Dr. Tom Tribelhorn
Truth Driven Faith/Trust
Meet Dr. Tom Tribelhorn
In many respects, Dr. Tom Tribelhorn is a true Biblical "Thomas" in that he believes empirical knowledge can be part of the faith equation. Dr. Tom contends that God never intended for "faith" to be blind. He brings a lifetime of experience and intensive study in his quest for truth: crawling through Egyptian temples and pyramids, teaching and sifting at archaeological excavations in Israel and Jordan, linking the bible to its Jewish cultural and linguistic foundation and framework. Dr. Tom admits he is not one of the blessed who can "just believe." He is a "Thomas" and if you are also a Thomas - you have come to the right place.
One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he replied, "I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side."
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Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. "Peace be with you," he said. Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don't be faithless any longer. Believe!"
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"My Lord and my God!" Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, "You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me."
John 20:24-29 (NLT)
Background
Dr. Tom Tribelhorn came to faith in Jesus as his Savior - Yeshua (Jesus) became personal - at a young age. Tom soon realized while only in his teens, that a fuller comprehension of the Hebrew Scriptures (Older Testament and Newer Testament) would require a strong grasp of the social, historical, and linguistic context within which the Bible was written.
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In pursuit of better Biblical understanding, he moved to Israel for intense study. "I was studying at the ruins of Tell Al-Sultan, the site of the city of Jericho," Dr. Tribelhorn says. "My historical geography professor told the class that the historical evidence proved that Jericho would have already been destroyed by the time Joshua arrived. He said that, as evangelicals, we did not have any answer for this dilemma."
"...Some of the strongest advocates of the Bible's historical accuracy are not Christians but agnostic scholars who simply allow the archaeological evidence to speak for itself."
For more than 30 years, Dr. Tom has vowed to amass the answers to the questions and doubts that plagued him so that future students can be reassured that they have solid ground on which to stand; ground which supports the Bible from the disciplines of archaeology, philosophy, philology, Jewish foundations and framework, language, and ancient literature.
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As you journey with him, you may be surprised to learn that some of the strongest advocates of the Bible's historical accuracy are not Christians but agnostic scholars who allow the archaeological evidence to speak for itself. The compelling defense Dr. Tom presents could revitalize your trust in God - as it has already for many.
In many respects, Dr. Tom Tribelhorn is a true Biblical "Thomas" in that he believes empirical knowledge can be part of the "faith equation."
Dr. John Delancey and Dr. Tom Tribelhorn co-leading a group in Israel.
Dr. Tom speaking in Germany
Currently
Dr. Tom is a member of the Bronze to Iron Age Chronology of the Ancient Near East scholars study group (BICANE) and Arbeitsgruppe für Biblishe Archäologie (ABA). Both international groups are headquartered in Germany, where you will typically find him lecturing every fall.
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Tom currently serves as Senior Postdoctoral Researcher in the mission's apologetics division. His passions include Jewish studies (the Jewish foundations and framework of the Bible and Christian faith) and apologetics, reaching out to students and members of the academic community as an ambassador for the historical integrity of the Bible. He is a visiting professor of the St. Petersburg Seminary and Yeshiva, having previously served as Professor of Jewish Studies, Academic Dean, Director of Doctoral Studies, and member of the President's Cabinet.
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He holds a Ph.D. (cum laude) in Judaic studies from Netzer David International Yeshiva, which included extensive primary research in Israel; a D.Min. in Judaeo-Christian studies from St. Petersburg Seminary; an M.A. in Judaeo-Christian studies from Jerusalem University College (Israel); an M.Ed. from William Paterson University and a B.A. in Bible from Northeastern Bible College. Tom is published in English, German, Russian, and Lithuanian and served as a contributing scholar to the Complete Jewish Study Bible (Hendrickson). He has led and co-led numerous tour and study groups to Israel, Egypt, and Jordan.
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He serves the Jewish Messianic community through Menorah Ministries in Clearwater, Florida.
Training and Education
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Ph.D. (cum laude) in Judaic Studies - Netzer David International Yeshiva
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D. Min. in Judaeo-Christian Studies - St. Petersburg Theological Seminary
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M.A. in Judaeo-Christian Studies - Jerusalem University College, Israel
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M.Ed. - William Paterson University
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B.A. in Bible - Northeastern Bible College
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Post-Graduate Studies: Selly Oak Centre for the Study of Judaism, University of Birmingham, and Seton Hall University
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Graduate Studies: University of London and Westminster Theological Seminary
Books and Publications
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“Die Bibel ist ein Mythos” – muss ich das glauben?(German Edition)
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Editor of English translation of In Search of the Patriarchs
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Contributing Scholar to the Complete Jewish Study Bible
