OT Professor Retires After 26 Years at Western
May 19, 2026
Jan Verbruggen, PhD, professor of Old Testament, is retiring this summer after 26 years of faithful service at Western Seminary. He leaves behind a legacy of humility, excellence, and a deep love for the Scriptures.
“Jan has demonstrated with distinction a serious and sincere commitment to God, his Word, his people, and to the faithful equipping of students to help lead the Church,” says John Y. Kwak, VP of Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty.
Verbruggen first came to Western in 2000, a few years after finishing his PhD in Near Eastern Studies at The Johns Hopkins University. Before that he completed an MA in Old Testament and Semitic Languages at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and a BA in Biblical Literature at Northeastern Bible College.
Well-equipped through this training, Verbruggen has become a deeply-respected figure in Western’s Bible and Theology center, teaching courses in biblical Hebrew and on various Old Testament books and topics (including exegetical, theological, and homiletical courses on numerous specific OT books, textual criticism, Dead Sea Scrolls, the OT Law and Ancient Near East background).
In addition to his service in the classroom, Verbruggen has numerous scholarly publications (in both English and Dutch) and has served both Western and the local community faithfully. He enthusiastically led the Israel trip and coordinated the related study program for many years, serving as the Center Chair for Bible and Theology and the Director of our MA in Biblical and Theological Studies program. He also served as an elder and lay pastor locally (most recently at his current church, Trinity Church of Portland).
At a recent retirement celebration in his honor, past and present colleagues and students gathered to share words of thanks for Verbruggen’s ministry and friendship, emphasizing repeatedly his deep love for the Scriptures.
“Anyone who has been in Jan’s classes knows how much he loves the Bible,” said Todd Miles, PhD, professor of theology. “He is steadfast in his commitment to the Lord and to the revelation of God, and he teaches students to do the same and models that for them.”
Several students also shared how Verbruggen’s love for Hebrew inspired them on towards their own academic pursuit of Old Testament doctoral studies.
“There is a professor that made me love the text so much that I thought that I should be a scholar as well, and that’s Jan Verbruggen,” said a former student. “I remember his passion for the Word and his on-the-ground ministry at his local church. It wasn’t excellence in the text or church, it was both.”