R.C. Sproul

**Robert Charles Sproul** (13 Februarie 1939 - 14 Desember 2017) was 'n Amerikaanse Gereformeerde Teoloog en 'n predikant van die Presbeteriaanse Kerk in Amerika (PCA). Hy was die stigter en voorsitter van Ligonier Ministries (vernoem na die Ligoniervallei buite Pittsburgh, waar die bediening as 'n studiesentrum vir universiteit- en kweekskoolstudente begin het) en kon daagliks internasionaal op die radio-uitsending *"Renewing Your Mind"* gehoor word. Onder Sproul se leiding het Ligonier Ministries die Ligonier-Verklaring oor die Bybel se Onfeilbaarheid uitgevervaardig, wat uiteindelik sou groei tot die Chicago-Verklaring van 1978 oor die Bybel se onfeilbaarheid, waarvan Sproul, saam met Norman Geisler, een van die hoofargitekte was. Sproul is as "die mees invloedryke voorstander van Gereformeerde teologie in die laaste eeu" beskryf.

## Agtergrond 
R.C. Sproul is in Pittsburgh, Pennsilvanië, gebore as die tweede kind van Robert Cecil Sproul, 'n rekenmeester en Tweede Wêreldoorlog-veteraan, en sy vrou, Mayre Anna Yardis. As kind was Sproul 'n groot ondersteuner van die Amerikaanse voetbalspan, die Pittsburgh Steelers, en die Amerikaanse bofbalspan, die Pittsburgh Pirates. Hy het op skool aan atletiek deelgeneem, maar moes op 15-jarige ouderdom ophou om sy familie te kan ondersteun.

## Loopbaan 
Ligonier Ministries bied elk jaar verskeie teologiese konferensies aan, insluitend die hoofkonferensie in Orlando, FL, waar Sproul een van die hoofspreekers was. Sproul het as medepastoor gedien by Saint Andrew's Chapel, 'n gemeente in Sanford, Florida. In 1965 is hy as ouderling in die Verenigde Presbiteriaanse Kerk in die VSA (UPCUSA) georden, maar het die denominasie omstreeks 1975 verlaat en by die Presbiteriaanse Kerk in Amerika (PCA) aangesluit. Hy was ook 'n raadslid van die Alliansie van Belydende Evangeliedienaars.

Sproul was 'n groot voorstander van Calvinisme in sy verskeie menigte, druk-, oudio-, en videopublikasies, en het die Thomistiese (klassieke) benadering tot Christelike apologetiek voorgestaan. 'n Dominante tema in sy *"Renewing Your Mind"* lesse was die heiligheid en soewereiniteit van God. Sproul was 'n voorstander van hoofbedekkings in die kerk omdat die ordinansie "gewortel en gegrond is in die skepping".

Sproul was 'n kritikus van die Rooms-Katolieke Kerk. Hy het die 1994 ekumeniese dokument *"Evangelicals and Catholics Together"* aan die kaak gestel.

In 2003 is 'n Festschrift ter ere van hom gepubliseer. *After Darkness, Light: Essays in Honor of R.C. Sproul* () het bydraes van Robert Godfrey, Sinclair Ferguson, O. Palmer Robertson, Michael Horton, Douglas Wilson, John F. MacArthur en Jay E. Adams ingesluit.

## Gesondheid en dood 
Sproul het op 18 April 2015 'n beroerte gehad en is in die hospitaal opgeneem. Vyf dae later, op 23 April, is hy ontslaan sonder nadelige gevolge. Hy is egter gediagnoseer met 'n diabetiese toestand wat "aangespreek sou word deur dieet en gereelde mediese aandag."

Na 'n tydperk van 12 dae met onderbroke koors, verdowing, en ventilator-ondersteunde asemhaling in 'n poging om sy asemhalingsfunksie te herstel, is hy op 14 Desember 2017 op die ouderdom van 78 oorlede.

## Publikasies 
Sproul is bekend vir boeke soos *"The Holiness of God"*, *"Essential Truths of the Christian Faith"*, en *"What Is Reformed Theology?"* Hy is ook bekend vir *"Chosen by God"*, 'n boek oor voorbestemming en die soewereiniteit van God.

