John Soden was blessed to grow up in a pastor’s family and trusted Christ at an early age. Desiring from high school to serve the kingdom in some full-time capacity, John attended Biola University (BS in Physical Science, 1978), followed by Dallas Theological seminary (ThM, 1983, and PhD, 1989, both in Semitics and Old Testament Studies). After nearly 10 years of pastoral ministry in rural Colorado, God brought John, his wife Janet, and their three children to Lancaster to train men and women for service to the kingdom. John has been teaching at Lancaster Bible College and Capital Seminary since the fall of 1998. His mission, in the words of Paul, is to “proclaim [Christ], warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ” (Col. 1:28). The pastorate was a wonderful experience for the Sodens and was very difficult to leave, but teaching has always been a passion and a pleasure. John has the privilege of teaching and serving on the elder board of his local church, as well as teaching and preaching in Lancaster and across the globe. His teaching on both the undergraduate and graduate levels has included various aspects of Old Testament studies, Hebrew, hermeneutics, and even preaching. In 2012 he published In the Beginning…We Misunderstood with Kregel. John loves playing games with his family, traveling, everything outdoors, playing his guitar, and taking students of all ages to Israel for touring and archaeology. With their three children and one grandchild grown and scattered, John and his wife Janet live close to the college in Lancaster, PA.

Publications

• “Concordism.” “Cosmology, Biblical.” “Death.” “Eden.” “Ronald Numbers.” In Dictionary of Christianity and Science: The Definitive Reference for the Intersection of Christian Faith and Contemporary Science, edited by Paul Copan, Tremper Longman, Christopher L. Reese and Michael G. Strauss: Zondervan, 2017.
• Review of Adam, Eve and the Devil, by Marjo Korpel and Johannes de Moor (Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2014), Journal for the Evangelical Study of the Old Testament 5.1 (2016): 82-85.
• “From the Dust: Creating Adam in Historical Context,” Bibliotheca Sacra 172 (January-March 2015): 3-11
• In the Beginning . . We Misunderstood: Interpreting Genesis 1 in Its Original Context. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2012. (With Johnny V. Miller)
• “Samson: The Image of Israel’s Loyalties in Judges.”Evangelical Journal 26/2 (2008): 65-78.
• “How Do We Assess the Lives We Encounter?” President’s Perspective, winter 2003.
• “The Use of Psalm 45:7-8 (6-7) in Hebrews 1:8-9,” Exegesis and Exposition; 1987.

Education:

PhD, Semitics and Old Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary,  Dallas, TX
ThM, Semitics and Old Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary,  Dallas, TX
BS, Physical Science; Minor: Mathematical Science, Biola University, La Mirada, CA

Fun Fact:

Hobbies: outdoor sports and activities, squash, travel, gardening, games with my family

Verse:

“Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” Colossians 1:28 (ESV)