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(Guidelines) Archaeology
J. Vernon McGee

John Vernon McGee (1904 - 1988). American Presbyterian pastor, radio teacher, and author born in Hillsboro, Texas. Converted at 14, he earned a bachelor’s from Southwestern University, a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a D.D. from Columbia Seminary. Ordained in 1933, he pastored in Georgia, Tennessee, and California, notably at Church of the Open Door in Los Angeles from 1949 to 1970, growing it to 3,000 members. In 1967, he launched Thru the Bible, a radio program teaching the entire Bible verse-by-verse over five years, now airing in 100 languages across 160 countries. McGee authored over 200 books, including Genesis to Revelation commentaries. Known for his folksy, Southern style, he reached millions with dispensationalist teachings. Married to Ruth Inez Jordan in 1936, they had one daughter. Despite throat cancer limiting his later years, he recorded thousands of broadcasts. His program and writings continue to shape evangelical Bible study globally.
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Sermon Summary
In this sermon, the speaker discusses how archaeology has provided evidence that supports the authenticity of the Word of God. They mention that in the past, some people denied the mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch because they believed writing did not exist during Moses' time. However, the discovery of ancient writings by archaeologists has disproven this argument. The speaker also mentions the excavation of the city of Jericho and the evidence of its walls falling down, which further supports the accuracy of the Bible. They briefly mention the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and how they did not discredit the Bible as some liberals had hoped. Overall, the sermon emphasizes how archaeology has substantiated the Word of God.
Sermon Transcription
Another way in which we can know is the fact of archaeology. The spade of the archaeologist has turned up many things that have proven that it is the Word of God. Now, for instance, there are those that many years denied the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch on the basis that writing was not in existence in Moses' day and for that reason why he could not have written the Pentateuch. You haven't heard anyone advance that theory recently, have you? Well, of course not. Now, for years the spade of the archaeologist has turned up writing that goes much farther back than Moses, so that is no longer a valid argument. And then we find that the spade of the archaeologist has turned up again and again evidence of that, the city of Jericho and the walls that fell down. Now, there has been some argument between Miss Kellogg and the fisherman who first excavated there, but I think that it's pretty well established that walls fell down. And I'll let them debate about the time and all that sort of thing. I believe that the Word of God has been substantiated there and in many other ways archaeology has demonstrated the accuracy of the Word of God. And many of the manuscripts that have been found do that. It's quite interesting when these Isaiah scrolls, Dead Sea Scrolls were found. My, the liberal leaped at that because he thought he found an argument that would discredit the Bible. It's quite interesting how it has not discredited the Bible and it seems that the liberal has lost a great deal of interest in the scrolls, the Dead Sea Scrolls that were found. There are many ways in which we could go into this. This is a field into which I do not care to enter at any great length.
(Guidelines) Archaeology
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John Vernon McGee (1904 - 1988). American Presbyterian pastor, radio teacher, and author born in Hillsboro, Texas. Converted at 14, he earned a bachelor’s from Southwestern University, a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a D.D. from Columbia Seminary. Ordained in 1933, he pastored in Georgia, Tennessee, and California, notably at Church of the Open Door in Los Angeles from 1949 to 1970, growing it to 3,000 members. In 1967, he launched Thru the Bible, a radio program teaching the entire Bible verse-by-verse over five years, now airing in 100 languages across 160 countries. McGee authored over 200 books, including Genesis to Revelation commentaries. Known for his folksy, Southern style, he reached millions with dispensationalist teachings. Married to Ruth Inez Jordan in 1936, they had one daughter. Despite throat cancer limiting his later years, he recorded thousands of broadcasts. His program and writings continue to shape evangelical Bible study globally.