Apologetics Faculty
Craig J. Hazen, Ph.D.
Founder and Director of M.A. Program in Christian Apologetics
Director of the M.A. Program in Science and Religion
Professor of Comparative Religion and Apologetics
Ph.D., M.A., University of California, Santa Barbara
Dr. Hazen is the editor of the philosophy journal, Philosophia Christi. He is also the author of the monograph The Village Enlightenment in America, the acclaimed apologetics novel Five Sacred Crossings, and dozens of articles and chapters in various books and journals. He is a recipient of the Fischer Award, the highest faculty honor at Biola and has lectured across North America and Europe on key apologetics topics—including lectures on Capitol Hill and in the White House. He is a popular church and conference speaker and former co-host of a national radio talk program.
John A. Bloom, Ph.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Physics
Academic Chair of the Master of Arts Program in Science and Religion
Ph.D., M.S. in Physics, Cornell University; Ph.D., M..A., in Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Annenberg Research Institute; M.A., M.Div., Biblical Theological Seminary.
Author of articles such as On Human Origins: A Survey, Why Isn't the Evidence Clearer?, Finding Truth in Religion: Is There a Factual Basis?
William Lane Craig, D.Theol., Ph.D.
Research Professor of Philosophy, Talbot School of Theology
D. Theol., Ludwig-Maximilliéns-Universität München, Germany; Ph.D., University of Birmingham, England; M.A., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Dr. Craig is one of the world's leading philosophers of religion and holds the position of research professor of philosophy at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. He holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the university of Birmingham, England, and a D.Theol. from the University of Munich, Germany. He is the author or editor of numerous cutting-edge works in philosophy, theology, and apologetics, including The Kalam Cosmological Argument, Assessing the New Testament Evidence for the Historicity of the Resurrection of Jesus, Divine Foreknowledge and Human Freedom,Theism, Atheism and Big Bang Cosmology, and God, Time and Eternity, as well as over a hundred articles in professional journals of philosophy and theology. Find him on the web at www.reasonablefaith.org
Alan W. Gomes, Ph.D.
Professor of Historical Theology
Chair, Systematic and Historical Theology Department
Ph.D., Fuller Theological Seminary; M.Div., Th.M., Talbot Theological Seminary; B.A., University of California, Santa Barbara
In addition to a range of published articles, Dr. Gomes is series editor of the 15-volume Zondervan Guide to Cults and Religious Movements, and wrote three books in the series: Unmasking the Cults, Unitarian Universalism, andTruth and Error: Comparative Charts of Cults and Christianity. He also edited an updated edition of W.G.T. Shedd's Dogmatic Theology.
Gary R. Habermas, Ph.D.
Regular Visiting Professor of Historical Apologetics
Ph.D., Michigan State University; Professor of Philosophy and Theology, Liberty University
Author or editor of numerous books including In Defense of Miracles, The Historical Jesus, Verdict on the Shroud, and The Resurrection of Jesus.
Joe Hellerman, Ph.D.
Professor of Biblical Literature
Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles; Th.M., Talbot School of Theology
Author of a significant new book on early Christian communities The Ancient Church as Family. In addition to his fine academic work, Dr. Hellerman has been a pastor for nearly a decade at Oceanside Christian Fellowship.
Clay Jones, D.Min.
Associate Professor of Christian Apologetics
Doctor of Ministry, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; M.Div.; B.A., philosophy
Formerly hosted Contend for Truth, a call-in nationally syndicated talk radio program. On his program he debated many people over eight years including John Cobb, Jr.; a professor of Buddhism; Jamal Badawi, Islamic Information Institute; a Muslim cleric; Lee Holzinger, Church of Scientology; Mormons; Jehovah’s Witness Greg Stafford; Dallas Blanchard, RCRC; Peta representatives; a euthanasia advocate; a secular humanist, Rep. Loretta Sanchez; KFI talk show host Bill Handle; Jimmy Creech, SoulForce; Bruce Ware; R. C. Sproul, Jr.; Robert Morey; R. Scott Clark; and a KJV only advocate. Dr. Jones was the executive director of Simon Greenleaf University (now Trinity Law School) has been on the pastoral staff of two large churches; has authored apologetic software as well as encyclopedia and journal articles; is writing a book, Why God Allows Evil, and speaks widely on that subject. Find him on the web at www.clayjones.net
Kevin A. Lewis, J.D., Th.M.
