"I honestly do not understand how anyone can say "I believe the Bible is the Word of God" without being passionate about that confession. I love the Trinity, justification by faith, the Resurrection, and sola scriptura. I do not pretend to be dispassionate about these things, and, as such, I stand firmly on this assertion: Christian scholarship that lacks passion about the truth is not worthy of the name Christian to begin with. If dispassion and detachment are necessary attributes of scholarship, then I do not seek the appellation. I cannot comprehend dry faith, arid confession, or mere mental assent."
- James White, from Scripture Alone, p.10
THEOLOGY: Confessional Reformed Baptist, Covenantal, 5-point Calvinist, credo-baptist, amillenialist, presuppositional apologetics
Biographical Sketch
Dr. James R. White (born 1962) is the director of Alpha and Omega Ministries, a Christian apologetics organization based in Phoenix , Arizona . He is a professor, having taught Greek, Systematic Theology, and various topics in the field of apologetics. He is also a critical consultant for the Lockman Foundation's New American Standard Bible. He has authored or contributed to more than twenty books, including The King James Only Controversy, The Forgotten Trinity, The Potter's Freedom, and The God Who Justifies.
Dr. White is an accomplished debater, having engaged in more than one-hundred moderated, public debates with leading proponents of Roman Catholicism, Islam, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Mormonism (listed below). He also runs a blog and a bi-weekly webcast called “The Dividing Line”. He is an elder of the Phoenix Reformed Baptist Church, has been married to Kelli for thirty-five years, and has two children, Joshua and Summer.
Select Bibliography
What Every Christian Needs to Know About the Qur'an (Bethany House Publishers, 2013)
Sola Scriptura: The Protestant Position on the Bible (contributor 2009)
From Toronto to Emmaus (Solid Ground Christian Books, 2007)
Pulpit Crimes (Solid Ground Christian Books, 2006)
Scripture Alone (Bethany House Publishers, 2004)
The Plurality of Elders in Perspectives on Church Government: Five Views of Church Polity (Broadman-Holman, 2004)
Debating Calvinism vs. Dave Hunt (Multnomah, 2004)
Justification in The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2003)
Dangerous Airwaves (Calvary Press, 2002)
The Same Sex Controversy (with Jeff Niell) (Bethany House Publishers, 2002)
The God Who Justifies (Bethany House Publishers, 2001)
The Potter's Freedom (Calvary Press, 2000)
What's With the Mutant in the Microscope? (Bethany House Publishers, 1999)
What's With the Dudes at the Door? (Bethany House Publishers, 1998)
Mary–Another Redeemer? (Bethany House Publishers, 1998)
The Forgotten Trinity (Bethany House Publishers, 1998)
Grieving: Our Path Back to Peace (Bethany House Publishers, 1997)
Is the Mormon My Brother? (Bethany House Publishers, 1997)
The Roman Catholic Controversy (Bethany House Publishers, 1996)
The King James Only Controversy (Bethany House Publishers, 1995)
Drawn by the Father (Crowne Publications, 1991)
God's Sovereign Grace (Crowne Publications, 1991)
Justification by Faith (Crowne Publications, 1990)
Letters to a Mormon Elder (Crowne Publications, 1990,reprinted by Bethany House, 1993)
Answers to Catholic Claims (Crowne Publications, 1990)
The Fatal Flaw (Crowne Publications, 1990)
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Select Resources
The Potter's Freedom (9-Part MP3 Lecture Series)
The Supremacy of Scripture: Yesterday, Today and Forever (MP3 Series)
Church History (MP3 Lecture Series)
Romans 9 – An Exegesis to Share (MP3)
Has the Potter No Right Over the Clay?
Standalone MP3 Sermons and Lectures
Select YouTube Lectures
Unpopular- The Movie (YouTube)
James White, Paul Washer and Emilio Ramos present the gospel in easy to understand video
What is Calvinism? (20-Part YouTube Series)
Mithra? Attis? Really, Rob Bell? (YouTube)
The Father's Giving Determines the Peoples' Coming - John 6:37 (YouTube)
Dr. James White reviews comments by Cheryl Schatz regarding John 6:37, and her particular way of undercutting John 6s clear testimony to monergism. The section begins around the 42 minute mark and continues to 1:18:50.
The Battle for Grace (YouTube)
An overview of the historic and present day attacks against the doctrine of sola fide (justification by faith alone). Lasting approx. 72 minutes, this presentation is excellent for both its clarity and insight concerning the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Social Justice & The Gospel Conference: All Sessions (Video Series)
"What Does 'Total Depravity' Mean?" (YouTube)
Living Out Sola Fide (YouTube)
8 Minutes in John 6 (YouTube)
John 6 For Roman Catholics (YouTube)
Irresistible Grace (YouTube)
Unconditional Election: What Does it Mean? (YouTube)
Synergism and the Perfection of Salvation (YouTube)
Debate: Is The NT Evil? (White vs Silverman)
What Practical Difference Does Reformed Theology Make Today? (YouTube)
How Christians should view Muslims (YouTube)
The Holiness of God (YouTube)
How We Got the Bible (YouTube)
This youtube video features Dr. James White hosting an episode of Apologia Radio/TV. Here he teaches on how we got the Bible and the translation of the text of Scripture. It is a very worthwhile and useful study from one of the leading Christian apologists of our time.
Sola Scriptura – Five Part Series (YouTube)
The Deity of Christ in the New Testament: the Evidence Reviewed
The Counter Reformation: "Free" Will
The God Centered Gospel vs. a Man Centered Gospel
Hyper Calvinism (YouTube)
God's Judgment Upon Nations
What about those difficult texts where God commands the literal extermination of an entire tribe, or city, or even nation? Dr. James White answers in this youtube video of a sermon preached on April 26, 2009.
The Popes, Rachel Held Evans, Desiring God, Nabeel Qureshi
Select Formal Debates (Video)
Can A Christian Lose Their Salvation? A Debate With Trent Horn & Dr. James White
(Part 1) - (Part 2)
James White vs Steve Tassi Calvinism Debate
Calvinism Debate Video: Romans 9, James White vs. Leighton Flowers
Michael Brown - James White Debate Predestination, Election, and the Will of God
Does the Bible teach Sola Scriptura? James White vs Patrick Madrid
Closing Statement George Bryson debate (Video)
Dr. James White Dialogue With Yasir Qadhi - Similarities and Differences
Here is the recent dialogue Dr. James White had with Yasir Qadhi, an Islamic Scholar and a teacher of the Qur'an on the Similarities and the differences of the two faith.
37 more videos where James White discusses Islam
Can Men Become Gods? James White vs Martin Tanner
The issue of the nature of God is the dividing line that separates Mormonism from Biblical Christianity. Mormon apologists over the past few decades have begun appealing to the early church fathers and the doctrine of "theosis," asserting that if we acknowledge the Christian standing of these early Christians, then we should not question the claim that Mormons are Christians as well. But is this a fair use of the early Fathers? James White debates LDS apologist and FARMS contributor Martin Tanner at the University of Utah on this key subject. (1 Hour 56 Minutes).
Debate: Are Roman Catholics Our Brothers and Sisters in Christ?
James White & Douglas Wilson
31 Additional Videos on Roman Catholicism
Homosexuality and Christianity (9 YouTube Videos)
More Formal Debates by date (YouTube & MP3) ....
- Crucifixion or Crucifiction? vs. Ayoob Karim, October 8, 2014, Durban, South Africa
- The Christology of John, the Christology of the Qur’an, vs. Yusuf Ismail, October 7, 2014, Juma Masjid (Grey Street Mosque), Durban, South Africa
- Who was the Founder of Christianity? Jesus or Paul? vs. Bashir Varnia, October 3, 2014, Lenasia, South Africa
- Does God Know the Future? vs. Bob Enyart, Brown Palace Hotel, Denver, Colorado, July 8, 2014.
