Sinclair Ferguson

Sinclair B. Ferguson
File:Ferguson-sinclair.jpg
Born	(1948-02-21) February 21, 1948
Occupations	Systematic theology scholar Presbyterian minister
Spouse	Dorothy Ferguson
Academic background
Alma mater	University of Aberdeen (PhD)
Thesis	The Doctrine of the Christian Life in the Teaching of Dr. John Owen (1661–1683) (1979)
Academic work
Discipline	Systematic theology
Institutions	Reformed Theological Seminary Westminster Theological Seminary
Notable works	The Holy Spirit (1997) The Whole Christ: Legalism, Antinomianism, and Gospel Assurance―Why the Marrow Controversy Still Matters (2016)

Sinclair Buchanan Ferguson (born 21 February 1948) is a Scottish Reformed systematic theology scholar. Known for his teaching, writing, and editorial work, he has been Chancellor's Professor of Systematic Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary since 2017, 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.

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.

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. 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. 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 originated from the north of Scotland. 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. One of his sons, John, is minister of Inverness Associated Presbyterian Church.

Works

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

• Know Your Christian Life (1981)
• Kingdom Life in a Fallen World - Living Out the Sermon on the Mount (1986)
• John Owen on the Christian Life (1987)
• New Dictionary of Theology (Master Reference Collection) (1988) , editor with David Wright and J. I. Packer
• Daniel (Mastering the Old Testament, Vol 19) (1988)
• Grow in Grace (1989)
• Children of the Living God (1989)
• A Heart for God (1996)
• The Christian Life (1996)
• Discovering God's Will (1996)
• Sermon on the Mount (1996)
• The Pundit's Folly (1996)
• Big Book of Questions and Answers (1997)
• The Holy Spirit (1997)
• Let's Study Philippians (1998)
• Reformed Confessions Harmonized (1999) , editor with Joel Beeke
• Let's Study Mark (1999)
• The Big Book of Questions & Answers about Jesus (2000)
• The Grace of Repentance (Today's Issues) (2000)
• The Preacher's Commentary - Vol. 21 - Daniel (2002)
• John Owen: The Man and His Theology (2003) , contributor about John Owen
• Let's Study Ephesians (2005)
• Faithful God - An exposition of the book of Ruth (2005)
• In Christ Alone: Living the Gospel Centered Life (2007)
• By Grace Alone: How the Grace of God Amazes Me (2010)
• The Grace of Repentance (Redesign) (Today's Issues) (2011)
• The Christian Life: A Doctrinal Introduction (2013)
• Name above All Names (2013) with Alistair Begg
• Deserted by God (2013)
• The Whole Christ: Legalism, Antinomianism, & Gospel Assurance--Why the Marrow Controversy Still Matters (2016)
• In The Year of Our Lord: Reflections on Twenty Years of Church History (2018) ISBN 978–1567699708
• Worthy: Living in Light of the Gospel (2023)

• Maturity
• The Dawn of Redeeming Grace (2021) ISBN 978-1-78498-638-4

External links

• The Tron Church, Glasgow, which emerged by a split within St George's Tron Parish Church
• Redeemer Seminary
• Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals
• First Presbyterian Church - Columbia, SC
• St. Peter's Free Church, Dundee
• Biographical Sketch
• Lectures on the Westminster Standards