The
Great Commission (cf. Matt. 28:18-20; Luke 24:46-47; Acts 1:8) mandates both
evangelism and discipleship. Bob has been involved in both of these for more
than 50 years. He has participated in at least 45 international evangelistic
crusades where thousands of people trusted Christ. Although these crusades were
wonderful evangelistic experiences, a lack of follow-up materials for
discipleship was evident to him. God's will is for "disciples," not decisions
only! He saw the absence of Bible studies resources in other countries that were
affordable and of good quality. This was a burden on his heart and he was
willing to help remedy this problem.
While teaching hermeneutics in an OMS
seminary in Haiti, God spoke to Bob's heart about providing his Bible studies
free to the world. He structured his commentaries to provide an in-depth
resource for churches, pastors and lay people. The Bible studies emphasize the
original author's intent, by means of: (1) literary context, (2) the historical setting, (3) word
study options, (4) grammar features, (5) genre and (6) parallel passages.
Several years ago
Bob's commentaries were included in the Logos Bible Study Software. Soon after,
Logos contacted Bob on behalf of Dr. Bill Bright (Founder of Campus Crusade for
Christ) to include his NT commentaries on a CD-Rom of training material for CCC
ministers. They planned to translate them into 50 languages and give them away
free of charge. However, Bill Bright went to be with Jesus before the project was
finished. Because of his experience in Haiti and the anticipation of the project
with CCC, Bob felt this was Divine direction for him to pursue this new task of providing Bible
studies free to the worlewide Body of Christ.
Bible Lessons International now produces
exegetical commentaries and other Bible study aids in 48 languages and puts them
online free for the world. You can:
- read them online
- download them to your hard drive
- print them out
Bob has earned academic degrees from
- East Texas Baptist College
- Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with Biblical Languages
- Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
- Has done post-graduate work at Baylor University
- Wycliffe Bible Translators' Summer Institute of Linguistics
He has pastored several churches in Texas and has been Interim Pastor of over 20 churches in
Texas and Louisiana. Bob taught for 16 years in the Religion Department at East Texas
Baptist University. Currently he conducts Bible Conferences and Revivals in the U.S. and abroad, mostly by zoom.
RESUME/CURRICULUM VITA OF ROBERT JAMES UTLEY
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Family Status: Married to the former Peggy Rutta, a registered nurse (graduate of Memorial Baptist School of Nursing,
Houston, Texas). Peggy is presently office manager for Bible Lessons International. Bob and Peggy are the parents
of three children:
- Michelle, born 1971, a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University (granddaughters, Taylor Ann, born October, 1997,
and Tiffany Lynn, 2000-2019)
- Jason, born 1973, graduate of East Texas Baptist University, married to the former Shannen Lloyd
(granddaughter Avery Grace, born September, 2004, and grandson Noah Daniel, born December, 2006)
- Jeremy, born, 1977, graduate of Panola Junior College School of Nursing (Registered Nurse) and now has the
D.S. and M.S. degrees from Texas Tech. He is a Nurse Practioner in Longview, Texas; married to the
former Daniell Byrd (grandson, Tucker, born August, 2002, and Drake Scott Utley, born July 2, 2008).
CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE
1959, Accepted Jesus Christ as Savior at First Baptist Church, Bellaire, TX
1968, Surrendered to Vocational Ministry at First Baptist Church, Bellaire, TX
1969, Licensed to the Gospel Ministry at First Baptist Church, Bellaire, TX
1971, Ordained to the Gospel Ministry at First Baptist Church, Bellaire, TX
PASTORAL EXPERIENCE
1970‒1972, Pastor, Nesbitt Baptist Church, Marshall, TX
1973‒1976, Associate Pastor, Sagamore Hill Baptist Church, Ft. Worth, TX
1976‒1985, Pastor, Trinity Baptist Church, Lubbock, TX
1987, Interim Pastor, Oakwood Baptist Church, Lubbock, TX
1991, Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Tyler, TX
1992, Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Van, TX
1993‒1995, Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Henderson, TX
1995, Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Pittsburg, TX
1995‒1996, Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Lufkin, TX
1996, Interim Pastor, Hillcrest Baptist Church, Jasper, TX
1997‒1998, Interim Pastor, North Monroe Baptist Church, Monroe, LA
1998‒1999, Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Monroe, LA
2000, Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Marshall, TX
2000‒2001, Interim Pastor, North Monroe Baptist Church, Monroe, LA
2001‒2002, Interim Pastor, Cypress Baptist Church, Benton, LA
2002, Interim Pastor, Parkview Baptist Church, Monroe, LA
2005‒2007, Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, West Monroe, LA
2008‒2010, Interim Pastor, Lakeside Baptist Church, Dallas, TX
2010‒2011, Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church Monroe, LA
2011‒2012, Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Marshall, TX
2023, Interim Pastor, Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Marshall, TX
ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
1969‒1972, Bachelor of Arts (Major: Religion; Minor: Sociology) East Texas Baptist College, Marshall, TX
1971, Elected to Alpha Chi, National Honor Society
1972‒1975, Master of Divinity (with languages) Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, TX
1976, Post-graduate study in theology at Baylor University, Waco, TX (12 hours)
1988‒1995, Attended annual meetings of the Society of Biblical Literature, Southwest Region
1987‒1988, Doctor of Ministry (Major project in Historical-Grammatical Hermeneutics) Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, IL
1991, Post-graduate study in Koine Greek and Hermeneutics at Wycliffe Bible Translators Summer Institute of Linguistics,
Dallas, TX (6 hours)
1992‒1995, Attended annual meetings of the Evangelical Theological Society
1994‒1997, Post-graduate study at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, IL
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
1976‒present, Teacher for Bible Lesson International (formerly International Sunday School Lessons, Inc.)
1980‒1985, Teacher for Seminary Extension of Southern Baptist Convention of Lubbock Baptist Association
1980‒1984, Teacher for Wayland Baptist University, Plainview, TX, Lubbock Extension
1986‒1988, Teacher of weekly "Life and Work" series on the ACTS network of SBC's Radio/TV Commission
1986‒present, Teacher for United Christian Ashrams (Adult Retreat Ministry begun by E. Stanley Jones)
1987‒2003, Professor of Religion, East Texas Baptist University, Marshall, TX (Bible Interpretation, Old Testament,
New Testament, Preaching, and Evangelism)
1989‒2003, Teacher of "Verse by Verse," a weekly International Short Wave Program on TransWorld Radio, Guam
1989,1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, Teacher of the Year, elected by the senior class of ETBU, Marshall, TX
1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2002, 2003, Favorite Teacher, elected by the student body of ETBU, Marshall, TX
1992, Elected to Who's Who Among American Teachers
1995, Visiting Professor for Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary Extension in Rostov and Volgodonsk, Russia
2000, Adjunct Professor for Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's Extension in Marshall, TX
2003‒2007, Taught at Baptist Seminary, Yerevan, Armenia
2003‒2007, Taught at Emmaus Bible Seminary, Cap-Haitien, Haiti (OMS approved professor)
2003‒2007, Taught at Novi Sad Theological College, Novi Sad, Serbia
2009‒2010, Conference on Evangelism and Discipleship (Nicaragua & Costa Rica)
2011, Visiting professor for two small seminaries in the Amazon region of Brazil.
2015-2024, Visiting professor for John Wesley Methodist Seminary, Monterrey, Mexico
2022, Visiting Professor at Logos Seminary, Lahore, Pakistan
2022, Visiting Teacher, New York School of the Bible
PUBLICATIONS
1976‒2008, Teacher Preparation materials for all three SBC Sunday School Lesson Series
1985‒present, You Can Understand the Bible: Seminar of Biblical Interpretation (audio and notebooks)
1997, Paul's First Letters: Galatians and 1 & 2 Thessalonians, exegetical commentary
1997, The First Christian Primer: Matthew, exegetical commentary
1998, The Gospel According to Paul: Romans, exegetical commentary
1998, Paul's Prison Letters: Colossians, Ephesians, Philemon and Later, Philippians, exegetical commentary
1999, Hope in Hard Times-The Final Curtain: Revelation, exegetical commentary
1999, The Beloved Disciple's Memoirs and Letters: John and 1, 2, and 3 John, exegetical commentary
1999, The Superiority of the New Covenant: Hebrews, exegetical commentary
2000, Old Testament Survey I (Genesis‒Malachi)
2000, Jesus' Half-Brothers Speak: James and Jude, exegetical commentary
2000, North American Mission Board, SBC:
- On-Mission Self-Study Workbook
- On-Mission Youth Bible Studies
- Challengers Planbook
2000, New Testament Survey (Matthew ‒ Revelation), exegetical commentary
2001, How It All Began ‒ Genesis 1-11, exegetical commentary
2001, The Gospel According to Peter: Mark and 1 & 2 Peter, exegetical commentary
2002, Paul's Letters to a Troubled Church ‒ 1 & 2 Corinthians, exegetical commentary
2002, All Commentaries included in www.Logos Bible Study software.