Associate Professor of Theology and Law
J.D., Whittier Law School; Th.M., Talbot School of Theology; M.Div. in Systematic Theology, Talbot School of Theology; B.A. in Religious Studies, CSULB
Dr. Lewis specializes in the topics of systematic and polemical theology, theology and law integration, jurisprudence, and Christian apologetics. He is the Founder and Director of the Evangelical Legal Society, an organization dedicated to the task of restoring the theological foundations of law and justice in society and providing Christians with the resources necessary to do law, justice, and public policy from a foundation of evangelical theology. Dr. Lewis is an active lecturer at churches, colleges, and conferences and has appeared on several radio and television shows, addressing a variety of topics.
Joshua Lingel, M.A., M.A.
Lecturer/Researcher in Islamic Studies and Apologetics
M.A. Philosophy of Religion and Ethics, Talbot School of Theology; M.A. Islamic Studies/History/Islamic Societies and Cultures, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London; B.A. Political Science, University of Washington; Continued Studies at Harvard University in Arabic, Islamic Law, and Terrorism; Knox Seminary: Missiology, Muslim Evangelism, Church Planting in Muslim Contexts, Christian-Muslim Theological Issues
Joshua is the founder and director of i2 Ministries. He has been asked to participate and/or give scholarly papers at the Corpus Coranicum – Exploring the Textual Beginnings of the Qur’an (University of Berlin); The Syriac Aramaic Qur’an (University of Notre Dame) and Inrah Institute for Research of Early Islamic History and the Koran Conference 2008
Kathy McReynolds, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professor in the Biblical Studies Department and Apologetics Department, Biola University
Ph.D, Religion & Ethics, USC; M.A. Talbot School of Theology, Biola University; B.A., Biola University
Dr. McReynolds has written several articles and commentaries for Baker and Broadman/Holman Publishers. She is also the author of several books including The Pilgrim Psalms, Women as Christ's Disciples, and Enhancing Our Way to Happiness? and serves as the Director of Public Policy, in the Christian Institute on Disability for Joni and Friends International Disability Center.
J. P. Moreland, Ph.D.
Distinguished Professor of Philosophy
Ph.D., University of Southern California; Th.M., Dallas Theological Seminary; M.A., University of California, Riverside
He has authored or co-authored books including Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview, Christianity and the Nature of Science, Scaling the Secular City, Does God Exist?, Immortality: The Other Side of Death, and The Life and Death Debate: Moral Issues of Our Times. He is co-editor of Christian Perspectives on Being Human and Jesus Under Fire: Modern Scholarship Reinvents the Historical Jesus. His work appears in scholarly journals throughout the world. Find him on the web at www.jpmoreland.com
Scott B. Rae, Ph.D.
Professor of Biblical Studies and Christian Ethics
Ph.D., University of Southern California; Th.M., Dallas Theological Seminary; B.A., Southern Methodist University
Dr. Rae has authored 6 books in ethics including The Ethics of Commercial Surrogate Motherhood, Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics, Brave New Families: Biblical Ethics and Reproductive Technologies, Beyond Integrity: A Judeo-Christian Approach to Business Ethics, and Body and Soul: Human Nature and the Crisis in Ethics. His work has appeared in scholarly journals. He is a consultant for ethics for four Southern California hospitals. He is a fellow of the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity and a fellow of the Wilberforce Forum.
Walter Russell, Ph.D.
Professor of New Testament Language and Literature
Ph.D., Westminster Theological Seminary; Th.M., Dallas Theological Seminary; M.A., Mount Saint Mary's Seminary; B.S., University of Missouri
Dr Russell is the author of The Flesh/Spirit Conflict in Galatians and Playing with Fire: How the Bible Ignites Change in Your Soul. He has contributed articles to numerous scholarly journals.
Kenneth Samples, M.A.
