Phone: 314.434.4044
Email: faculty@covenantseminary.edu

Dr. Robert Yarbrough

Professor of New Testament

Robert Yarbrough taught at Covenant Theological Seminary from 1991–96 and returned in 2010. Previously he served at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (1996–2010), Wheaton College (IL) (1987–91), and Liberty University (1985–87). His PhD is from the University of Aberdeen (Scotland).

He has been involved in theological education in Africa since 1989, especially in Sudan and currently in South Africa (Cape Town and Johannesburg), where he helps lead conferences annually for pastoral and discipleship training. He taught extensively in Eastern Europe 1990–2007. He has also taught in Canada, Haiti, Hong Kong, and Australia. In the US he has pastored or served on pastoral staff in Montana, Missouri, Illinois, and North Carolina.

He is the author of the Romans commentary in ESV Expository Commentary, volume 10 (Crossway, 2020). His Clash of Visions: Populism and Elitism in New Testament Theology (Mentor) appeared in 2019. He also contributed The Letters to Timothy and Titus in The Pillar New Testament Commentary series (Eerdmans, 2018). He co–authored (with Victor Kuligan) In Christ Alone (Christian Art Publications, 2017), a book on the five Reformation solas published in South Africa. He is author of 1–3 John (2008) in the Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament series, which he co-edits (with Joshua Jipp). He is also co-editor (with Andreas Köstenberger) of the Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament (B&H Academic). He serves as editor of the Covenant Seminary journal Presbyterion and on other publication review boards.

His other books include The Salvation-Historical Fallacy? Reassessing the History of New Testament Theology (2004) and The Gospel of John (1991; new edition 2011). With Walter Elwell he authored the widely used textbook Encountering the New Testament (3rd ed. 2013; 4th ed. 2022), which has been translated into numerous languages. He also co-edited (again with Walter Elwell) Readings from the First Century World: Primary Sources for New Testament Study (1998).

With Andreas Köstenberger he co-edited Understanding the Times: Essays in Honor of D. A. Carson (2012) and wrote two of the book’s chapters. He has contributed to many other books, reference works, and journals. At the popular level Dr. Yarbrough is author of The Kregel Pictorial Guide to the New Testament (2009).

Dr. Yarbrough has been married to Bernie, a nurse, since 1973. They have two adult sons. He has coached high school and American Legion baseball and is a lumberjack by trade. His main hobby (and heat source) is still woodcutting. He is a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America and a member of Chicago Metro Presbytery. He is a frequent teacher and preacher in various churches.

Education

BA [English and Religion]
Southwest Baptist College
Bolivar, MO

Faculty member since 1991–1996, 2010–

Select Courses

• Hellenistic Greek (all levels)

• Acts and Paul

• Jeremiah

• Electives