- The Extent of the Atonement, vs. Dr. Michael Brown, Revelation TV
- Is Divine Healing for Today? vs. Dr. Michael Brown, Revelation TV
- Did the Earliest Followers of Jesus Believe in His Deity? vs. Dr. Shabir Ally, October 8, 2013, University of Pretoria, South Africa
- Sin and Salvation vs. Dr. Shabir Ally, October 7, 2013, Abu Bakr Siddique Mosque, Erasmia, South Africa
- Trinity and Tawhid vs. Yusuf Bux, October 4, 2013, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
- Has the Qur’an Been Accurately Transmitted? vs. Yusuf Ismail, October 3, North-West University, Potchestfroom, South Africa
- Can God Become Man? vs. Bashir Varnia, October 2, 2013, Lenasia, South Africa
- Is Homosexuality Consistent with Biblical Christianity? vs. Justin Lee, May 17, 2013, Helena, Montana
- Jesus in Christianity and Islam vs. Adnan Rashid, February 27, 2013, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
- The Qur’an or the Bible? | part 2 |vs. Adnan Rashid, February 26, 2013, University College, Dublin, Ireland
- Reformed Theology Debate vs. Dr. Michael Brown, February 14, 2013, Southern Evangelical Seminary, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Was the Qur’an Reliably Transmitted from the Prophet Muhammad? vs Adnan Rashid, September 24, 2012
- Was the New Testament Reliably Transmitted from its Authors? vs Adnan Rashid, September 24, 2012, London, UK
- Surah 4:157 and the Crucifixion vs Sami Zaatari, September 19, 2012, London, UK
- Is Muhammad Prophesied in the Bible? vs Zakir Hussain, September 17, 2012, London, UK
- Did Jesus Claim Deity? vs Shabir Ally, March 22, 2012, Toronto, Canada
- The Deity of Christ vs Patrick Navas, November 25, 2011, Theopologetics Podcast
- The Trinity vs Roger Perkins, October 21, 2011, Queensland, Australia
- Can God become a Man? vs Abullah Kunde, October 17, 2011, London, UK
- Has Islam Misunderstood Christianity? | part 2 | vs Bassam Zawadi, February 11, 2011, New South Wales, Australia
- Freedom and Bondage of the Will vs Dr. Steve Blakemore, January 13, 2011, Deep South Regional Founders Conference
- Is Purgatory Biblical? vs. Robert Sungenis, October 22, 2010, Newburg, OR
- Trinitarianism vs Unitarianism w/ Michael Brown vs Sir Anthony Buzzard, September 14, 2010, Jewish Voice Broadcast
- Assurance of Salvation in Islam vs. Abdullah Kunde, September 10, 2010, ABN Television / Skype
- The Bodily Assumption of Mary vs. Robert Sungenis, September 10, 2010, Santa Fe, NM (Youtube)
- The Bible Does Not Teach that Man Has a Free Will… vs. Robert Sungenis, September 10, 2010, Santa Fe, NM (Youtube)
- Is the New Testament Evil? vs. David Silverman, August 30, 2010, Amityville, NY
- The Immaculate Conception vs. Christopher Ferrara, August 28, 2010, Huntington, NY *
- Is the Bible We Possess Today the Word of God? vs. Sheikh Awal, June 20, 2010, Detroit, MI
- Is the Bible True? vs. Dr. Robert Price, May 7, 2010, Innisbrook, FL
- The Trinity vs. Sir Anthony Buzzard, February 23, 2010, London, England, Unbelievable Radio Broadcast
- Bible vs Qur’an vs. Adnan Rashid, February 23, 2010, London, England, Unbelievable Radio Broadcast
- The Trinity | part 2 | vs. Abdullal al Andalusi, February 22, 2010, London, England
- Purgatory vs. Tim Staples, January 28, 2010, The Dividing Line Radio Broadcast (Audio Only)
- Calvinism vs Arminianism vs. Michael Brown, January 26-27, 2010, Line of Fire Radio Broadcast (Audio Only)
- Jesus in the Bible and the Qur’an vs. Imam Syed Z. Sayeed, November 7, 2009, Queens, NY
- Jesus: Myth or Messiah vs. Dan Barker, September 26, 2009, Newberg, OR
- The Bible & the Qur’an: Which is the Light to the World vs. Abdullah Kunde, August 17, 2009, Sydney, Australia
- Family Radio & The Bible vs. Harold Camping, July 28 – 29, 2009, Iron Sharpens Iron Radio Broadcast
- The Bible & the Qur’an vs. Imam Shamsi Ali, June 25, 2009, Queens, NY
- The Triune God of Scripture Lives vs. Dan Barker, April 30, 2009, Urbana, IL
- Does the Bible Misquote Jesus vs. Dr.Bart Ehrman, January 21, 2009, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
- The Bible vs. the Qur’an: a Comparison vs. Dr. Zulfiqar Ali Shah, November 20, 2008, Duke University – Durham, NC
- Is Muhammad Prophesied in the Bible? | part 2 | vs. Shabir Ally, November 17, 2008, London England
- Is Jesus Prophesied in the OT? | part 2 | vs. Shabir Ally, November 17, 2008, London, England
- Jesus: Divine Son of God or Prophet of Allah? vs. Sami Zaatari, November 13, 2008, London, England
- Does Belief in the Trinity Necessitate Polytheism? vs. Abdullah al-Andalusi, November 13, 2008, Radio
- Does Belief in the Trinity Necessitate Shirk? vs. Adnan Rashid, November 11, 2008, London, England
- Did Jesus Claim to Be God? vs. Farhan Qureshi, September 21, 2008, Bellflower, CA
- Gay Marriage Debate vs. Dr. Michael K. Schutz, April 22, 2008, Hayward, CA (YouTube Part 1 Part 2)
- Does the Bible Teach Jesus is God?, April 12, 2008, vs. Jalal Abualrub, Fullerton, CA
- Is Jesus Christ God? | part 2 | James White vs. Jalal Abualrub, March 2008, Fullerton, CA
- Paedobaptism or Credobaptism? James White vs Gregg Strawbridge on The Dividing Line 11/8/2007
- Did Jesus Offer Himself on the Cross as a Willing Sacrifice for the Sins of God’s People? October, 2007, vs. Shabir Ally, Seattle, WA (Youtube)
- Is Homosexuality Consistent with Biblical Christianity? November, 2006, vs. Bishop John Shelby Spong, Orlando, FL (Youtube)
- Baptism for Believers Only? October, 2006 vs. Pastor William Shishko, Long Island, NY (Youtube)
- Is the New Testament We Possess Today Inspired? May, 2006, vs. Shabir Ally, Biola University (Youtube)
- Calvinism vs. Arminianism, April, 2006, vs. Dr. Jonathan Wright, Sedalia, MO
- The Resurrection of Jesus Christ, August, 2005, vs. Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan (with James Renihan), Sun Princess (at sea) (Youtube)
- Is the Bible True? (MP3), August, 2005, vs. John Dominic Crossan, Seattle, WA (Youtube)
- Can Non-Christians Enter Heaven? (MP3), June, 2005, vs. William Rutland, Long Island, NY (Youtube)
- Regeneration and Faith (MP3), April, 2005, vs. Robert Wilkin, Oklahoma City, OK (Youtube)
- Are Roman Catholics Our Brothers and Sisters in Christ? (MP3), November, 2004, vs. Douglas Wilson, Los Angeles, CA (Youtube)
- Is the Apocrypha Canonical? (MP3), May, 2004, vs. Gary Michuta, Long Island, NY (Youtube)
- Is Gay Marriage Consistent with NT Christianity? (MP3), April, 2004 vs. Dee Bradshaw, Salt Lake City, UT (Youtube)
- Are Temples Consistent with NT Christianity?, April, 2004, vs. Richard Hopkins, Salt Lake City, UT (Youtube)
- Jesus: God or a god? (MP3), December, 2003, vs. Gregory Stafford, Tampa, FL (Youtube)
- The Perpetual Virginity of Mary, October, 2003, vs. Gerry Matatics, Salt Lake City, UT (Youtube)
- Is the Roman Catholic Priesthood Biblical? (MP3), May, 2003, vs. Fr. Mitch Pacwa, Long Island, NY (Youtube)
- The Mass, April, 2003, vs. Robert Sungenis, Salt Lake City, UT (Youtube)
- The Atonement of Christ, April, 2003, vs. Dennis Potter, Salt Lake City, UT (Youtube)
- Open Theism: Does God KNow the Future? (MP3), November, 2002, vs. John Sanders, Orlando, FL (Youtube)
- Inclusivism (MP3), November, 2002, vs. John Sanders, Tampa, FL (Youtube)
- Can Men Become Gods? (MP3), October, 2002, vs. Martin Tanner, Salt Lake City, UT (Youtube)
- Veneration of Saints and Images Part 1, Part 2 (MP3, July, 2002, vs. Patrick Madrid, Long Island, NY (Youtube)
- The Fall of Adam, April, 2002, vs. Gilbert Scharffs, Salt Lake City, UT
- Who Controls Salvation? (MP3), April, 2002 vs. George Bryson, Anaheim, CA (Youtube)
- Grace and Works, October, 2001 vs. Roger Keller, Salt Lake City, UT
- Purgatory? Part 1, Part 2 (MP3), May, 2001, vs. Fr. Peter Stravinskas, Long Island, NY (Youtube)
- Is Homosexuality Consistent with Biblical Christianity (MP3), May, 2001, vs. Barry Lynn, Long Island, NY (Youtube)
- The Will of Man, March, 2001, vs. Richard Hopkins, Salt Lake City, UT
- Papal Infallibility (MP3), November, 2000, vs. Robert Sungenis, Clearwater, FL (Audio Only)
- Papal Infallibility (MP3), July, 2000, vs. Tim Staples, Fullerton, CA (Audio Only)
- Justification, May, 2000 vs. Robert Sungenis, Long Island, NY (Youtube)
- Sola Scriptura, December 1999 vs. Mitch Pacwa, El Cajon, CA (Youtube)
- Is the KJV the Best (MP3), July, 1999 vs. Thomas Holland, Indianapolis, IN (Audio Only)
- The Mass (MP3), May, 1999 vs. Robert Sungenis, Long Island, NY (Youtube)
- Is the Trinity Biblical? (MP3), May, 1999 vs. Robert Sabin, Patchoque, NY
- Does the NT Teach the Deity of Christ (MP3), May, 1999 vs. Hamza Abdul Malik, Syosset, NY
- Sola Scriptura (MP3), July, 1998 vs. Tim Staples, Fullerton, CA
- The Papacy (MP3), May, 1998 vs. Fr. Mitch Pacwa, Long Island, NY (Youtube)
- Election and Predestination (MP3), May 1998, vs. Paul Barber, Queens, NY (Audio Only)
- Sola Scriptura (MP3), May, 1997 vs. Gerry Matatics, Long Island, NY (Youtube)
- Man’s Will, Christ’s Atonement (MP3), May, 1997 vs. Jim Barker, Queens, NY (Audio Only)
- The Marian Dogmas Part 1, Part 2 (MP3), May, 1996 vs. Gerry Matatics, Long Island, NY (Youtube)
- The Papacy Part 1, Part 2 (MP3), Summer 1995 James White, Robert Zins vs. Scott Butler and Robert Sungenis, Boston College, Boston, MA (Youtube)
- Papal Infallibility (MP3), July, 1994, vs. Dr. Fastiggi, Austin, TX (Youtube)
- Mary (Mp3), July, 1994, vs. Dr. Fastiggi, Austin, TX (Youtube)
- Indulgences (MP3), July, 1994, vs. Dr. Fastiggi, Austin, TX (Youtube)
- Justification (MP3), July, 1994, vs. Dr. Fastiggi, Austin, TX (Youtube)
- Is the KJV the Best Translation (MP3), vs. D.A. Waite, 1994 (Audio Only)
- Sola Scriptura (MP3), September, 1993 vs. Patrick Madrid, San Diego, CA (Audio Only)
- The Papacy: Early Church Evidence (MP3), July, 1993 vs. Gerry Matatics, Denver, CO (Audio Only)
- The Papacy: NT Evidence (MP3), July, 1993 vs. Gerry Matatics, Denver, CO (Audio Only)
- The Apocrypha (MP3), April, 1993, vs. Gerry Matatics, Boston College
- Justification by Faith (MP3), April, 1993, vs. Gerry Matatics, Boston College
- Sola Scriptura (Mp3), November, 1992 vs. Gerry Matatics, Omaha, NB
- Justification by Faith (MP3), May, 1991 vs. Art Sippo, Toledo, OH (Audio Only)
- The Mass (MP3), January, 1991 vs. Fr. Mitch Pacwa, El Cajon, CA (Audio Only)
- Justification by Faith (MP3), January, 1991 vs. Fr. Mitch Pacwa, El Cajon, CA
- The Papacy (MP3), December, 1990 vs. Gerry Matatics, Tempe, AZ (Audio Only)
- Perseverance of the Saints (MP3), December, 1990 vs. Gerry Matatics, Phoenix, AZ
Essays
Vessels Prepared for Destruction
Was Anyone Saved at the Cross?
Response to Matthew Vines 40 Questions
The Divine Sovereignty/Human Responsibility Debate
James R. White and George Bryson
The Sovereign God, the Grace of Christ, and Sinful Man
Dave Hunt vs. Charles Haddon Spurgeon
The Bankruptcy of Islamic Apologetics
Does The Bible Teach Sola Scriptura?
Purpose and Meaning of "Ego Eimi" in the Gospel of John In Reference to the Deity of Christ
Hebrews and the Atonement of Christ
Molinism in a Nutshell: God Makes Do the Best He Can
God-Breathed; Breathed Out By God; theopneustos
The Racialist Lens Disrupts True Christian Unity: A Response to Thabiti Anyabwile
Christian Research Journal (essays):
Is Your Modern Translation Corrupt? Answering the Allegations of KJV Only Advocates (1996 Winter)
Of Cities and Swords: The Impossible Task of Mormon Apologetics (1996 Summer)
What Really Happened at Nicea? (1997 July-August)
How Wide the Divide? A Mormon and an Evangelical in Conversation (1997)
Effectively Sharing the Deity of Christ with Jehovah’s Witnesses (1997)
Getting over the Hurdles of the New World Translation
The Jesus Seminar and the Gospel of Thomas: Courting the Media at the Cost of Truth DO James and Paul Contradict Concerning Grace?
Summary Critique: Jehovah’s Witnesses Defended (21,2)
Loving the Trinity (21,4)
Beyond the Veil of Eternity: The Importance of Philippians 2:5-11 in Theology and Apologetics (22,3)
The Divine Sovereignty-Human Responsibility Debate (with George Bryson) (23,4)
The Divine Sovereignty-Human Responsibility Debate (Part Two) (24,1)
Dangerous Airwaves: Harold Camping’s Call to Flee the Church (25,1)
Examining Muslim Apologetics (Part One): The Bible Versus the Qur’an (25,3)
Examining Muslim Apologetics (Part Two): Unusual Attacks on the Trinity (25,4)
Muhammad: Prophet of God
PDAs and Apologetics (26,3)
Does Inerrancy Matter Any Longer?
Bible Versions: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (Part 1 and Part 2) (28,3,4)
Joseph Smith's First Vision Tested
Can a Loving God Hate Someone?
Three Levels of Heaven?
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Author Related Links
Alpha and Omega Ministries - Christian Apologetics and Theology. Features James White's Blog, "Pros Apologian: Thoughts from the Apologetic Front." Also features his webcast, The Dividing Line.
The Phoenix Reformed Baptist Church