Dr. J. Ligon Duncan III

Education

Furman University, B.A.
Covenant Theological Seminary, MDiv, MA
University of Edinburgh, Ph.D.

About Dr. Duncan

Dr. J. Ligon Duncan III is the Chancellor and CEO of RTS and the John E. Richards Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology. A renowned theologian and church leader, his teaching and research focus on Reformed theology, biblical exegesis, and church history. Passionate about training future ministry leaders, Dr. Duncan combines deep theological insight with a commitment to pastoral formation.

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Interviews

Dr. Ligon Duncan

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What do the Psalms tell us about hope?

Dr. Ligon Duncan explains how the Psalms direct us away from changing circumstances and anchor our hope in the unchanging character of God.

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Interviews

Dr. Ligon Duncan

3 min read

What is a true theologian?

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Interviews

Dr. Ligon Duncan

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How should Christians handle public discourse?

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Interviews

Dr. Ligon Duncan

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How can pastors equip and encourage women in the church?

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Featured Publications

Applied expository Bible-study guide to 1 and 2 Thessalonians.

We’ve been saved by Jesus... so what’s next? How do we discern good teaching from bad, what does it look like to grow in holiness, and what should our expectations be for the future? Find answers to those questions in the warm, instructive letters Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church.

Pastor and professor Ligon Duncan unpacks these two letters verse by verse, teaching us about Christ’s future return and showing us what it means to live in the light of that, whether we’re new Christians, seasoned ministers of the gospel, or somewhere in between. Along the way we see why Scripture is so important; learn to find reasons for thankfulness; clarify our beliefs about death, judgment,...

Does God care how we worship? For thousands of years, believers have answered with a resounding yes! Ever since the days of Cain and Abel, God has emphasized right worship, and it’s clear that careless worship can have serious consequences.Worship consciously regulated by God’s Word is a distinct characteristic of the Reformed church. Yet today many churches do not understand that both the Old and New Testaments have much to say about appropriate worship before God. Ligon Duncan lays the foundations of the regulative principle in worship, providing full biblical support as well as historical context. He also answers objections: Is this “right worship” essentially European? Is it flexible to different churches and contexts? Is it really...

About Dr. Duncan III

Dr. J. Ligon Duncan III is the Chancellor & CEO of Reformed Theological Seminary and the John E. Richards Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology. He served as Senior Minister of the historic First Presbyterian Church (1837) in Jackson, Miss. for 17 years (1996-2013). He is co-founder of Together for the Gospel, Senior Fellow of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (having served as both Chairman of the Board and President), and was President of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals from 2004-2012. Duncan served as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America (2004-2005). He studied at Furman University, Greenville, SC (BA); Covenant Theological Seminary, St. Louis (MDiv, MA, cum laude); and the University of Edinburgh, Scotland (Ph.D.). Duncan has edited, written, and contributed to numerous books. Ligon and his wife Anne reside in Jackson, Miss. They have two adult children.

Publications

The Gospel as Center (contributing author), Crossway, 2012.
Does Grace Grow Best in Winter? (author) Phillipsburg, N.J.: P&R Publishing, 2009.
Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross, edited by Nancy Guthrie, (contributing author). Crossway, 2009.
Perspectives on Christian Worship: 5 Views, edited by J. Matthew Pinson, (contributing author). B&H Academic, 2009.
Risking the Truth: Handling Error in the Church, edited by Martin Downes, (contributing author) Christian Focus, 2009.
Proclaiming a Cross-Centered Theology (co-author with Mark Dever, Al Mohler, C.J. Mahaney) Crossway, 2009.
Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus, edited by Nancy Guthrie, (contributing author) Crossway, 2008.
Fear Not. (author) Christian Focus, 2008.
In My Place Condemned He Stood. (contributing author) Crossway, 2008.
Preaching the Cross (co-author with Mark Dever, Al Mohler, C.J. Mahaney) Crossway, 2007.
Women’s Ministry in the Local Church, Crossway, 2006.
Worshipping God Together: Congregational Worship at First Presbyterian Church. (author) FPC Publishing, 2005.
Confessing Our Hope, (contributing author) GPTS Press, 2004.
Letters to Timothy, (contributing author) Founders Press, 2004.
Should We Leave Our Churches? (co-author with Mark Talbot). P&R, 2004.
The Devoted Life: An Invitation to the Puritan Classics, (contributing author) IVP, 2004.
Give Praise to God: A Vision for Reforming Worship, (editor and contributing author) P&R, 2003.
Reclaiming the Gospel and Reforming Churches, (contributing author) Founders Press, 2003.
The Westminster Confession in the 2lst Century: Essays in Remembrance of the 350th Anniversary of the Westminster Assembly, (general editor and contributing author) Mentor,Vol. 1, 2003; Vol. 2, 2004; Vol. 3, 2009; Vol. 4 [forthcoming].
The Genesis Debate: Three Views of the Days of Creation (co-author with David W. Hall, Meredith Kline, Lee Irons, Hugh Ross and Gleason Archer). Crux Press, 2000.
Moses’ Law for Modern Government: The Intellectual and Sociological Origins of the Christian Reconstructionist Movement, Press, 1996.
David Hall’s The Practice of Confessional Subscription (contributing author).University Press of America, 1995.
Matthew Henry’s Method for Prayer (editor).Christian Focus Publications/Christian Heritage, 1994.
The Westminster Assembly: A Guide to Basic Bibliography, Press, 1994.
A Short History of the Westminster Assembly. Reformed Academic Press, 1993.