J. Vernon McGee

J. Vernon McGee (1904–1988) was an ordained Presbyterian minister, theologian, and radio minister. He was born in Hillsboro, Texas in 1904. McGee was pastor of the historic Church of the Open Door in downtown Los Angeles from 1949–1970.

McGee earned his BD from Columbia Theological Seminary, and his ThM and ThD from Dallas Theological Seminary. After serving in Presbyterian congregations in Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas, he moved to southern California to serve as pastor of Lincoln Avenue Presbyterian Church. In 1949 he moved to Los Angeles and became pastor of the Church of the Open Door. He also served as chairman of the Bible department at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (now Biola University) and lectured several times at Dallas Theological Seminary.

In 1967, McGee started his popular Thru the Bible radio series and soon it was broadcast on over 400 channels in North America. The radio broadcasts were transcribed, edited, and published in the Thru the Bible Commentary series. Other titles by McGee include David: A Man After God’s Own Heart, J. Vernon McGee on Prayer, Jesus: Centerpiece of Scripture, Living by Faith, and more.