- Home
- Speakers
- J. Vernon McGee
- (Genesis) Genesis 2:15 17
(Genesis) Genesis 2:15-17
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.
Download
Topic
Sermon Summary
In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. He emphasizes that God gave man dominion over nature and placed him in the garden to take care of it. However, God also gave man a commandment not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The preacher believes that the fruit from this tree was not poisoned, but rather a test of obedience. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate from the tree, they experienced spiritual death and were separated from God.
Sermon Transcription
Verse 15, And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden, to dress it and to keep it. Now this man, remember, had dominion, and the forces of nature came in his beck and call. The Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it. For in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Now it wasn't God's original intention for man to die, but man now is put on probation. You see, man has a free will, but privilege always creates responsibility. That's an axiomatic statement today. That is true. And this man who's now given a free will, he must be given a test whether he'll obey God or not. And we're not going to have a question of whether the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was poison. I think it was the best fruit in the garden. And the day he'd do it, he'd die. Now he'd die, and remember he's a trinity, and he'd have to die in a threefold way. He didn't die physically until over 900 years after this, but God says, In the day ye eat ye shall die. Well, death means separation. He was separated from God spiritually the day he ate. You may be sure of that.
(Genesis) Genesis 2:15-17
- Bio
- Summary
- Transcript
- Download

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.