Adjunct Professor
M.A. Theological Studies, Talbot School of Theology
Senior research scholar at Reasons To Believe (RTB) and author of Without a Doubt and A World of Difference, he has contributed to numerous other books, including: Lights in the Sky & Little Green Men, The Cult of the Virgin, and Prophets of the Apocalypse. He has written articles for Christianity Today and The Christian Research Journal, and regularly participates in RTB’s webcasts and podcasts, including Straight Thinking, a podcast dedicated to encouraging Christians to utilize sound reasoning in their apologetics. He also writes for the ministry’s daily blog, Today’s New Reason to Believe.
R. Scott Smith, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Ethics and Christian Apologetics
Ph.D., M.A., Religion and Social Ethics, University of Southern California. M.A., Philosophy of Religion and Ethics, Talbot School of Theology
Dr. Smith is the author of the books Naturalism and Our Knowledge of Reality: Testing Religious Truth-claims, Truth and the New Kind of Christian, and Virtue Ethics and Moral Knowledge, and he has contributed to several others. He has written several articles, including "Could We Know Reality, Given Physicalism? Nancey MurphyÕs Views as Test Case." His specialties are in ethics, postmodernism, the emergent church, naturalism, and philosophy of religion, in particular with how we can know truth. He is also the secretary-treasurer of the Evangelical Philosophical Society.
Regular Visiting Lecturers
Clinton E. Arnold, Ph.D.
Professor of New Testament Language and Literature
Chair, New Testament Department, Talbot School of Theology
Ph.D., University of Aberdeen
He is the editor of the four-volume Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, Ephesians: Power and Magic, Powers of Darkness: Principalities and Powers in Paul's Letters, The Colossian Syncretism and many scholarly articles.
Garrett J. DeWeese, Ph.D.
Professor of Philosophy of Religion and Ethics
Director of the Th.M. emphasis in Philosophical and Moral Theology
Ph.D., M.A., University of Colorado, Boulder; Th.M. Dallas Theological Seminary; B.S., United States Air Force Academy; Studied at the Sorbonne, Paris
Dr. DeWeese is the author of God and the Nature of Time as well as articles and papers such as Eternal God: Atemporal, Sempiternal, or Omnitemporal?, Cloning Persons: Metaphysical and Ethical Issues, andTimeless God, Tenseless Time.
R. Douglas Geivett, Ph.D.
Professor of Philosophy of Religion and Ethics
Ph.D., University of Southern California; M.A., Gonzaga University; M.A., Dallas Theological Seminary.
In addition to a number of scholarly articles, he is the author of Evil and the Evidence for God and co-editor of Contemporary Perspectives on Religious Epistemology and In Defense of Miracles: A Comprehensive Case for God's Action in History. He is also an experienced debater on issues in the philosophy of religion.
David A. Horner, D.Phil.
Professor of Philosophy and Biblical Studies
D.Phil., M.Phil., Oxford University; M.A., Denver Seminary
Dr. Horner has taught at the University of Oxford, Denver Seminary, and served as a Visiting Scholar and Research Associate at the University of Colorado. He has lectured in numerous classrooms and university forums nationally and in Europe. His research interests lie in ethical theory, and the history of philosophy, particularly ancient and medieval ethics. He also serves as Research Scholar for Centers for Christian Study, International, and on the Advisory Board of Character Matters. Dr. Horner has written numerous articles on apologetics, ethics, and ancient and medieval philosophy.
Greg Koukl, M.A.
Lecturer in Christian Apologetics
M.A. in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics, Biola University
M.A. in Christian Apologetics, Simon Greenleaf University
Author of numerous articles in Christian Apologetics and co-author of the book Relativism: Feet Planted Firmly in Mid-Air. Founder and president of the apologetics ministry "Stand to Reason," editor of the periodical Solid Ground, and an experienced radio apologist.
Mark Mittelberg, M.A.
Executive Director, Willow Creek Association
M.A., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Mr. Mittelberg is the author of Building a Contagious Church, co-author ofBecoming a Contagious Christian, contributing editor of The Journey Bibleand columnist for Outreach magazine.
Tim Muehlhoff, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Communication
Ph.D., M.A., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Dr. Muelhoff is the co-author of The God Conversation and has written about marriage, faith, and communication in diverse journals and magazines such as the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Journal of Religion and Communication, Mars Hill Review, and Discipleship Journal.