2005, Old Testament Apocalypses: Daniel and Zechariah, exegetical commentary included in www.Logos Bible Study software
‒ The Post-Exilic Period: Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther, exegetical commentary included in www.Logos Bible Study software
‒ The NASB (Update) Study Bible New Testament Supplement
all NT Commentaries and Bible Interpretation Seminar on two CD-ROMs mailed 150,000 free worldwide
2006 ‒ Moses' Summary of God's Laws: Deuteronomy, exegetical commentary included in www.Logos Bible Study software
‒ The Conquest and Settlement of the Promised Land: Joshua, exegetical commentary included in www.Logos Bible Study software
2007 ‒ Wisdom Literature: The Mysterious Books of Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs, exegetical commentary included in www.Logos Bible Study software
‒ The Post-Exilic Prophets: Obadiah, Joel, Haggai and Malachi, exegetical commentary included in www.Logos Bible Study software
2008 ‒ Updated International CD-ROM Computer Bible Commentary, 2008 Version
2008 ‒ Ezekiel, exegetical commentary included in www.Logos Bible Study software
‒ Joshua, exegetical commentary included in www.Logos Bible Study software
2009 ‒ You Can Understand the Bible: An Introduction to and Application of the Contextual/Textual Method of Biblical Interpretation
(revised and expanded video, Lakeside Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas)
‒ The Patriarchal Period, Genesis 12-50, exegetical commentary
2010 ‒ Isaiah: The Clearest Old Testament Witness to YHWH's Eternal, Universal, Redemptive Plan ‒ Isaiah 1-39, exegetical commentary
‒ 2012 updated version of the Verse-By-Verse Computer Bible Study Library (CD-ROM)
2010 ‒ Isaiah: The Clearest Old Testament Witness to YHWH's Eternal, Universal, Redemptive Plan ‒ Isaiah 40-66, exegetical commentary
‒ 2012 updated version of the Verse-By-Verse Computer Bible Study Library (CD-ROM and DVD-ROM)
2012 ‒ Jeremiah commentary, exegetical commentary
‒ Psalms, Books 1 & 2 commentary, exegetical commentary
2013 ‒ Psalms, Books 3-5, exegetical commentary
2014 ‒ Job, Exodus, exegetical commentary
2015 ‒ Leviticus commentary, exegetical commentary
2016 ‒ Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Chronicles commentaries, exegetical commentary
2017 ‒ 1 and 2 Samuel commentary, exegetical commentary
2018 ‒ 1 and 2 Kings commentary, exegetical commentary
2019 ‒ Proverbs commentary, exegetical commentary
EVANGELISM EXPERIENCE
1969‒ present, Church revivals, campus revivals, and Bible conferences, USA
1976‒ present, International evangelistic campaigns in Norway, Argentina, Chile, India, Mexico (10), Brazil (7), Kazakhstan,
Nicaragua (2), Honduras (2), Guatemala, Serbia, Armenia (3) and Slovakia
1983, Certified Teacher/Trainer for Evangelism Explosion III International, Coral Ridge, FL
1980‒1989,1997‒2016, Board of Directors for International Crusades, Dallas, TX
INTERDENOMINATIONAL EXPERIENCE
1978, Vice President of Lubbock, TX, Minister's Association
1980, 1982, Palo Duro Christian Ashram, North Texas
1983‒1985, President of Lubbock, TX, Minister's Association
1985, Associate Member of Oakwood United Methodist Church, Lubbock, TX
1985, Associate Member of First United Presbyterian Church, Lubbock, TX
1985, Round Table Participant and speaker on "Eternal Judgment" at Christ the King Catholic Church, Lubbock, TX
1987, Seminar, "You Can Understand the Bible" at Trinity Church, Lubbock, TX
1988, Graduated with D. Min. from Interdenominational Seminary in Chicago, IL (Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Evangelical Free Church)
