul’s death, Ligonier Ministries carried on under new leadership, continuing his legacy by producing in-depth biblical resources. Reformation Bible College also persevered in training up students with the same theological convictions that had so marked Sproul’s ministry career. Through these institutions, the teaching of R.C. Sproul remains accessible to impact future generations.
The theology R.C. Sproul was most passionate about – focused on the holiness of God, the sinfulness of humanity, the authority of Scripture, and salvation by grace alone – did not originate with him, but stretches back throughout church history. What made Sproul significant was his unique ability to take timeless truths and present them with compelling clarity and contemporary application to everyday people. Through his extensive written work, audio teachings and multimedia ministry, he left the church with a rich legacy that continues to point people back to foundational biblical doctrines.
R.C. Sproul stands as an important figure in late 20th century evangelicalism. As a theologian, pastor, author and founder of Ligonier Ministries, he helped spark renewed interest in Reformed theology articulated with a much-needed balance of rigorous scholarship and broad accessibility. His defense of biblical authority and passionate teaching on the holiness of God left an indelible impact on the church during his lifetime and beyond.