R.C. Sproul: Una vida

by Stephen J. Nichols

En este libro, Stephen J. Nichols narra la vida y ministerio de R. C. su niñez, formación educativa, matrimonio y relación con su esposa Vesta, su influencia en el evangelismo americano y sus muchas amistades con diversas figuras clave como James Montgomery Boice, John MacArthur, John Piper, J. I. Packer y Chuck Colson. Esta biografía detalla el impacto profundo que tuvo Sproul en las vidas de muchos y destaca las diversas formas en que su legado sigue influenciando a incontables pastores y estudiantes alrededor del mundo.

In this book, Stephen J. Nichols offers an in-depth look at Sproul’s life and ministry―his childhood; his formative seminary education; his marriage and partnership with his beloved wife, Vesta; his influence on broader American evangelicalism; and his many friendships with key figures such as James Montgomery Boice, John MacArthur, John Piper, J. I. Packer, and Chuck Colson. This biography details the profound impact Sproul had on the lives of many during his lifetime, and highlights the various ways his legacy continues to influence countless pastors and students worldwide.

512 pages, Paperback

Published February 15, 2022

About the author

Stephen J. Nichols (PhD, Westminster Theological Seminary) is president of Reformation Bible College and chief academic officer of Ligonier Ministries. Previously, he served as research professor of Christianity and culture at Lancaster Bible College. He is an editor (with Justin Taylor) of the Theologians on the Christian Life series and is the author of several books, including The Reformation, For Us and for Our Salvation, The Church History ABCs, and Bonhoeffer on the Christian Life.

Reviews

[Uriel Esquer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Además de inspiración la vida de RC nos reta a vivir una vida conociendo más y más a nuestro Señor.

[Colin · Rating 3 out of 5]

My experience of RC Sproul (rhymes with “soul”) was listening to some of his conference lectures, his lecture series on the doctrine of God, “Foundations” and his introduction to philosophy, also an audio series, called “The Consequence of Ideas”. I’ve not read any of his books and wouldn’t necessarily describe myself as fanboy.

Nichol’s biography landed well for someone like me, who doesn’t really want to know what RC’s golf handicap or what he had for breakfast. The story is human enough and I like that not only the brilliance and intelligence and giftedness and achievements of RC come through, but something of the background that made him the unique presence he was in the evangelical Reformed landscape.

Biographies always run the risk of necessarily being light on with the thing that attracted me in the first place. In Sproul’s case, that’s his teaching style and content. Nichols manages to keep the connection strong, not quoting too much but keeping the RC-ness running through.

As an Aussie, unfamiliar with much of RC’s work and profile, it’s interesting to get a run across his story. Of particular interest is the liberal Presbyterian church upbringing and early liberal theological input which seemed to create the right vacuum for his conversion to Christ and subsequent attraction to Reformed theology. His unique synthesis of philosophy and theology, as well as his vision to teach both outside the academy and outside the pastorate is fascinating. He neither dismisses the importance of the academy or downplays the role of the the church and the pulpit in the process, yet he had a refreshingly life-wide, lay-leaning vision for his teaching.

Nichols has maintained an accessibility to his book which is deliberate and helpful. Like RC, he hasn’t sacrificed substance for accessibility. Where technical terms are needed, they are well explained so that the reader appreciated a little more of what captured RC, why he stepped into controversies and what he saw to be at stake.

I get a sense that Nichols remains well invested in Ligonier, RC’s legacy organisation. Perhaps for that reason the book is free of even mild criticism of RC at any point - even the passing reference to the resignation from Ligonier of his crazy son is benign in the extreme (RC Jr’s Wikipedia article is a sad read.) I’m not expecting skeletons in the RC closet, but there’s nary a wishbone here… (Maybe the slight whiff of hagiography..?)

So, worthwhile as this book is, it’s RC’s own material that continues to be the bigger drawcard for me. I’m keen to revisit one of RC’s works I’ve already consumed - perhaps to read rather than listen to “Consequence of Ideas” or “Foundations” - although his recognised, enduring classic “The Holiness of God” is still in my “to read” pile.

I know that regardless of which RC work I choose the centrality of God’s nature, character and supremacy will be the driving force behind the thoughts and conclusions. That is the refreshing - yet classically “reformation” - thing about RC’s teaching. Sleeves up, equally ready for a scrap or a chuckle, a pitch that cuts through pretence, talks straight, his infectious enthusiasm and curiously mannish playfulness….and just under the surface, a hulking iceberg of insight…he was a unit, old RC, no doubt about it.

It’s been interesting to find out a little of what made him the man he was.

[Claudia Catacora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este libro es excelente, la vida y obra de RC está muy correctamente descrita y es inspiradora.

[Manuel Alfredo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lecciones que aprendí de la vida de R C Sproul
1. Una fuerte formación teológica y filosófica ayudan a anunciar el Evangelio a las personas modernas.
2. Una gran capacidad de relacionarse con otras personas es indispensable.
3. El enfoque debe estar más allá de lo meramente académico. Servimos a las personas.
4. La fidelidad al Evangelio debe prevalecer por sobre las amistades de muchos años que lo toman ligeramente.


En definitiva, un ejemplo a seguir.

[Garrett Gay · Rating 5 out of 5]

R. C. Sproul is one of my heroes in the faith. I miss this man.