Joshua J. Van Ee

Joshua J. Van Ee

Associate Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament

Dr. Van Ee is a minister in the United Reformed Churches in North America and has taught language and biblical studies courses at Westminster Seminary California since 2002. He is the son of a pastor and learned to love both reformed theology and outdoor activities while his father served churches in Alaska and Montana. In college, he and his wife were able to spend a semester studying in Israel where he developed further his interests in geography and archaeology. During his time at WSC, he embraced the redemptive historical and comparative methods for a deeper study of the biblical text while also developing a fondness for the ocean along with the mountains. After graduating with an MDiv in 2002, he began to teach Greek and eventually Hebrew classes at WSC as he was studying for his doctorate at the University of California San Diego. In his dissertation, he analyzed biblical creation accounts and explored their relationship with Sumerian and Akkadian literature and future images of blessing in the prophets. His graduate work also included a summer archaeological dig in Wadi Faynan in Jordan.

Dr. Van Ee began teaching full-time at WCS in 2007 and has focused most of his research on the Pentateuch and the Historical Books. He has published popular and peer-reviewed articles, including in the Journal of Biblical Literature, and is an active member of the Society of Biblical Literature. His current projects include a commentary on the book of Leviticus (Crossway) and an introduction to the sacrificial-ceremonial system.

Dr. Van Ee and his wife, Heidi, have three children and attend Escondido United Reformed Church. He has had the opportunity to serve several terms on the board of trustees for Calvin Christian School in Escondido.

Education
BA Geneva College;
MDiv Westminster Seminary California;
MA and PhD University of California at San Diego

What I Want to Instill in My Students
“To understand the Bible correctly, we need to see how all the parts and pieces fit together into a unified history of redemption which culminates in Jesus Christ. This understanding was what I was taught at Westminster Seminary California and what I seek to teach.”

An Interview with Dr. Van Ee