What do you think?
Rate this book
Thru the Bible #20
Thru the Bible Vol. 20: Poetry
Thru the Bible commentary series includes Dr. McGee's insightful study of each book of the Bible with in-depth, paragraph-by-paragraph discussions of key verses and passages.
257 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1977
About the author
J. Vernon McGee
507 books71 followersJohn Vernon McGee was born in Hillsboro, Texas, in 1904. Dr. McGee remarked, "When I was born and the doctor gave me the customary whack, my mother said that I let out a yell that could be heard on all four borders of Texas!" His Creator well knew that he would need a powerful voice to deliver a powerful message.
As a student pastor, Dr. McGee's first church was located on a red clay hill in Midway, Georgia. It was there that he received his greatest compliment: "It was from a country boy wearing high buttoned, yellow shoes. After a morning service he came to speak to me. He groped for words, then blurted out, 'I never knew Jesus was so wonderful!' He started to say more but choked up and hurried out of the church. As I watched him stride across the field, I prayed, 'Oh, God, help me to always preach so that it can be said, I never knew Jesus was so wonderful.'"
After completing his education (earning his A.B. from Southwestern University in Memphis, Tennessee; his B.D. from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia; his Th.M. and Th.D. from Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas, Texas), and after pastoring Presbyterian churches in Decatur, GA, Nashville, TN, and Cleburne, TX, he and his wife came west, settling in Pasadena, where he accepted a call to the Lincoln Avenue Presbyterian Church. He recalls this period as the happiest in his life, with a young family and a young congregation whom he loved.
Dr. McGee's greatest pastorate was at the historic, Church of the Open Door in downtown Los Angeles, where he served from 1949 to 1970. There he began a daily radio broadcast called "High Noon Bible Class" on a single station.
Dr. McGee began teaching Thru the Bible in 1967. After retiring from the pastorate, he set up radio headquarters in Pasadena, and the radio ministry expanded rapidly. Today the program airs on over 400 stations each day in the United States and Canada, is heard in more than 100 languages around the world and is broadcast worldwide via the Internet.
As a student pastor, Dr. McGee's first church was located on a red clay hill in Midway, Georgia. It was there that he received his greatest compliment: "It was from a country boy wearing high buttoned, yellow shoes. After a morning service he came to speak to me. He groped for words, then blurted out, 'I never knew Jesus was so wonderful!' He started to say more but choked up and hurried out of the church. As I watched him stride across the field, I prayed, 'Oh, God, help me to always preach so that it can be said, I never knew Jesus was so wonderful.'"
After completing his education (earning his A.B. from Southwestern University in Memphis, Tennessee; his B.D. from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia; his Th.M. and Th.D. from Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas, Texas), and after pastoring Presbyterian churches in Decatur, GA, Nashville, TN, and Cleburne, TX, he and his wife came west, settling in Pasadena, where he accepted a call to the Lincoln Avenue Presbyterian Church. He recalls this period as the happiest in his life, with a young family and a young congregation whom he loved.
Dr. McGee's greatest pastorate was at the historic, Church of the Open Door in downtown Los Angeles, where he served from 1949 to 1970. There he began a daily radio broadcast called "High Noon Bible Class" on a single station.
Dr. McGee began teaching Thru the Bible in 1967. After retiring from the pastorate, he set up radio headquarters in Pasadena, and the radio ministry expanded rapidly. Today the program airs on over 400 stations each day in the United States and Canada, is heard in more than 100 languages around the world and is broadcast worldwide via the Internet.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 14, 2026
Chapter 16 is the only one I have an issue with. The first verse he then gives an alternate translation which completely changes the meaning of the verse by some Dr. H. A. Ironside.
Original "The preparations of the heart, AND the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD."
This "Doctor" put "the purposes of the heart are OF MAN: but from Jahovah is the answer of the tongue."
Credited something from God to man, that bothered me. That didn't need to be added in this chapter
When you get saved God prepares your heart, man does not.
Original "The preparations of the heart, AND the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD."
This "Doctor" put "the purposes of the heart are OF MAN: but from Jahovah is the answer of the tongue."
Credited something from God to man, that bothered me. That didn't need to be added in this chapter
When you get saved God prepares your heart, man does not.
April 23, 2026
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Prov. 1:7)
“It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.” (Prov. 25:2)
I really enjoyed McGee’s commentary. Will definitely consider getting another piece of this series.
“It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.” (Prov. 25:2)
I really enjoyed McGee’s commentary. Will definitely consider getting another piece of this series.
February 23, 2025
Easy to read and understand.
December 15, 2025
I love his sense of humor in his commentaries. I do prefer a little more depth in the Hebrew in my studies.
August 27, 2014
I was looking for a good commentary on Proverbs but this one was kind of folksy.
October 7, 2016
J. Vernon McGee writes his interpretation of Proverbs clearly and is easy to understand. It is a great "go to" book for knowing right from wrong. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews