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.

  • The East and the West Media Resource by

    The multitude of denominations within the Christian church today leads many to view the church as schismatic and contentious. A large contingent of these people calls for a reunification of Christianity, resembling the church of ancient times. While unity should always be a primary goal amongst the people of God, it must be a unity in and for the glory of Christ. As this lesson demonstrates, different emphases, historical circumstances, and other factors played a large role in the widening gap between the church of the East and West, but they still remained united on key elements, particularly the supremacy … View Resource

  • Jesus as God Media Resource by

    The fourth century witnessed some of the most critical Christological controversies in the history of the church. Despite the solid, Biblical determination that originated from these debates, heresies continued to abound about the person and nature of Jesus Christ, and many of these heresies still exist today in different shapes and forms. This should not surprise Christ’s church, because He and His apostles warned us against this very situation and constantly called God’s people to seek His truth in His revelation. This lesson demonstrates the importance of this fact, but it also shows that Jesus persists with His church through … View Resource

  • Jesus as Man Media Resource by

    As members of the Reformed faith, it is easy to slip into a position of arrogance and superiority on account of our rich tradition of learning and study. Sadly, as today’s lesson demonstrates through the example of Cyril and his interaction with Nestorius, the presentation of right theology can cause serious harm when done in a disrespectful manner or with motives intent on personal gain and aggrandizement. Let us always remember the model of our Lord, Jesus. He, more than anyone else, possessed the right to reprimand and rebuke, but He persevered with His people in patience and grace, preferring … View Resource

  • Defending the Faith Media Resource by

    Heresies, in a real way, are just repetitions of similar sinful, rebellious worldviews presented earlier in time. As the author of Ecclesiastes says, “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun” (Eccl. 1:9). Nonetheless, the historical contexts into which heresies enter change, and each new generation of God’s people must deal with these accordingly. View Resource

  • Expansion of the Church Media Resource by

    Unbeknownst to many Christians in the twenty-first century, people around the Greco-Roman world of the first century viewed Christianity as nothing more than an offshoot of Judaism, with some going as far as believing the two possessed no inherent difference. Surprisingly, even many within Judaism and the early church agreed with this assertion. This predicament might seem unbelievable today, but the current church faces a similar dilemma. As relativism, the belief that there is no absolute value but only subjective preference (consequently attributing equal value to all beliefs), expands in modern culture, more and more people view Judaism, Christianity, and … View Resource

  • Introduction Media Resource by

    This study will examine the first 500 years of the church in order to illuminate the impact of the early church so that the church today might know itself and its God better. This particular study lays the historical context for the most dynamic moment in the history of the church and the world: the incarnation of the Son of God. 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-meaning, … View Resource

  • Ignorance Is Not Bliss Media Resource by

    The apostle Paul knew his opponents’ views better than they did and never argued from a position of ignorance. In order to regain our Christian mind, we too must once again engage the world in a fully-informed way. In this message, Dr. W. Robert Godfrey explains the importance of training up a new generation of Christians who will reject anti-intellectual approaches and engage the philosophical, scientific, and religious challenges of the day in a fully-informed, Christ exalting way. View Resource

  • Questions & Answers #1 Media Resource by , , , ,

    Sinclair Ferguson, W. Robert Godfrey, Steven Lawson, Albert Mohler and R.C. Sproul answer questions on the Christian mind and thought. Questions: How do we instill a desire in our pastors and church leaders to engage science? (0:00) How do I grow in the knowledge of God’s truth in an environment that is openly hostile to it? (6:29) How should Christians address evolution? (10:18) How do we present the truth of the Bible to Catholics, Muslims, and other religions in a loving way without being confrontational? (15:58) Why should we trust in the authority of the Bible over other sacred … View Resource

  • We Don’t Need No Education Media Resource by

    At one time, Christians, particularly Reformed Christians, were the intellectual leaders in America, but this is no longer the case. We are largely marginalized and have abdicated intellectual leadership to secularists. In this message, Dr. W. Robert Godfrey examines the role that anti-intellectualism played in this self-inflicted problem and what we must do to turn it around. View Resource

  • Q&A with R.C. Sproul and Ligonier Teaching Fellows (May 2011) Media Resource by , , , ,

    On May 19, 2011, R.C. Sproul was joined by Ligonier Teaching Fellows Sinclair Ferguson, Robert Godfrey, Steven Lawson and R.C. Sproul Jr. to answer questions submitted by online viewers. In this round-table discussion, these men addressed topics such as dispensationalism, regeneration, election, evangelism, and Harold Camping. Note: Answers given reflect the views of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Dr. R.C. Sproul and Ligonier Ministries. Here is our Statement of Faith. View Resource

  • OPTIONAL SESSION: An Unexpected Journey Media Resource by

    In this optional session, W. Robert Godfrey relates the story of how he came to embrace Reformed theology, establishes the biblical and historical backgrounds for Calvinism, and explains the major themes of its doctrine. Based on the book: An Unexpected Journey View Resource

  • Pleasing God Media Resource by

    Scripture calls us to be holy as God is holy and exhorts us to strive for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. There are pitfalls, however, as we strive to mortify the flesh: we can easily fall into either legalism or antinomianism. In this lecture, Dr. W. Robert Godfrey provides biblical guidance and wisdom for Christians struggling against the world, the flesh, and the devil. View Resource

  • Questions & Answers Media Resource by , , , ,

    Ligonier Teaching Fellows Sinclair Ferguson, W. Robert Godfrey, Steven Lawson, and R.C. Sproul Jr. answer attendee questions. Questions: What are your favorite three books? (00:00) What affect has the book The Holiness of God had on you? (4:50) How can we discern the works of Satan and our own poor understanding? (20:05) What is the difference between the tree of life and the tree Jesus was crucified? (31:32) Did God suffer on the cross? (44:07) How dos the Gospel help us when we feel enslaved to sin in our Christian walk? (48:41) Have there been times … View Resource

  • Christ, Kingdom, & Culture Media Resource by

    Jesus Christ has been seated at the right hand of God the Father, and His kingdom has already been inaugurated although not yet consummated. How does our understanding of this biblical truth impact the church’s relationship and interaction with the surrounding culture? In this lecture, Dr. W. Robert Godfrey explores this issue, explaining how we are to be faithful to Christ our King as we await His coming. View Resource