Augustus Nicodemus Lopes

Augustus Nicodemus Gomes Lopes (João Pessoa, Paraíba, 25 September 1954) is a Brazilian presbyterian minister[1] and calvinist theologian, writer and professor. He was vice-president of the Supreme Council of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil from 2018 to 2022[2] and Chancellor of Mackenzie Presbyterian University[3] from 2003 to 2013. The Christian Post has called him one of the greatest Brazilian conservative theologians.[4] He is married to Minka Lopes and has four children.[5] Today, he is a pastor at Esperança Bible Presbyterian Church in the USA.[6]

His line of interpretation follows the grammatical-historical method as opposed to the historical-critical interpretation. He believes that the divine revelation through spiritual gifts and prophecy has ended, and does not believe in manifestation of tongues as a sign of the Holy Spirit's activities in modern days. He also discusses practical issues such as family, missions, holiness, being filled with the Spirit, worship, and spiritual warfare.

Ministerial Biography

Lopes graduated in theology at the Seminário Presbiteriano do Norte (North Presbyterian Seminary) in Recife, holds a master's degree in New Testament by the Reformed University of Potchefstroom (South Africa) and a doctorate in biblical interpretation by Westminster Theological Seminary (USA), with studies at Reformed Seminary in Kampen (Netherlands). He has also done postdoctoral studies at Westminster Theological Seminary. He was professor and director of the Seminário Presbiteriano do Norte (Northern Presbyterian Seminary) (1985–1991) in northern Brazil, professor of exegesis at Seminário José Manuel da Conceição (JMC Seminary) in São Paulo, New Testament Professor at the Centro Presbiteriano de Pós-Graduação Andrew Jumper (Andrew Jumper Presbyterian Post-Graduate Center) (1995–2001) in São Paulo, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Recife (1989–1991) and pastor of the Evangelical Swiss Church of São Paulo (1995–2001).[7] He was associate pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Santo Amaro, São Paulo, SP until 2014.[8][9] Lopes was senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Goiania (2014 to 2018). He was assistant pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Recife until 2023.

He is a minister of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil, a Calvinist theologian, professor and writer born in Paraíba. He was chancellor of the Mackenzie Presbyterian University from 2003 to 2013, a position that aims to maintain the Presbyterian confessionality of the institution.[10][11][12][13][14] He was vice-director and professor of New Testament at the Andrew Jumper Presbyterian Center for Graduate Studies,[15] of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil, in São Paulo,[16] and was the vice-president of the Supreme Council of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil.[17][18] He was an assistant pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Recife until 2023. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest Presbyterian preachers and theologians in Brazil.[19] He is recognized for his ability to explain, in a simpler way and in accessible language, the various complex biblical themes such as predestination, God's sovereignty, the origin of evil, eschatology, apologetics, and the difference between churches and sects.

Online Community

In January 2024, Nicodemus founded the online community Living the Scriptures,[20] a platform dedicated to the study of the Bible and Reformed Theology (only in portuguese). Launched as an initiative focused on theological education, the community offers courses, live classes, ebooks, devotionals, and interactive forums focused on a Reformed approach to Scripture. The platform's content ranges from introductions to the foundations of the Christian faith to advanced theological topics such as eschatology, hermeneutics, and contemporary challenges to faith. In addition to educational content, Living the Scriptures promotes a space for interaction among members, enabling discussions and sharing of experiences in an online environment. The target audience includes Christians seeking to deepen their biblical knowledge, as well as religious leaders and theology students. With a theological approach based on Reformed principles, the platform aims to equip its members with tools to interpret Scripture and apply its teachings in their daily lives.

Books

Nicodemus has books published in Spanish, Italian and English, as well as Portuguese. Among them are:

