J. Vernon McGee
Encyclopedia
John Vernon McGee, Th.D., LL.D, (June 17, 1904 – December 1, 1988) was an ordained Presbyterian minister (PCUS) who later pastored an interdenominational church, a Bible teacher, theologian, and was also a radio minister.
. He graduated with his B.D. from Columbia Theological Seminary
and his Th.M. and Th.D. from Dallas Theological Seminary
in Dallas. He served Presbyterian churches in Decatur, Georgia
; Nashville, Tennessee
; and Cleburne, Texas
before he moved with his wife to Pasadena, California
, where he accepted a position at the Lincoln Avenue Presbyterian Church.
He moved from Pasadena to Los Angeles and became the pastor of the Church of the Open Door
in 1949, where he continued as pastor until 1970. McGee also served as chairman of the Bible department at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (a.k.a. Biola University
) and as a visiting lecturer at Dallas Theological Seminary.
, Dr. McGee took his listeners from Genesis to Revelation
in a two and one-half year "Bible bus trip," as he called it. After retiring from the pastorate in January, 1970, and realizing that two and a half years was not enough time to teach the Bible, McGee completed another study of the entire Bible in a five year period. Thru the Bible is broadcast on Trans World Radio
in the UK and throughout the world every weekday.
Additional areas of service:
Early Years and Education
He was born in Hillsboro, TexasHillsboro, Texas
Hillsboro is a city in and the county seat of Hill County in Central Texas. The population was 8,232 at the 2000 census.Hillsboro, located on Interstate 35 where I-35E and I-35W meet south of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, is the primary center for trade and commerce in Hill County...
. He graduated with his B.D. from Columbia Theological Seminary
Columbia Theological Seminary
Columbia Theological Seminary is one of the ten theological institutions affiliated with the Presbyterian Church . It is located in Decatur, Georgia. Dr. Stephen A. Hayner is the seminary's president.-Description:...
and his Th.M. and Th.D. from Dallas Theological Seminary
Dallas Theological Seminary
Dallas Theological Seminary is an evangelical theological seminary located in Dallas, Texas. It is known for popularizing the theological system known as Dispensationalism...
in Dallas. He served Presbyterian churches in Decatur, Georgia
Decatur, Georgia
Decatur is a city in, and county seat of, DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. With a population of 19,335 in the 2010 census, the city is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple zip codes in unincorporated DeKalb County bear the Decatur name...
; Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
; and Cleburne, Texas
Cleburne, Texas
Cleburne is a city in Johnson County, Texas, United States, and a suburb of Fort Worth. According to 2007 United States Census Bureau estimates, the population is 29,050. It is the county seat of Johnson County. Cleburne is named for a Confederate General, Patrick Cleburne...
before he moved with his wife to Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, where he accepted a position at the Lincoln Avenue Presbyterian Church.
He moved from Pasadena to Los Angeles and became the pastor of the Church of the Open Door
Church of the Open Door
The Church of the Open Door was conceived by R. A. Torrey who had come to Los Angeles to start a Bible institute similar to Moody Bible Institute. The church was to be strictly interdenominational, though Evangelical. Its purpose was to reach the lost of Los Angeles, which was reflected in the...
in 1949, where he continued as pastor until 1970. McGee also served as chairman of the Bible department at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (a.k.a. Biola University
Biola University
Biola University is a private, evangelical Christian, liberal arts university located near Los Angeles. Biola's main campus is in La Mirada in Los Angeles County, California. In addition, the university has several satellite campuses in Chino Hills, Inglewood, San Diego, and Laguna Hills.-...
) and as a visiting lecturer at Dallas Theological Seminary.
Thru The Bible
In 1967, he began the Thru the Bible Radio Network program. In a systematic study of each book of the BibleBible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
, Dr. McGee took his listeners from Genesis to Revelation
Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament. The title came into usage from the first word of the book in Koine Greek: apokalupsis, meaning "unveiling" or "revelation"...
in a two and one-half year "Bible bus trip," as he called it. After retiring from the pastorate in January, 1970, and realizing that two and a half years was not enough time to teach the Bible, McGee completed another study of the entire Bible in a five year period. Thru the Bible is broadcast on Trans World Radio
Trans World Radio
Trans World Radio is a multinational Christian evangelistic broadcaster. TWR broadcasts from 14 countries using mediumwave or high-powered AM transmitters, shortwave as well as through local radio stations, cable, satellite, and the Internet to reach millions of people in 160 nations in their own...
in the UK and throughout the world every weekday.
Death
Dr. McGee continued many speaking engagements after he retired, refusing to be slowed by a bout of cancer from which he fully recovered. However, a heart problem surgically corrected in 1965 resurfaced, and he died in his sleep in 1988. After his death, the five-year program of Thru the Bible continues to air on over 400 radio stations in North America, and is heard in more than 100 languages and is broadcast worldwide via radio, shortwave, and the Internet.Education and Areas of Service
| Degree | Year | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) | 1930 | Southwestern (Memphis, TN) |
| Bachelor of Divinity (B.Div.) | 1933 | Columbia Theological Seminary Columbia Theological Seminary Columbia Theological Seminary is one of the ten theological institutions affiliated with the Presbyterian Church . It is located in Decatur, Georgia. Dr. Stephen A. Hayner is the seminary's president.-Description:... |
| Master of Theology (Th.M.) | 1937 | Dallas Theological Seminary Dallas Theological Seminary Dallas Theological Seminary is an evangelical theological seminary located in Dallas, Texas. It is known for popularizing the theological system known as Dispensationalism... |
| Doctor of Theology (Th.D.) | 1940 | Dallas Theological Seminary Dallas Theological Seminary Dallas Theological Seminary is an evangelical theological seminary located in Dallas, Texas. It is known for popularizing the theological system known as Dispensationalism... |
| Years | Congregation | Location | Denomination |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19??-19?? | ?? | Decatur, Georgia | Presbyterian |
| 19??-19?? | Second Presbyterian Church | Nashville, Tennessee | Presbyterian |
| May 3,1936-October 3,1940 | First Presbyterian Church | Cleburne, Texas | Presbyterian |
| 1940-1948 | Lincoln Avenue Presbyterian Church | Pasadena, California | Presbyterian |
| 1949-1970 | Church of the Open Door Church of the Open Door The Church of the Open Door was conceived by R. A. Torrey who had come to Los Angeles to start a Bible institute similar to Moody Bible Institute. The church was to be strictly interdenominational, though Evangelical. Its purpose was to reach the lost of Los Angeles, which was reflected in the... |
Los Angeles, California | Interdenominational |
| Years | Program | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1941-19?? | The Open Bible Hour | Pasadena, California |
| 19??-1967 | High Noon Bible Class | Pasadena, California |
| 1967-Present | Thru the Bible | Pasadena, California |
Additional areas of service:
- Head of the English Bible Department at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (a.k.a. Biola UniversityBiola UniversityBiola University is a private, evangelical Christian, liberal arts university located near Los Angeles. Biola's main campus is in La Mirada in Los Angeles County, California. In addition, the university has several satellite campuses in Chino Hills, Inglewood, San Diego, and Laguna Hills.-...
) - Visiting lecturer at Dallas Theological Seminary
External links
- Thru The Bible Radio Network
- Thru the Bible daily broadcast
- Thru the Bible Questions and Answers saturday broadcast
- Thru the Bible Sunday Sermon broadcast
- Thru the Bible International broadcast
- Entire 5-year Program (free download ~5.9GB,435 hours)
- Church of the Open Door
- J. Vernon McGee at Find A Grave