Augustus Nicodemus Lopes


Augustus Nicodemus Gomes Lopes is a Brazilian presbyterian minister and calvinist theologian, writer and professor. He was vice-president of the Supreme Council of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil from 2018 to 2022 and Chancellor of Mackenzie Presbyterian University from 2003 to 2013. The Christian Post has called him one of the greatest Brazilian conservative theologians. He is married to Minka Lopes and has four children. Today, he is a pastor at Esperança Bible Presbyterian Church in the USA.
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 in Recife, holds a master's degree in New Testament by the Reformed University of Potchefstroom and a doctorate in biblical interpretation by Westminster Theological Seminary, with studies at Reformed Seminary in Kampen. He has also done postdoctoral studies at Westminster Theological Seminary. He was professor and director of the Seminário Presbiteriano do Norte in northern Brazil, professor of exegesis at Seminário José Manuel da Conceição in São Paulo, New Testament Professor at the Centro Presbiteriano de Pós-Graduação Andrew Jumper in São Paulo, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Recife and pastor of the Evangelical Swiss Church of São Paulo. He was associate pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Santo Amaro, São Paulo, SP until 2014. Lopes was senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Goiania. 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. He was vice-director and professor of New Testament at the Andrew Jumper Presbyterian Center for Graduate Studies, of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil, in São Paulo, and was the vice-president of the Supreme Council of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil. 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. 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, a platform dedicated to the study of the Bible and Reformed Theology. 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 Free in Christ: The Message of Galatians Controversies in the Church Pornography, Is There Any Harm in It? The Supremacy and Sufficiency of Christ - The Message of Colossians
  • Worship According to God - The Message of Malachi Keeping the Church Pure Christian Atheism and Other Threats to the Brazilian Church What They're Doing to the Church A Complicated Church: Analysis of 1 Corinthians 1-4 What You Need to Know About Spiritual Warfare Spiritual Worship The Bible and Your Family The Bible and Its Interpreters Christian Faith and Mysticism Tolerance in the New Testament Calvin the Theologian of the Holy Spirit Ordination of Women: What the New Testament Says Commentary on 1 John Commentary on James Commentary on 2 and 3 John and Jude Filled with the Spirit It's Not Yet the End Calvin's Social Vision Apostles Paths of Faith Miracles of Jesus in the Gospel of John What Comes After Death Interpreting the New Testament: Hebrews Interpreting the New Testament: James Interpreting the New Testament: 1 Peter Interpreting the New Testament: 1 John Interpreting the New Testament: 1 Testament: 2 and 3 John and Jude Spiritual Awakening Revival Sex and Holiness If God is against us It's not the end yet Uncomplicated Christianity Simplified Christianity Christianity made easy Christianity well explained What the Bible says about money What the Bible says about prayer Relational Theology Calvin and the social responsibility of the church God's compassion The conquest of the promised land Christianity in the university The power of God for salvation The power of God for sanctification A call to justice and righteousness In the beginning of everything: Genesis 1-11 My grace is sufficient for you
  • ''Confessions of a preacher''

Tributes

  • 2003: Trompovski Marshal Medal.
  • 2017: Citizen of Goiás.
  • 2019: Distinguished Visitor of Sorocaba.