- Home
- Speakers
- J. Vernon McGee
- (Guidelines) Inspiration Ii
(Guidelines) Inspiration Ii
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
Sermon Summary
J. Vernon McGee emphasizes the concept of verbal plenary inspiration, asserting that every word of the Scriptures is divinely inspired and authoritative. He references early Church Fathers like Irenaeus and Augustine to support the belief that the Scriptures are perfect and cannot err. McGee encourages believers to recognize the Bible as the voice of God, which speaks directly to our hearts and lives. He also indicates the importance of understanding illumination and interpretation in relation to Scripture, aiming to clarify these concepts further in his sermon.
Sermon Transcription
Now, when we talk about verbal plenary inspiration, we want to be very clear what we mean about that, and that means that we believe that the words are inspired and that we believe that all the words are inspired, so that today it's the words and, of course, not the thoughts. And we've already amplified that, I think, a great deal. And it was way back under Irenaeus. One of the Church Fathers said, "...the Scriptures indeed are perfect, forasmuch as they are spoken by the word of God and by his Spirit." Augustine made this statement. He says, "...let us therefore yield ourselves and bow to the authority of the Holy Scriptures, which can neither err nor deceive." May I say that we need to recognize that we have a book that is fully inspired, and as that great giant of Princeton years ago said, "...whatever the Bible says, God says." And he speaks in this book to our hearts and to our lives. Now, I want to move down, because actually last time I did not amplify enough concerning illumination and interpretation. And I'd like today to amplify a great deal of what we said last time about illumination.
(Guidelines) Inspiration Ii
- 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.