Dr. John Bergsma

Professor of Theology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville

Dr. John Bergsma is Professor of Theology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, in Steubenville, Ohio. He holds the M.Div. and Th.M. degrees from Calvin Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan, and served as a Protestant pastor for four years before entering the Catholic Church in 2001 while pursuing a Ph.D. in Theology from the University of Notre Dame. He specialized in the Old Testament and the Dead Sea Scrolls, graduating with high honors in 2004. His major study of the interpretation of the Year of Jubilee in ancient times is published as The Jubilee from Leviticus to Qumran (Brill Academic, 2007).

Dr. Bergsma’s articles, some co-authored with Dr. Scott Hahn, have appeared in several academic journals as well as Lay Witness, the magazine of Catholics United for the Faith, and he has published many books, A Catholic Introduction to the Bible: Old Testament (Ignatius Press, 2018), Stunned by Scripture: How the Bible Made Me Catholic (Our Sunday Visitor, 2018), Psalm Basics for Catholics (Ave Maria Press, 2018), and Yes! There is a God! And Other Answers to Life’s Big Questions (The Word Among Us, 2017), Bible Basics for Catholics (Ave Maria Press, 2012) and New Testament Basics for Catholics (Ave Maria Press, 2015). He also has a wealth of resources on his website, johnbergsma.com

Additionally, he has appeared as a guest on EWTN’s The Journey Home, Franciscan University Presents, and Relevant Radio’s Drew Mariani Show, and has given presentations internationally through Parousia Media. Twice voted Faculty of the Year by graduating classes of the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Dr. Bergsma is a popular teacher who inspires his students with a love of Scripture. He and his wife Dawn reside with their eight children in Steubenville, Ohio.

  • Module 3: The Priesthood in Sacred Scripture

    Did you know that Adam, in the garden of Eden, was a priest? Who was Melchizedek? What does the Old Testament priesthood have to do with Catholic priests today? In this Propaedeutic Year module, we will walk through the scriptural roots of the Catholic priesthood with Dr. John Bergsma. Dr. Bergsma will reveal how the priesthood is a major thread holding together the biblical storyline and how those who receive Holy Orders today are sewn into that same story!

  • Module 1: Senses of Sacred Scripture and Covenant Theology

    In this course, Dr. Bergsma will expound on the great stories of the Bible with key figures that play a part in salvation history and how they are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. We will discuss how the Bible points us to the saving work and reality of Jesus in our life today.

  • Module 4: The Way of Priesthood in Scripture

    Did you know that Adam, in the garden of Eden, was a priest? Who was Melchizedek? What does the Old Testament priesthood have to do with Catholic priests today? In this module, we will walk through the scriptural roots of the Catholic priesthood with Dr. John Bergsma. Dr. Bergsma will reveal how the priesthood is a major thread holding together the biblical storyline and how those who receive Holy Orders today are sewn into that same story!