1988, Bible Teacher, Central United Methodist Church, Dalhart, TX
1995, Bible Teacher, Ashram for Texas Tech Wesley Foundation (in New Mexico)
1997‒1999, Bible Teacher, First United Methodist Church, Hallsville, TX
1998, Ashram Leadership Meeting, Flower Mound, TX
2000‒2004, Bible Teacher, North Louisiana Christian Ashram, Ruston, LA
2000, Bible Teacher, First United Methodist Church, DeRidder, LA
2000, 2002, Bible Teacher, Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Retreat in Tyler, TX
2000‒2008, Noonday Interdenominational Camp, Hallsville, TX
2004, 2013, 2021, Texas Christian Ashram, Scottsville, TX
2004, Approved teacher OMS (first assignment Emmaus Seminary in Haiti)
2011, Bible Teacher, North Louisiana Ashram at First United Methodist Church, Monroe, LA
2015‒present, Guest Lecturer, John Wesley Methodist Seminary, Monterrey, Mexico
2019, Redlands California Ashram
2019‒2024, substitute preacher at Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Marshall, TX
2023, Bible Study on the Resurrection on zoom with St. Hillary Catholic Church, Fairlawn, Ohio
SOUTHERN BAPTIST EXPERIENCE
1972, Chairman of Christian Life Division, Soda Lake Baptist Assn., Marshall, TX
1977‒1978, Chairman of College and Seminary Extension, Lubbock Baptist Assn., Lubbock, TX
1977, Program Chairman, Pastors and Staff Fellowship, Lubbock Baptist Assn., Lubbock, TX
1986‒1988, Bible teacher on national ACTS network of Southern Baptist Convention, Fort Worth, TX
1986, Seminar leader at Glorieta Baptist Retreat Center, Missions Week, Southern Baptist Convention, Glorieta, NM
1986‒1988, 1991,1992, 1995-1998, Seminar Leader at Baptist General Convention of Texas-Black Student Retreat, Dallas, TX
1989, Seminar Leader at Baptist General Convention-Baptist Student Union Leadership Training Conference, Waco, TX
1990, Seminar Leader at Southern Baptist Convention Assn. of Southern Baptist Campus Ministers, New Orleans, LA
1995, Visiting Professor for Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary extension in Rostov and Volgodonsk, Russia
1999, National Challengers Convention ‒ North American Mission Board, SBC
1990‒2004, Bible study leader, East Texas Baptist University Senior Adult Conference, Marshall, TX
2003‒2006, FOCUS (BGCT Conference for College Students), breakout speaker, Ft. Worth, TX
2005‒2008, BGCT, breakout speaker at Bi-Vocational and Small Church Conference, University of Mary-Hardin-Baylor, Belton, TX
CIVIC EXPERIENCE
1976‒1985, Member of Speakers Bureau of Lubbock United Way
1977, Vice President of Lubbock Ministers Assn.
1977‒1978, Board of Directors of Here's Life Lubbock
1978, 1983-1985, President, Lubbock Ministers Assn.
1978‒1982, Advisory Board of Plains Detox Center, Lubbock, TX
1979‒1981, Charter Board Member and Secretary of Crossroads Pastoral Counseling and Consultation Center, Lubbock, TX
1979‒1982, Board of Directors for Alcohol Abuse Services, Lubbock, TX
1980‒1984, Board of Directors for Lubbock Right to Life
1980, Chairman of Memorial Division, American Cancer Society, Lubbock, TX
1982‒1983, Board of Directors for Lubbock's MHMR Center
1983‒1984, Community Planning Council of United Way of Lubbock, TX
AWARDS FROM EAST TEXAS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
1996, Alumni Achievement Award
2008, J. Wesley Smith Achievement Award
MEMBERSHIPS
1985-1986, National Religious Broadcasters
1985-1987, Southern Baptist Convention Vocational Evangelists Assn.
1985-1987, Texas Baptist Convention Vocational Evangelists Assn.
1989-2003, National Association of Baptist Professors of Religion
1989-2003, Society of Biblical Literature
1992-2022, Evangelical Theological Society