Vern Poythress

Vernon Sheridan Poythress (born March 29, 1946) is an American New Testament scholar, Reformed theologian, and polymath. Specializing in philosophy and mathematics, Poythress currently serves as New Testament Chair for the English Standard Version translation committee. He is Distinguished Professor of New Testament, Biblical Interpretation, and Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary. In addition, he is the editor of the Westminster Theological Journal.

Biography Poythress was born in Madera, California in 1946 to Ransom H. Poythress and Carola N. Poythress. He graduated from Bullard High School in Fresno, California.

At the age of 20, Poythress earned a BS in mathematics with honor (valedictorian) from California Institute of Technology, in the year 1966. While there, he became a Putnam Fellow in 1964. He received his Ph.D. in mathematics from Harvard University, He received a ThD in New Testament from the University of Stellenbosch.

In 1983, Poythress married Diane M. Poythress. They have two sons, Ransom Poythress and Justin Poythress.

As of 2016, he was teaching New Testament and occasional courses on the philosophies of science and language at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia,

Thought Poythress views scientific law as a form of the word of God. In 1976, Poythress wrote a chapter on "A Biblical View of Mathematics," in which he argued (among other things) that number is eternal because the Trinity is eternal. In a 1983 article, he suggested that mathematics is the rhyme of the universe. His philosophy of science draws on the work of Thomas Kuhn.

Publications Poythress has published a number of books in different fields — Christian philosophy of science, linguistics, theological method, dispensationalism, biblical law, copyright law, hermeneutics, Bible translation, and eschatology and the Book of Revelation including:

Philosophy, Science, and the Sovereignty of God. Presbyterian and Reformed: 1976, reprinted 2004. . Symphonic Theology: The Validity of Multiple Perspectives in Theology. Zondervan: 1987. . Understanding Dispensationalists. 2d ed. Presbyterian and Reformed: 1993. . Science and Hermeneutics: Implications of Scientific Method for Biblical Interpretation (Foundations of Contemporary Interpretation series, volume 6). Zondervan: 1988. . The Shadow of Christ in the Law of Moses, Wolgemuth & Hyatt: 1991, reprinted Presbyterian & Reformed: 1995. . God-Centered Biblical Interpretation. Presbyterian and Reformed: 1999. . The Returning King: A Guide to the Book of Revelation, Presbyterian and Reformed: 2000. . The Gender-Neutral Bible Controversy: Muting the Masculinity of God's Words (with Wayne Grudem). Broadman and Holman: 2000. . The TNIV and the Gender-Neutral Bible Controversy (with Wayne Grudem). Broadman and Holman: 2004. . Redeeming Science: A God-Centered Approach. Crossway Books: 2006. . In The Beginning Was The Word: Language--A God-Centered Approach. Crossway Books: 2009. . What Are Spiritual Gifts? (Basics of the Faith series). Presbyterian and Reformed, 2010. . Redeeming Sociology: A God-Centered Approach. Crossway Books: 2011. . Inerrancy and Worldview: Answering Modern Challenges to the Bible. Crossway Books: 2012. . Inerrancy and the Gospels: A God-Centered Approach to the Challenges of Harmonization. Crossway Books: 2012. . Logic: A God-Centered Approach to the Foundation of Western Thought. Crossway Books: 2013. . Redeeming Mathematics: A God-Centered Approach. Crossway Books: 2015. . The Lordship of Christ: Serving Our Savior All of the Time, in All of Life, with All Our Heart. Crossway Books: 2016. The Miracles of Jesus: How the Savior’s Mighty Acts Serve as Signs of Redemption. Crossway Books: 2016. Reading the Word of God in the Presence of God: A Handbook for Biblical Interpretation. Crossway Books: 2016. Knowing and the Trinity: How Perspectives in Human Knowledge Imitate the Trinity. P&R: 2018. Theophany: A Biblical Theology of God’s Appearing. Crossway Books: 2018. Interpreting Eden: A Guide to Faithfully Reading and Understanding Genesis 1-3. Crossway Books: 2019. Redeeming Our Thinking about History: A God-Centered Approach. Crossway Books: 2022. Redeeming Reason: A God-Centered Approach. Crossway Books: 2023. Making Sense of the World: How the Trinity Helps to Explain Reality. P&R: 2024).

Additionally, he has published a number of scholarly articles, including: