Derek Thomas (theologian)

Thomas is originally from Wales. In 1978, he completed his ministerial training from Reformed Theological Seminary in the US before moving on to receive his PhD from the University of Wales, Lampeter with a thesis on Calvin's preaching on the Book of Job. He served as a pastor for 17 years in Belfast, Northern Ireland before returning to the United States in 1996 to serve as the minister of teaching at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson. In 2011, he became associate pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina.[1] He was appointed the senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, South Carolina on August 11, 2013.[2] He has written and edited 15 books, and has also produced a volume for the Biblical commentary series published by Banner of Truth Trust and Evangelical Press. In 2004, Derek Thomas became editorial director for The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals and the editor of its e-zine, Reformation 21.

In 2018 P&R Publishing withdrew Derek Thomas' commentary on the book of Acts after allegations of uncredited use of pastor Sinclair Ferguson's sermons on the book of Acts. They noted that "the lack of attribution resulted from unclear note-taking more than a decade before the commentary on Acts was written, and we believe it does not reflect intentional misuse on the part of the author."[3]

The church leadership at Thomas' church backed Thomas in a statement of support.[3] Reformed Theological Seminary, which Thomas works for as a professor, also defended him, saying, "an RTS committee reviewing the Acts incident had cleared Thomas of 'any knowing and intentional plagiarism.' He [Ligon Duncan] added that Thomas will continue to teach. 'From the standpoint of RTS,' Duncan wrote, 'the case is now closed.'"[3]

A commission of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Catawba Presbytery found that Derek Thomas did in fact plagiarize the sermons of Sinclair Ferguson, but that "none of the interviews and investigations of this Committee have revealed any credible evidence that Derek Thomas intentionally engaged in the practice of plagiarism." Accordingly, Thomas was admonished in writing by Catawba Presbytery for unintentional plagiarism.[4]

• "Heaven On Earth:What the Bible Teaches about the Life to Come," Christian Focus, 2018
• Strength For The Weary, Reformation Trust Publishing, 2018
• The Pilgrim’s Progress: A Guided Tour, Ligonier Ministries, 2014
• How the Gospel Brings Us All the Way Home, Reformation Trust Publishing, 2011
• Acts: Reformed Expository Commentary 2011 (withdrawn by the publisher in November 2018 due to "unattributed content from sermons by another pastor"[5])
• What Is Providence? (Basics of the Faith) P & R, 2008
• Let’s Study Galatians Banner of Truth, 2004
• Calvin’s Teaching on Job: Proclaiming the Incomprehensible God Christian Focus Publications, 2004.
• Give Praise to God: A Vision for Reforming Worship (Ed. With J. Ligon Duncan III and Philip Graham Ryken) P & R, 2003
• Let’s Study Revelation Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 2003
• Mining for Wisdom: 28 Daily Readings from Job Evangelical Press, 2002.
• Making the Most of your Devotional Life Evangelical Press, 2001
• Praying the Saviour’s Way Christian Focus, 2001
• God Delivers: Isaiah Simply Explained, Welwyn Commentary Series, Evangelical Press, 1991, second impression 1998. Second Impression 1998.
• The Essential Commentaries for a Preacher’s Library, Reformed Academic Press, 1996.
• Taken Up To Heaven: The Ascension of Christ, with a foreword by J. Ligon Duncan, Evangelical Press, 1996.
• The Storm Breaks: Job Simply Explained, Welwyn Commentary Series, Evangelical Press, 1995. Second Impression 2004
• God Strengthens: Ezekiel Simply Explained, Welwyn Commentary Series, Evangelical Press, 1993. Second Impression 2003.
• Help for Hurting Christians: Reflections on Psalms, Evangelical Press, 1991.
• Wisdom: The Key to Living God’s Way, Christian Focus Publications, 1990.
• Serving the King: A Guide to Christian Usefulness, Evangelical Press, 1989.

• Reformation 21
• RTS biography of Derek Thomas
• First Presbyterian Church - Columbia, SC