Sinclair Ferguson Explained

Sinclair Ferguson
Era:20th and 21st century
Birth Date:21 February 1948
Occupation:Professor, Author, Public Speaker
Tradition Movement:Reformed
Notable Works:
  • Reformed Confessions Harmonized
  • In Christ Alone: Living the Gospel Centered Life
  • The Christian Life: A Doctrinal Introduction

Sinclair Buchanan Ferguson (born 21 February 1948) is a Scottish theologian known in Reformed Christian circles for his teaching, writing, and editorial work. He has been Chancellor's Professor of Systematic Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary since 2017,[1] commuting from Scotland, where he was an assistant minister at St. Peter's Free Church of Scotland, Dundee. He is currently a preaching associate at Trinity Church, Aberdeen.[2]

Career

Ferguson studied at the University of Aberdeen for all of his university education, earning first a master of arts, then a bachelor of divinity, before gaining his Ph.D. During his days as a student, he worshiped at Gilcomston South Church, under the ministry of William Still.[3]

Ferguson was ordained as a minister in the Church of Scotland in 1971, becoming the minister of St. John's, Baltasound, the most northerly parish in Scotland, on the island of Unst, Shetland.[4] He was the pastor there for 10 years. After his service on Unst, he was offered a teaching position as a part-time Professor of Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia.

He then moved back to his native Scotland in 1997, filling the pulpit at St George's-Tron Church, Glasgow, where he served as Assistant Minister to George B. Duncan, succeeding the 20-year ministry of Eric Alexander.

In the mid-2000s, he then transferred back to the US to the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, serving as the senior pastor of historic First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, South Carolina.

From 25 August 2013, he served as a preacher and elder at St. Peter's Free Church of Scotland in Dundee.[5] In recent years, Sinclair has become the preaching associate at Trinity Church in Aberdeen.

In 2022, a Festschrift was published in his honor. Theology for Ministry: How Doctrine Affects Pastoral Life and Practice includes contributions from Joel Beeke, Ligon Duncan, W. Robert Godfrey, Michael Horton, Douglas Kelly, Robert Letham, Philip Ryken, and Chad Van Dixhoorn.

Other Roles

Ferguson has served as an editor with the Banner of Truth Trust.

He was also a professor of systematic theology at Redeemer Seminary in Dallas.

He has held the Charles Krahe Chair for Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary.

He also previously served as a council member of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals.

He serves as a Teaching Fellow for Ligonier Ministries.

Personal Life

Ferguson was born and raised in the East End of Glasgow, although his family originate from the north of Scotland.[6] It wasn't until going to Aberdeen University that he left Glasgow. He was converted to Christianity before he turned 15.

He is married to Dorothy. Together they have three sons and a daughter, and 12 grandchildren.[7]

Works

Ferguson speaks at numerous conferences worldwide. Books he has written, edited, or contributed to include:

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dr. Sinclair B. Ferguson Appointed as Chancellor's Professor of Systematic Theology . Reformed Theological Seminary . 14 June 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181009042010/https://www.rts.edu/seminary/newsevents/NewsDetails.aspx?id=2537 . 9 October 2018.
  2. News: Trinity Church Aberdeen - Who . 2024-05-08 . Trinity Aberdeen . en-GB.
  3. Book: Old, Hughes Oliphant. The Reading and Preaching of the Scriptures in the Worship of the Christian Church, Vol. 7: Our Own Time. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. 2010. 135–136.
  4. Web site: Dr. Sinclair B. Ferguson. Reformed Theological Seminary. en-US. 2019-11-03.
  5. Web site: Sinclair Ferguson to Join St Peter's Free Church in Dundee. 2013-07-19. The Aquila Report. en-US. 2019-11-03.
  6. Web site: theosebes . 2019-11-24 . [Transcript] Dr Sinclair Ferguson: The Scottish Reformed theologian reflects on 50 years of ministry ]. 2024-05-08 . Yirah Group . en.
  7. Web site: Ferguson . Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra • Sinclair . 2022-10-03 . Why Sinclair Ferguson Moved Back to Scotland’s Most Secular City . 2024-05-08 . The Gospel Coalition . en-US.