Sproul het deur Ligonier Ministries se konferensies en die *"Renewing Your Mind"* radio-uitsending verskillende oudio- en videolesings oor die geskiedenis van filosofie, teologie, bybelstudie, apologetiek, intelligente ontwerp en die christelike lewe gelewer. Boonop het Sproul meer as 100 boeke en 'n menigte artikels vir evangeliese publikasies geskryf.

Hy het die 1978 Chicago-verklaring oor bybelse onfeilbaarheid geteken, wat die onfeilbaarheid van die Bybel bevestig, en hy het 'n kommentaar op daardie dokument geskryf, naamlik *"Explaining Inerrancy"*. Hy het ook as die algemene redakteur van die *"Reformation Study Bible"* () opgetree, wat in verskeie uitgawes en vertalings verskyn en ook bekend staan as die *"New Geneva Study Bible"*. Hy was ook die uitvoerende redakteur van die tydskrif *"Tabletalk"*.

### Gepubliseerde boeke 
* *Moses and the Burning Bush* (2018) 
* *The Legacy of Luther* (2016) met Stephen J. Nichols en ander 
* ''The Knight's Map* (2016) 
* *Everyone's a Theologian: An Introduction to Systematic Theology* (2014) 
* *The Promises of God* (2013) 
* *God's Love: How the Infinite God Cares for His Children* (2012) 
* *Are We Together: A Protestant Analyzes Roman Catholicism* (2012) 
* *The Work of Christ: What the Events of Jesus Life Mean for You* (2012) 
* *The Donkey Who Carried a King* (2012) 
* *The Barber Who Wanted to Pray* (2011) 
* *Unseen Realities: Heaven, Hell, Angels, and Demons* (2011) 
* *The Prayer of the Lord* (2009) 
* *The Prince's Poison Cup* (2008) 
* *The Truth of the Cross* (2007) 
* *Truths We Confess: A Layman's Guide to the Westminster Confession of Faith Volume 3: The State, The Family, The Church, and Last Things* (2007) 
* *Truths We Confess: A Layman's Guide to the Westminster Confession of Faith Volume 2: Salvation and the Christian Life* (2007) 
* *Truths We Confess: A Layman's Guide to the Westminster Confession of Faith Volume 1: The Triune God* (2006) 
* *The Lightlings* (2006) 
* *How Then Shall We Worship?* (2006 as *A Taste of Heaven*; gehersien 2006) 
* *Running the Race: A Graduate's Guide to Life* (2003) 
* *Defending Your Faith* (2003) 
* *The Dark Side of Islam* (2003) met Abdul Saleeb 
* *Five Things Every Christian Needs to Grow* (2002) 
* *Saved from What?* (2002) 
* *When Worlds Collide: Where is God?* (2002) 
* *What's in the Bible?* (2001) 
* *Loved By God* (2001) 
* *The Consequence of Ideas* (2000) 
* *In the Presence of God* (1999) 
* *Getting the Gospel Right: The Tie That Binds Evangelicals Together* (1999) 
* *A Walk with God: Luke* (1999) 
* *The Last Days According to Jesus* (1998) 
* *What is Reformed Theology* (1997 as *Grace Unknown*; gehersien 2005) 
* *Willing to Believe: Understanding the Role of Human Will in Salvation* (1997) 
* *The Priest with Dirty Clothes* (1997; gehersien 2011) 
* *Now, That's a Good Question!* (1996) 
* *The Invisible Hand* (1996, gehersien 2003) 
* *Choosing My Religion* (1996) 
* *Ultimate Issues* (1996) 
* *Before the Face of God Volume 4: A Daily Guide for Living from Ephesians, Hebrews, and James* (1996) 
* *Reformation Study Bible* (1995 as *New Geneva Study Bible*; gehersien 1998, 2005, 2015) as algemene redakteur gedien 
* *The Unexpected Jesus* (1995 as *The Mighty Christ*; gehersien 2005) 
* *Faith Alone* (1995; gehersien 2016) 
* *The Purpose of God: An Exposition of Ephesians* (1994; gehersien2006) 
* *Not a Chance: God, Science, and the Revolt against Reason* (1994; gehersien 2014) met Keith Mathison 
* *Before the Face of God Volume 3: A Daily Guide for Living from the Old Testament* (1994) 
* *The Gospel of God: An Exposition of Romans* (1994 gehersien 1999) 
* *Before the Face of God Volume 2: A Daily Guide for Living from the Gospel of Luke* (1993) 
* *Doubt and Assurance* (1993) 
* *The Soul's Quest for God: Satisfying the Hunger for Spiritual Communion With God* (1993; gehersien 2003) 
* *Before the Face of God Volume 1: A Daily Guide for Living from the Book of Romans* (1992) 
* *Essential Truths of Christian Faith* (1992) 
* *Following Christ* (1991)  kombinasie van voorheen gepubliseerde boekies getiteld: *Who Is Jesus?* (1983), *Ethics and the Christian* (1983), *God's Will and the Christian* (1984), and *Effective Prayer* (1984).
* *The Mystery of the Holy Spirit* (1990; gehersien 2009) 
* *Abortion--A Rational Look at an Emotional Issue* (1990; gehersien 2010) 
* *The Glory of Christ* (1990; gehersien 2003) 
* *Surprised by Suffering* (1989; gehersien 2009) 
* *Pleasing God* (1988; gehersien 2012) 
* *Discovering God Who Is* (1987 as *One Holy Passion*; gehersien 1995 en 2003 as *The Character of God* en 2008 as *Discovering God Who Is*) 
* *Lifeviews: Make a Christian Impact on Culture and Society* (1986) 
* *Chosen by God* (1986) 
* *The Holiness of God* (1985; gehersien 1998) 
* *Classical Apologetics* (1984) met John Gerstner en Arthur Lindsley 
* *Johnny Come Home* (1984) 
* *The Hunger for Significance* (1983 as *In Search of Dignity*; gehersien 1991 en 2001) 
* *Stronger Than Steel: The Wayne Alderson Story* (1980) 
* *Reason to Believe* (1978 en 1982 as *Objections Answered*; gehersien 2016) 
* *Knowing Scripture* (1978; gehersien 2016) 
* *Soli Deo Gloria* (1976) Algemene Redakteur
* *God's Inerrant Word: An International Symposium on the Trustworthiness of Scripture* (1974) Bydraer
* *The Intimate Marriage (1975 as *Discovering the Intimate Marriage*; gehersien 1986 en 2003) *
* *If There's a God, Why Are There Atheists?* (1974 as *The Psychology of Atheism*; gehersien 1988, 1997, en 2018) 
* *What We Believe: Understanding and Confessing the Apostle's Creed* (1973 as *The Symbol: An Exposition of the Apostle's Creed*; gehersien 1982 as *Basic Training*, 1998 as *Renewing Your Mind*, en 2015 as *What We Believe*) 

