One on One with Mark McGinniss

Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I came to know the Lord as my savior between my junior and senior year of college while studying to be a marine scientist. After I was saved, I realized that since salvation was such a great gift I wanted to serve God in full-time ministry. I began my ministry journey in my church’s Christian school as a high school math and science teacher about a year after graduating Stockton State College in New Jersey. I enjoy scuba diving, kayaking, and fishing.

In 1979, I married my wife, Joy, two weeks after starting as a teacher. Joy is now Dr. Bixby’s assistant at the Seminary. We have five children: Jeremy (23) is a PBU grad in music and is married to Kara; Drew (21) is an IT analyst and is married to Temisa; Ian (19) is a junior at Houghton College this fall; Kasey (15) is a junior at Summit Christian Academy; and Kyle (13) is currently in eighth grade at Summit. Our claim to fame is that all of our children and our two daughters-in- law are all born in January.

In what types of ministries were you involved before coming to BBS?
I have spent 27 years in full-time ministry in the same church in which I accepted Christ. I have been a Christian school teacher and principal at Maranatha Christian Academy in Hazlet, NJ, and I have also been a youth and senior pastor at Maranatha Baptist Church.

You are going to be teaching OT Literature. What do you enjoy most about the OT?
I enjoy the way in which God reveals Himself to us in the OT. I enjoy seeing God as Creator, sovereign King, and as a gracious and personal God. I especially enjoy the poetic sections of the OT that give voice to some of our deepest longings and struggles.

What is the most challenging thing about OT study, and how can that be overcome?
One of the challenges facing OT study that needs to be addressed is the thought that the Old Testament is indeed “old” and, thus, antiquated and out of step with modern man. A way to address this issue is to demonstrate consistently through teaching and life that the OT is relevant for today’s world. For instance, some of the Psalms are excellent prayers to pray back to God. The Song of Songs celebrates the passion and desire of married love and through that celebration invites every Christian couple to enjoy that passionate love in their own marriage.

How has your OT studies helped you in your ministry?
My OT studies have helped me immensely in ministry. They have given me increased ability to counsel individual believers as well as increased confidence in the pulpit and other teaching ministries in my local church. My studies have helped me mature as a husband, as a father, and as a believer. My studies have continually allowed me to be awed by the power of God in his created order as well as in the life of individuals. Being able to see afresh the power of God in the OT allows me to trust God when things get tough in life.

How is understanding the language of the OT important in understanding its meaning?
While the English Bible translations we have available are excellent, there is no real substitute for being able to handle the biblical text in its original languages. Sometimes there are shades of meaning, word order, and author’s emphasis that are missed in the English translations of our Bibles. Knowing the language allows one to evaluate the conclusions of the commentaries (and other helps) critically and intelligently and thus arrive at the correct meaning of the biblical author.

What advice would you give someone just starting an in-depth study of the Old Testament?
I would encourage them to read deeply. For starters, continually read the scriptural portions of the Old Testament that interests them. (i.e. read the same book such, as Ruth, for 30 days). I would also encourage them to read widely. Read articles from theological journals such as our Journal of Ministry and Theology. Read book reviews from solid theological journals so you can build a strong theological library to do future study. If they really want to go deep into the Word, they should pursue a theological education.

Resources
First and foremost: The OT—nothing beats reading the text!
Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia.
Brown, Francis, S.R. Driver, and C.A. Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament.
Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, ed. Ryken, Wilhoit, Longman.
Pritchard, James B., Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament.
House, Paul. Old Testament Theology.
Stuart, Douglas. Old Testament Exegesis.

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