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John C. Holbert

Columnist

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John C. Holbert was born in Indiana, raised in Arizona, and educated in Iowa and Texas, receiving a Ph.D. in Old Testament in 1975. He has been a local church pastor in Louisiana, professor of religion at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, and is now Lois Craddock Perkins Professor of Homiletics at Perkins School of Theology, where he joined the faculty in 1979. John is married to Diana, an ordained minister of the United Methodist Church, Senior Pastor of Grace UMC in Dallas.

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Opening The Old Testament

Ascension Day: Don't Just Stand There, Get Busy!

Too many Christians pray mightily for the Second Coming and neglect completely the First Coming. Read More »

Trinity Sunday, The Delight of Wisdom: Reflections on Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31

Lady Wisdom is not only the right way to go; she also offers the most pleasurable way to go. Read More »

An Open-Hearted God, An Open-Hearted Worship: Reflections on 1 Kings 8:22-23, 41-43

All of us, like the dastardly David, need openness to those who are different if we are to experience fully God's amazing mercy. Read More »

Love Your Bible, but Watch Out! Reflections on 1 Kings 17:17-24

It is far past time for us to relinquish these antiquated and absurd notions about a God who rewards and punishes our human actions in directly cruel and sadistic ways. Read More »

What Goes 'Round . . . or Does It? Reflections on 2 Samuel 11:26-12:10, 13-15

Surely, that should end the matter. First husband dead and buried. Child born. All is well! Or is it? Read More »

What Are You Doing Here? Reflections on 1 Kings 19:1-4, 8-15a

Miracles are like that. They don't provide solid foundations for ongoing faith. Just ask Jesus. Read More »

Recent Articles

What Are You Doing Here? Reflections on 1 Kings 19:1-4, 8-15a

Miracles are like that. They don't provide solid foundations for ongoing faith. Just ask Jesus. Read More »

What Goes 'Round . . . or Does It? Reflections on 2 Samuel 11:26-12:10, 13-15

Surely, that should end the matter. First husband dead and buried. Child born. All is well! Or is it? Read More »

Love Your Bible, but Watch Out! Reflections on 1 Kings 17:17-24

It is far past time for us to relinquish these antiquated and absurd notions about a God who rewards and punishes our human actions in directly cruel and sadistic ways. Read More »

An Open-Hearted God, An Open-Hearted Worship: Reflections on 1 Kings 8:22-23, 41-43

All of us, like the dastardly David, need openness to those who are different if we are to experience fully God's amazing mercy. Read More »

Trinity Sunday, The Delight of Wisdom: Reflections on Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31

Lady Wisdom is not only the right way to go; she also offers the most pleasurable way to go. Read More »