Who is Howard Hendricks?

Overview

Howard G. Hendricks (1924–2013) was a widely respected teacher, professor, and mentor in Christian circles, particularly associated with Dallas Theological Seminary. Known affectionately as “Prof,” he served on the faculty for over sixty years, influencing thousands of students and impacting Christian leaders around the world through his passion for biblical teaching, discipleship, and personal transformation.

Early Life and Education

Howard Hendricks was born in 1924 and raised in a context where biblical faith was important early on. During his youth, he developed an eagerness to study Scripture and to share insights grounded in careful observation. Though his initial environment was not always conducive to a future in ministry, he experienced a profound personal conviction about the authority of Scripture—“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16)—which spurred him to pursue formal biblical education.

He earned his academic training at Dallas Theological Seminary, where he encountered a rigorous approach to biblical study. This environment shaped his keen ability to handle the text responsibly and to encourage others to do the same. His love for Spirit-led scholarship and practical ministry grew under professors who shared the conviction that the Bible is the unalterable Word of the living God.

Teaching Ministry at Dallas Theological Seminary

Hendricks joined the faculty of Dallas Theological Seminary in 1951 and remained there until his passing in 2013. During this tenure, he was recognized for his dynamic teaching style, practical illustrations, and emphasis on applying biblical truths to real-life situations. Many evangelical pastors and teachers, including Chuck Swindoll, Tony Evans, and David Jeremiah, cite him as a major influence on their life and ministry.

He tirelessly taught courses on Christian education, leadership, hermeneutics, and discipleship. Students appreciated his infectious enthusiasm and his approach marked by 2 Timothy 2:15: “Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.” Hendricks consistently challenged his students to study the Scriptures thoroughly, reason soundly from the biblical text, and serve God wholeheartedly in every sphere of influence.

Philosophy of Christian Education

One central theme in Hendricks’s philosophy was that effective teaching flows out of a transformed life, not merely the dispensing of facts. He emphasized the role of Scripture in renewing the mind (cf. Romans 12:2) and held that true knowledge is inseparable from a vibrant relationship with the Lord. This conviction resonates with Proverbs 1:7: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”

He championed a student-centered model of teaching, urging mentors to invest in personal relationships. He believed that growth in Christ mirrors the pattern Jesus used with His disciples: personal presence, dialogue, and modeling submission to Scripture. This integrated approach combined biblical accuracy with practical application, leading learners from information to life transformation.

Influence on Christian Leadership

Hendricks’s personal mentorship of numerous leaders shaped modern evangelical ministry in profound ways. Pastors who sat under his instruction often recall how he guided them to trust the authority of Scripture and to embrace Christlike humility in leadership. This focus is seen in Ephesians 4:12–13, which calls believers “to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ.”

His investment in personal disciple-making led leaders to replicate the same approach in their churches, schools, and organizations worldwide. His emphasis on building character, along with competence, sparked an era of Christian education that balanced strong theological conviction with compassionate ministry.

Notable Writings and Resources

Hendricks authored and co-authored several influential books and resources:

• “Teaching to Change Lives” – A foundational work on Christian teaching, challenging readers to move beyond rote instruction to the kind of teaching that produces genuine life change.

• “Living by the Book” (co-authored with his son, William D. Hendricks) – Perhaps his most recognized work, focusing on how to effectively observe, interpret, and apply Scripture in everyday life.

• “Seven Laws of the Teacher” – A resource that outlines principles for engaging, grounding, and inspiring learners in biblical truth.

These writings continue to shape Christian education programs, Sunday School curricula, and leadership development materials used globally.

Memorable Approach to Scripture

A hallmark of Hendricks’s ministry was his insistence on careful, inductive Bible study. He famously challenged believers to observe meticulously, interpret correctly, and apply faithfully. He described the Bible as “the divine blueprint for living,” aligning with Joshua 1:8: “This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do.”

He led countless individuals to discover that the living Word of God speaks directly to personally relevant issues, and that reverent study fosters a deeper relationship with the Creator.

Emphasis on Discipleship

In word and deed, Hendricks embodied discipleship. Believing Scripture to be the central guide for conformed behavior, he often encouraged believers to hold one another accountable, urging them to “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2). His approach pressed beyond the classroom into small-group ministry, mentorships, and daily Christian living.

His own life provided a visible example that discipling is not optional but integral to faithful obedience to the Lord, based on Christ’s Great Commission in Matthew 28:19–20—training believers to follow Jesus wholeheartedly and to replicate that process in others.

Biblical Encouragement and Legacy

In line with the Scripture’s call to faithfulness, Hendricks persisted until his final years in equipping others to know Christ and make Him known. Influenced by the very texts he passionately taught, he reflected passages like Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path,” underscoring how Scripture anchors the believer’s daily walk in truth.

His graduates and readers still testify to his legacy, carrying forward the mission of teaching Scripture accurately and lovingly. He demonstrated that those who teach and those who learn can partner in a dynamic pursuit of truth, ultimately bringing glory to the God who “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).

Conclusion

Howard Hendricks remains a towering figure who modeled devotion to Scripture, personal integrity, and skilled communication of the gospel. Through decades of faithful service, innumerable students, pastors, and lay leaders received from him a contagious enthusiasm for God’s Word, a deeper love for Christ, and a clear call to disciple others. His life’s dedication echoes the apostolic charge to teach sound doctrine, apply it to daily living, and carry forward the faith in every generation.