Daniel I. Block

Position: John R. Sampey Professor of Old Testament Interpretation

Wife: Ellen

Children: Jason (married to Carolyn) and Jonelle (married to Douglas Yates)

Grandchildren: Calvin, Kate, Brennig and Megan

An interesting fact about your family: I am one of 13 children. Seven are in the ministry. My father was a minister in the Mennonite Brethren church. I have 180 first cousins.

Hometown: Borden, Saskatchewan, Canada

Current church: North Oldham Baptist Church

Hobbies: Gardening

Life Bible verse: Ezra 7:10

What do you like most about teaching: The opportunity to turn around people’s pervasively negative view of the Old Testament and to help them recover the only Bible Jesus knew, which turns out to be three-fourths of our Bible.

Favorite Southern Seminary memory: When we arrived at Southern, it was an incredible delight to learn that the colleagues in my department thought kindly enough of me to request that I be located in A.T. Roberton’s office.

Favorite course that you teach: For the Glory of God: A Biblical Theology of Worship

Favorite restaurant: McDonald’s

Most influential persons in your life: My father and mother, Rev. Henry Harder (who ignited in me a passion for the Old Testament), Walter Kaiser and Alan Millard

Something surprising people might not know about you: I drive a pick-up truck. You can take a boy from the country, but you can’t take the country from the boy.

A word of wisdom for Towers readers: Remember that worship involves much more than what we do in church on Sunday morning; it involves all of life, primarily our daily walk. If this is not in order, nothing we do in the house of the Lord is acceptable to God. True worship involves reverential acts of submission and homage before the divine Sovereign, in response to His gracious revelation of Himself, and in accordance with His will. Even our studies should be acts of worship, expressive of our love and fear of God.