W. Robert Godfrey

Dr. W. Robert Godfrey is a Ligonier Ministries teaching fellow and chairman of Ligonier Ministries. He is president emeritus and professor emeritus of church history at Westminster Seminary California. He is the featured teacher for the six-part Ligonier teaching series A Survey of Church History. His many books include God’s Pattern for Creation, Reformation Sketches, An Unexpected Journey, Learning to Love the Psalms, and Saving the Reformation.

  • Pentecostalism Media Resource by

    Despite its humble beginnings, Pentecostalism has a wide and growing influence in the world. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey systematically examines and responds to the theology and appeal of Pentecostalism. View Resource

  • Pioneering Theologian: Origen Media Resource by

    Origen of Alexandria provides a striking case of an individual seeking to discover the truth about the nature of reality and faith aside from God’s revelation in Scripture. Despite his commendable efforts to defend the church and to preserve her orthodoxy, Origen could not distance himself from Platonic thought, which led him to place this form of reasoning above the truths provided in God’s Word. Although Origen made significant contributions to the church, some of his most lasting contributions are the errors the church committed as they consulted his work. This study demonstrates that efforts apart from Scripture, though well … View Resource

  • Political Revolutions Media Resource by

    Coming at the close of the eighteenth century, the American and French Revolutions had an enormous impact on subsequent history. While both movements were revolutionary in nature, you will see how different their aim and character were. In this lecture, Dr. Godfrey will highlight some of the key points of these events, showing especially how the American Revolution affected American church history. View Resource

  • Popes & Councils Media Resource by

    As the Middle Ages progressed, certain issues remained unresolved. Second to none in terms of its importance to the medieval church was the question of the pope’s authority. During the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, the papal office faced unique challenges from secular authorities, from rival popes, and from clergy who sought to consolidate the church’s power within ecumenical councils. As different popes succumbed to and overcame these challenges, the papacy found itself sometimes losing ground, sometimes gaining ground, and always adapting to new realities within the church and society. View Resource

  • The Presbyterian Witness Media Resource by

    The Presbyterian church experienced the revival that swept across America by balancing the desire for vital religion with the desire for sound theology. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey explains why this was a critical process in the development of the Presbyterian church during nineteenth-century America. View Resource

  • Puritan Piety Media Resource by

    Inward apathy toward the Lord masked by outward obedience is a real and constant threat in any church. Keenly aware of this danger, the Puritans zealously proclaimed the importance of heart-felt affection for the Lord. They sought to nourish genuine faith and piety especially through passionate preaching, Bible studies, and conscientious Sabbath observance. Though frequently portrayed as joyless legalists, we will see in this lesson that in reality, Puritans were more frequently characterized by their pursuit of joyful, sincere devotion to the Lord. View Resource

  • Puritan Politics Media Resource by

    During the mid-seventeenth century, England was embroiled in a civil war between the king’s forces and those of parliament. The aftermath of this conflict saw political change and much theological reflection. It was during this time period that the Westminster Assembly met to reform doctrine, church government, and worship. In this lecture, you will study this tumultuous time period, focusing on the connection between the Puritans and politics. You will also come to a better understanding of the climate within which the Westminster Assembly took place. View Resource

  • The Puritans in New England Media Resource by

    When the Puritans came to the New World, they had no intention of establishing a new religion. What they did want to do, however, was bring their old world religious ideal into reality. Despite the inherent difficulties in their new environment, the Puritans found some measure of early success. But as time passed, internal challenges added to the external. In this lecture, Dr. Godfrey will summarize the religious foundations of the American colonies, looking especially at the Puritans’ desire to maintain a pure church. View Resource

  • Puritan Views of Assurance and Conversion Media Resource by

    Assurance of one’s salvation is an important part of Protestant faith, and one of the many marks that sharply distinguishes it from Roman Catholicism. In the seventeenth century, however, many within Puritan circles struggled with this issue. In this lecture, Dr. Godfrey will explain this struggle. He will also spend considerable time discussing the Puritan understanding of conversion, and will show that the very idea of conversion has changed dramatically over the past few centuries. View Resource

  • Puritan Worship and Eschatology Media Resource by

    Many Reformed churches today trace their roots back to the Puritans, and have even adopted as their standards the Westminster Confession and Catechisms. However, there are two areas where most of those churches differ from their Puritan predecessors: worship and eschatology. In this lecture, Dr. Godfrey explains why the Puritans worshipped the way did, and how they understood the book of Revelation. View Resource

  • Reformed Christianity Media Resource by

    The modern-day church needs exactly what it has always needed: the Word of God preached faithfully. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey situates the church in the twenty-first century, highlighting the essentials of Reformed Christianity as its only means of survival. View Resource

  • A Remarkable Century Media Resource by

    The twentieth century was a remarkable century, encompassing the best and the worst of human history. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey introduces some of its major events and the way the church adapted to its problems and opportunities. View Resource

  • The Rise of Cults in America Media Resource by

    Cults flourished in America during the nineteenth century. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey explores where these cults came from, who started them, what they taught, and why they are so dangerous. View Resource

  • Roman Catholicism Media Resource by

    Roman Catholics reacted to the mounting pressures of the nineteenth century by reasserting papal authority. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey shows how the declarations of the First Vatican Council create a dilemma for today’s Roman Catholic scholar. View Resource

  • Rome in the 20th Century Media Resource by

    The Roman Catholic Church underwent many changes throughout the latter half of the twentieth century. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey seeks to answer the question of whether these changes were substantive or merely cosmetic. View Resource