J. Vernon McGee

John Vernon McGee was born on August 17, 1904, in Hillsboro, Texas, and grew up in Oklahoma. His father was a rancher and a carpenter, and the family was poor. As a boy, he had little interest in religion. He was a restless youth who worked at a variety of jobs. He was converted at the age of fourteen at a revival meeting and gave his life to the Lord. He felt called to the ministry. He attended Southwestern Presbyterian University in Tennessee and then went to Columbia Theological Seminary in Georgia, where he graduated. He later studied at Dallas Theological Seminary and earned a doctorate in theology.

He pastored small churches in Texas, Georgia and Tennessee. In 1940 he moved to Los Angeles and served at the Church of the Open Door, a large nondenominational church in the center of the city. He was pastor there from 1949 to 1970. Under his leadership, the church grew and became a center of Bible teaching. He was known for his plain speech and his Texas drawl. He had a talent for explaining the Scriptures in simple terms, and his sermons were popular with people of all backgrounds.

In 1967, he began a radio program called Thru the Bible. The plan was to take the listener through the whole Bible in five years, by covering a chapter or two at a time. It was a simple idea that proved wildly popular. The program was broadcast across the United States and abroad and was eventually translated into many languages. It reached millions of listeners and became one of the most widely heard Bible-teaching programs in history. After his death, the broadcasts continued, using the recordings that he made, and they are still on the air. The five-year cycle has been repeated many times.

He wrote a series of commentaries based on his radio messages. The books are plain, with a focus on the text and with a dry sense of humor. He also wrote on prophecy and other topics. He was a dispensationalist and taught that the church would be taken up before a period of tribulation. He also upheld the authority of the Bible and the doctrine of salvation by grace. His style was marked by a fondness for homely illustrations and a good deal of common sense. He sometimes made harsh remarks about those who disagreed with him.

He was a man of strong opinions, and he was not shy about voicing them. He criticized the charismatic movement, modern translations and some of the trends of the day. His views were sometimes narrow, and those who disagreed found him stubborn. He also was a man with a love for people and a great sense of humor. Those who knew him spoke of his warm heart. He was married to Ruth, who was his partner for many years.

He died on December 1, 1988, in Los Angeles, at the age of eighty-four. His radio program carried on and has reached many more than he ever imagined. His life shows that the plain teaching of the Word, patiently set out day by day, can reach the whole world.