### *Crucial Questions* reeks 
* *How Can I Be Right with God?* (2017) 
* *What Can We Know About God?* (2017) 
* *What Do Jesus' Parables Mean?* (2017) 
* *Are People Basically Good?* (2016) 
* *How Can I Be Blessed?* (2016) 
* *How Should I Think About Money?* (2016) 
* *Can I Lose My Salvation?* (2015) 
* *What is the Great Commission* (2015) 
* *Are These the Last Days?* (2014) 
* *What Is Repentance?* (2014) 
* *What Is the Relationship Between Church and State* (2014) 
* *How Can I Develop a Christian Conscience?* (2013) 
* *What Is the Lord's Supper?* (2013) 
* *What Is the Church?* (2013) 
* *Does God Control Everything?* (2012) 
* *Who is the Holy Spirit?* (2012) 
* *Can I Have Joy in My Life?* (2012) 
* *What Can I Do with My Guilt?* (2011) 
* *What Is the Trinity?* (2011) 
* *What Is Baptism?* (2011) 
* *What Is Faith?* (2010) 
* *What Does it Mean to Be Born Again?* (2010) 
* *Can I Be Sure I'm Saved?* (2010) 
* *Does Prayer Change Things?* (1984 as *Effective Prayer*; gehersien 2009) 
* *Can I Know God's Will?* (1984 as *God's Will and the Christian*; gehersien 2009) 
* *How Should I Live in This World?* (1983 as *Ethics and the Christian*; gehersien 2009) 
* *Can I Trust the Bible?* (1980 en 1996 as *Explaining Inerrancy: A Commentary*; gehersien 2009) 
* *Who Is Jesus?* (1983; gehersien 2009) 

### *St. Andrew's Expositional Commentary* reeks 
* *Matthew* (2013) 
* *1-2 Peter* (2011) 
* *Mark* (2011) 
* *Acts* (2010) 
* *Romans* (2009) 
* *John'' (2009) 

## Verwysings