  • Pentecost and the Growth of the Church (Editora Vida Nova)
  • Free in Christ: The Message of Galatians (Editora Vida Nova)
  • Controversies in the Church (Editora Mundo Cristão)
  • Pornography, Is There Any Harm in It? (Editora dos Clássicos)
  • The Supremacy and Sufficiency of Christ - The Message of Colossians (Editora Vida Nova)
  • Worship According to God - The Message of Malachi (Editora Vida Nova)
  • Keeping the Church Pure (Cultura Cristã)
  • Christian Atheism and Other Threats to the Brazilian Church (Editora Mundo Cristão)
  • What They're Doing to the Church (Editora Mundo Cristão)
  • A Complicated Church: Analysis of 1 Corinthians 1-4 (Cultura Cristã)
  • What You Need to Know About Spiritual Warfare (Cultura Cristã)
  • Spiritual Worship (Cultura Cristã)
  • The Bible and Your Family (co-author, Editora Cultura Cristã)
  • The Bible and Its Interpreters (Editora Cultura Cristã)
  • Christian Faith and Mysticism (co-author, Editora Cultura Cristã)
  • Tolerance in the New Testament (Editora PES)
  • Calvin the Theologian of the Holy Spirit (Editora PES)
  • Ordination of Women: What the New Testament Says (PES)
  • Commentary on 1 John (Editora Cultura Cristã)
  • Commentary on James (Editora Cultura Cristã)
  • Commentary on 2 and 3 John and Jude (Editora Cultura Cristã)
  • Filled with the Spirit (Editora Vida)
  • It's Not Yet the End (Editora LPC)
  • Calvin's Social Vision (Editora Cultura Cristã)
  • Apostles (Editora Fiel)
  • Paths of Faith (Estação da Fé)
  • Miracles of Jesus in the Gospel of John (Estação da Fé)
  • What Comes After Death (Estação da Fé)
  • Interpreting the New Testament: Hebrews (Editora Cultura Cristã)
  • Interpreting the New Testament: James (Editora Cultura Cristã)
  • Interpreting the New Testament: 1 Peter (Editora Cultura Cristã)
  • Interpreting the New Testament: 1 John (Editora Cultura Cristã)
  • Interpreting the New Testament: 1 Testament: 2 and 3 John and Jude (Editora Cultura Cristã)
  • Spiritual Awakening (Editora Cultura Cristã)
  • Revival (GodBooks)
  • Sex and Holiness (GodBooks)
  • If God is against us (Editora Hagnos)
  • It's not the end yet (Editora Hagnos)
  • Uncomplicated Christianity (Editora Mundo Cristão)
  • Simplified Christianity (Editora Mundo Cristão)
  • Christianity made easy (Editora Mundo Cristão)
  • Christianity well explained (Editora Mundo Cristão)
  • What the Bible says about money (Editora Mundo Cristão)
  • What the Bible says about prayer (Editora Mundo Cristão)
  • Relational Theology (Editora PES)
  • Calvin and the social responsibility of the church (Editora PES)
  • God's compassion (Editora Vida Nova)
  • The conquest of the promised land (Editora Vida Nova)
  • Christianity in the university (Editora Vida Nova)
  • The power of God for salvation (Editora Vida New)
  • The power of God for sanctification (Editora Vida Nova)
  • A call to justice and righteousness (Editora Vida Nova)
  • In the beginning of everything: Genesis 1-11 (Editora Vida Nova)
  • My grace is sufficient for you (Editora Vida Nova)
  • Confessions of a preacher (Editora Mundo Cristão)

Tributes

  • 2003: Trompovski Marshal Medal.[21]
  • 2017: Citizen of Goiás.[22][23]
  • 2019: Distinguished Visitor of Sorocaba.[24]

References

  1. ^ "Ronilso Pacheco - Bolsonaro, Moro e a disputa conservadora para falar em nome dos evangélicos". noticias.uol.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 27 March 2025.
  2. ^ "IPB | Organização". IPB - Igreja Presbiteriana do Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Mackenzie Presbyterian University. Chancellor's Office". Archived from the original on 19 December 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  4. ^ Gigliotti, Amanda. "Massacre in Rio de Janeiro, Heaven and Hell: 'No Regret Life in there Pardon' (translation)". Christian Times. Archived from the original on 14 April 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  5. ^ Editora Mundo Cristão. Author's profile Archived 8 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Farias, Heleno (2 November 2023). "VÍDEO: Augustus Nicodemus anuncia saída do Brasil; saiba o motivo". JM NOTÍCIA (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  7. ^ Editora Mundo Cristão. Author's profile Archived 8 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "Presbyterian Church of Santo Amaro". Archived from the original on 19 November 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  9. ^ "História". Igreja Presbiteriana de Santo Amaro. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  10. ^ "Alunos do Mackenzie se revoltam com carta de chanceler que se opõe a lei anti-homofobia". Guia do Estudante (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  11. ^ "RedeGN - Chanceler da Universidade Mackenzie visita a região". www.redegn.com.br. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  12. ^ "Líder religioso do Mackenzie ataca lei contra homofobia e causa polêmica - Educação". Estadão (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  13. ^ "Alunos do Mackenzie protestam contra carta de líder religioso - Educação". Estadão (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  14. ^ LOPES, Dr. Augustus Nicodemus Gomes (2010). "Manifesto Presbiteriano sobre a Lei da Homofobia" (PDF). Igreja Presbiteriana do Brasil. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  15. ^ "Professores do Centro Presbiteriano de Pós-Graduação Andrew Jumper".
  16. ^ "Centro Presbiteriano de Pós-Graduação Andrew Jumper".
  17. ^ "IPB | Organização". IPB - Igreja Presbiteriana do Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  18. ^ "Comissão Executiva do Supremo Concílio da Igreja Presbiteriana do Brasil".
  19. ^ "Ronilso Pacheco - Bolsonaro, Moro e a disputa conservadora para falar em nome dos evangélicos". noticias.uol.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  20. ^ "Vivendo as Escrituras".
  21. ^ "Augustus Nicodemus Gomes Lopes". Plataforma Lattes. 18 March 2010. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  22. ^ "Assembleia concede honrarias a religiosos em comemoração aos 500 anos da Reforma Protestante". Assembleia Legislativa de Goiás. 23 November 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  23. ^ "Projeto de Lei nº 510, de 01 de novembro de 2017". Assembleia Legislativa de Goiás. 1 November 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  24. ^ "Prefeitura de Sorocaba homenageia Igreja Presbiteriana do Brasil pelos seus 160 anos". 4 August 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2021.

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