In Memory of Dr. John Hartog II

Thirty years ago this summer, Lynnette and I set out to visit Faith Baptist Theological Seminary.

When I was investigating seminaries, a trusted pastor friend told me that Faith must be good, as Dr. John Hartog II was teaching there. When we went for a visit, I asked about meeting with some of the faculty, and they called Dr. Hartog first. He left his beloved garden and yard projects and put on a shirt and tie just to meet with us in his office. There he regaled us with tales from his years of training at Dallas Theological Seminary, as well as his time in the doctoral program at Grace Theological Seminary.

I’ve heard so many of his stories from those days that I can’t be sure which ones he told at that meeting, but I know that one that came from it was how he had played table tennis with Chuck Swindoll at then unaccredited DTS. I was impressed, and I was hooked! There was no going back—I was getting a taste of something incredible, and I knew it was creating an appetite for much more.

I remember Dr. Hartog telling us how Dr. John Walvoord had attended his wedding to Martha. A few years later, after Dr. Hartog had already been teaching for several years, he moved his young family to Winona Lake, Ind., to pursue a doctorate of theology at Grace. Since he had already earned a master’s degree in library science, he worked in the Grace library during his time in the program.

Dr. Hartog told us how, one very sunny day, as he was yawning in front of a large window, he decided to get up from his desk to wake himself up. Instead, he passed out, and his head hit the floor so hard that for four days the doctors were not sure he would live.

But since that didn’t kill him, his doctoral dissertation almost did. At that time, before personal computers, it took Martha three attempts at typing a page to produce one perfect copy. Well, at least they thought it was perfect—until they discovered near the end of the project that the margin was one space off! Dr. Hartog told us how he was tempted to quit, but Martha refused to let him—and started typing all over again.

Dr. Hartog was very scholarly, but never flashy. He approached the ministry like he did the home and outdoor projects that he often mentioned in class. I’ll never forget the very snowy day when he came to school and told us how his road had not been plowed, so he had to stop every few feet and shovel out in front of the car. I couldn’t believe it! But that was so Dr. Hartog. He was practical, down-to-earth and the model of dedication and perseverance.

Dr. Hartog was an old-school academic. He didn’t just know theology—he studied under all the great theologians in dispensationalism. He didn’t just know the Bible. He taught it in the original languages.

When we first moved to seminary, we were part of the same church as Dr. Hartog. Later, he went on to plant and pastor a new church, which is still thriving today. He was both pastor and professor through the rest of my time in seminary.

Like several of my professors, Dr. Hartog attended numerous schools, including Moody Bible Institute and Wheaton College, from which he received his bachelor’s degree. He also earned a doctor of ministry degree from Central Baptist Theological Seminary. He had three teaching stints at Faith, and two at Montana Institute of the Bible. He also taught at Calvary Bible College in Kansas City, Mo. He was a librarian at Calvary, Dallas, Faith, Grace and Montana.

The Hartogs raised two outstanding sons—both scholars and pastors in their own right: John III, who was also my seminary professor; and Paul, who was my supervisor when I taught online for two semesters for Faith Baptist Bible College.

Almost every one of my seminary professors is now with the Lord, as Dr. Hartog joined them on Sunday. I can’t wait for the heavenly chapel sessions that we will enjoy together one day in the future.

Thanks Dr. Hartog! We’ll never forget your example, and the impact you made on our lives.