John Mark Reynolds, Ph.D.
Regular Visiting Professor of Cultural Apologetics
Founder of the Torrey Honors Institute
Ph.D., M.A., University of Rochester
Co-author of Three Views on the Creation and Evolution Debate, author ofToward a Unified Human Platonic Psychology and Athens and Jerusalem. His articles have appeared in technical journals and periodicals such as New Oxford Review and Touchstone and he blogs regularly at johnmarkreynolds.com.
Fred Sanders, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Theology
Tutor for the Torrey Honors Institute
Ph.D., Graduate Theological Union; M.Div, Ashbury Theological Seminary
Dr. Sanders is the author of The Image of the Immanent Trinity: Rahner's Rule and the Theological Interpretation of Scripture, and numerous articles on the doctrine of the Trinity. He also wrote and illustrated four volumes of theological comic books, Dr. Doctrine's Christian Comix.
Lee Strobel, M.S.L.
M.S.L., Yale Law School
Mr. Strobel is the author of The Case for a Creator, God’s Outrageous Claims, The Case for Christmas, The Case for Easter, and Surviving a Spiritual Mismatch in Marriage, which he wrote with his wife, Leslie. For two seasons, Lee was executive producer and host of the weekly national network television program Faith Under Fire. He is also a contributing editor and columnist for Outreach magazine.
Recent Visiting Lecturers
David Alan Black, D.Theol.
Professor of New Testament and Greek, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
D. Theol., University of Basel, Switzerland
Dr. Black is the author of numerous books in New Testament language and literature including New Testament Textual Criticism, Why Four Gospels?and The Language of the New Testament.
Hugh Hewitt, J.D.
Professor of Law, Chapman University
J.D., University of Michigan Law School; B.A. Harvard University
Emmy Award Winning Co-Host of "Life and Times" on PBS
Prof. Hewitt held several positions in the Reagan White House and is now a partner in the law firm of Hewitt & McGuire. He regularly appears as a commentator on national television and is the author of several books including The Embarrassed Believer: Reviving Christian Witness in an Age of Unbelief and Searching for God in America.
Phillip E. Johnson, J.D.
Regular Visiting Professor of Cultural Apologetics; Professor of Law, Emeritus, University of California, Berkeley
J.D., University of Chicago; B.A., Harvard University
Former Clerk to the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
Author of the revolutionary book, Darwin on Trial, as well as Defeating Darwinism, Reason in the Balance, The Wedge of Truth, The Right Questions and Objections Sustained. Author of seminal articles countering the philosophical naturalism that underlies most of evolutionary theory and research. His provocative books and articles have inspired academic symposia at universities such as Stanford, Harvard, Chicago, Cornell, SMU and the University of Texas. In these settings, he has exchanged views with and debated such scientific and philosophic luminaries as Michael Ruse, Stephen Gould, William Provine, and Steven Weinberg.
Alvin Plantinga, Ph.D.
John A. O'Brien Professor of Philosophy, Notre Dame University
Ph.D., Yale University
Dr. Plantinga has been called "the most important philosopher of religion now writing." Widely acclaimed for his work on the metaphysics of modality, the ontological argument, the problem of evil and the epistemology of religious belief, he is the author or editor of 7 books including Warranted Christian Belief, God and Other Minds, The Nature of Necessity, and Faith and Rationality.
Ron Rhodes, Th.D.
Regular Visiting Professor of Theological Apologetics
Th.D., Th.M., Dallas Theological Seminary; B.A., Houston Baptist University
Author of numerous articles and books including The Heart of Christianity, When Cultists Ask, Christ before the Manger, The New Age Movement and more. Founder and president of Reasoning from the Scriptures Ministries.
Dallas Willard, Ph.D.
Professor of Philosophy, University of Southern California
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin
Author of numerous books and articles, mainly in the areas of epistemology, the philosophy of mind/logic, and on the philosophy of Edmund Husserl. Also, author of many influential books on Christian spiritual formation: In Search of Guidance, Spirit of the Disciplines, The Divine Conspiracy andThe Great Omission.