About Joe
Current Pursuits & Interests
In addition to being an author and speaker, Joe currently serves as the President and Professor of Theology and Apologetics at Veritas International University (VIU)(www.ves.edu) in Santa Ana, California, and Senior Pastor at Calvary Chapel Temecula . He also spends his time as General Editor for the Defending Inerrancy initiative (www.DefendingInerrancy.com) founded by Dr. Norman Geisler and concerned scholars to combat the erosion of biblical inerrancy within evangelical institutions and among some church communities and scholars.
Joe enjoys equipping the church and his students to efficiently share the gospel with a lost and searching world, and to defend the historic Christian Faith. To accomplish this, he teaches in churches, conferences and classrooms across the United States, and occasionally internationally. To bring him (or a full conference of speakers) to your church or classroom email Joe at jholden@ves.edu.
While specializing in bibliology, theology proper (doctrine of God), and apologetics, Joe has a passion for Near Eastern archaeology as it relates to the Bible. He has participated in the ongoing joint excavation by Trinity Southwest University and Veritas International University, of the biblical city of Sodom at Tall el-Hammam, located near the northeastern end of the Dead Sea in Jordan (Sodom Excavation).
As a former college and professional baseball player, Joe enjoys playing and watching sports and coaching baseball at the high school level, as well as spending time at the beach with his family. He currently resides in Temecula, southern California, with his wife Theresa and son David.
Education
Ph.D. Theology (2011) University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Lampeter, Wales, UK
M.A./M.Div. Apologetics (2003) Southern Evangelical Seminary, Charlotte, NC
B.A. General Studies (2003) Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL
B.B.S. Biblical Studies (1995) Calvary Bible College, Murrieta, CA
Dissertation & Thesis
Ph.D. Dissertation (University of Wales Trinity Saint David):The Eternal Simplicity of Divine Love: An Evaluation of Open Theism Against the Patristic Doctrine of God
M.A. Thesis (Southern Evangelical Seminary): An Examination and Evaluation of the Jesus Seminar View of the Gospel Sayings of Jesus Christ
Academic Positions
Veritas International University (Santa Ana, CA),
President, Professor of Theology and Apologetics (2008-Present)
Calvary Bible College (Murrieta, CA)
Adjunct Faculty (2002-Present)
Azusa Pacific University (San Diego Extension Campus, CA),
Adjunct Faculty (2004-2012)
Oregon Theological Seminary (Silverton, OR)
Adjunct Faculty (2004-2005)
Faith Evangelical Seminary (Carlsbad site, CA),
Lecturer (2002-2004)
Publications
Joseph M. Holden and Sarah R. Enterline, and Illustrated by Todd Hampson, The Infographic Guide to Apologetics (Harvest House Publishers, 2024)
Joseph M. Holden, and Illustrated by Todd Hampson, The Ultimate Infographic Guide to the Bible (Harvest House Publishers, 2023)
Norman Geisler and Joseph Holden, Living Loud: An Introduction to Apologetics for Students - Updated Edition (Broadman & Holman, 2002; VIU Press, 2020)
William Dembski, Casey Luskin, and Joseph M. Holden, gen eds., The Comprehensive Guide to Science and Faith (Harvest House Publishers, 2022)
Joseph M. Holden, The Attributes of God: An Evaluation of the 'Open' View of God in Light of the Ancient and Medieval Church Fathers (VIU Press, 2020).
Joseph M. Holden and Steven Collins, gen. eds. The Harvest Handbook of Bible Lands: A Panoramic View of the History, Geography, and Culture of the Scriptures (Harvest House Publishers, 2020)
Joseph M. Holden, gen. ed., The Harvest Handbook of Apologetics (Harvest House Publishers, 2019)
Sean McDowell, gen ed. and Joseph M. Holden, assoc. ed., et. al., The Apologetics Study Bible for Students (Broadman & Holman, 2010, 2017)
David F. Farnell, gen ed. and Norman L. Geisler, Joseph M. Holden, Phil Fernandes, and William Roach, assoc. eds., Vital Issues in the Inerrancy Debate (Wipf & Stock, 2015)
Joseph M. Holden and Norman L. Geisler. The Popular Handbook of Archaeology and Bible:
Discoveries that Confirm the Reliability of the Scriptures (Harvest House, 2013)
“Apologetyka I dowody na rzecz chrzescijanstwa” in H. Wayne House and Joseph Holden. Teologia I Filozofia: Chrzescijanskie tablice Encyklopedyczne (tom II) (Warsaw: Oficyna Wydawnicza, Vocatio, 2008)
H. Wayne House and Joseph M. Holden. Charts of Apologetics and Christian Evidences (Zondervan Publishers, 2006)
Norman Geisler and Joseph M. Holden. Living Loud: Defending Your Faith (Broadman & Holman, first edition, 2002)
Contributions
“Tawrat”, “Zabur”, in H. