Donald Grey Barnhouse (March 28, 1895 – November 5, 1960) was a prominent American Presbyterian pastor, theologian, radio pioneer, and writer. He is best known for his long pastorate at Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia and for pioneering Christian radio broadcasting.

Early Life and Education

Barnhouse was born in Watsonville, California, to Theodore and Jennie Carmichael Barnhouse. After high school he studied at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (Biola), the University of Chicago, and Princeton Theological Seminary. He left Princeton before finishing when he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1917 during World War I, serving as a First Lieutenant in the Aviation Section of the Signal Corps. He was ordained in the Presbyterian Church in 1918. Later he received an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Dallas Theological Seminary (1933) and a Doctor of Theology from the Aix-en-Provence Reformed Seminary in France (1952).

Ministry and Career

In 1927 Barnhouse became pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, a position he held until his death in 1960 (over 33 years). Under his leadership the church became a leading evangelical and Reformed voice in the city. He was known for clear, illustration-rich exposition of Scripture and for addressing contemporary issues from a biblical perspective.

Barnhouse was a true pioneer in Christian radio. His program The Bible Study Hour began in the early 1930s and reached a national audience (at times on CBS and NBC). In 1949 he launched a systematic verse-by-verse study of the Book of Romans that continued weekly until his death—nearly 12 years of teaching. The program continues today under the name Dr. Barnhouse & the Bible.

He also founded and edited two magazines:

• Revelation (1931–1950)

• Eternity (1950 onward), where he wrote the regular “Window on the World” column applying biblical truth to current events

He conducted a long-running Monday evening Bible class near Times Square in New York City and wrote numerous books and articles, many of which remain in print (including multi-volume commentaries on Romans, Genesis, Revelation, and collections of illustrations).

Theology and Approach

Barnhouse was broadly Reformed and evangelical, with a strong emphasis on the authority of Scripture, the centrality of the cross, and practical Christian living. He was known for vivid, memorable illustrations that made complex truths accessible. He held a premillennial view and was willing to engage cultural and theological issues of his day (for example, a notable 1956 Eternity article in which he concluded that Seventh-day Adventists, despite some heterodox teachings, should be regarded as Christians).

Personal Life and Death

He married missionary Ruth Tiffany in 1922; they had four children. Ruth died of cancer in 1944. He later married Margaret (née Nuckols) Bell. Barnhouse died in Philadelphia in November 1960, one month after being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor.

Legacy

Barnhouse is remembered as one of the outstanding American preachers of the mid-20th century. Billy Graham once said of him, “He knew the Scriptures better than any man I ever knew.” His radio ministry, magazine work, and published expositions continue to influence pastors and laypeople. Tenth Presbyterian Church remained a significant evangelical Presbyterian congregation, and the Dr. Barnhouse & the Bible broadcasts are still aired by the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals.

In short, Donald Grey Barnhouse combined deep biblical exposition, media innovation, and pastoral longevity, helping shape mid-century American evangelicalism through both the pulpit and the airwaves.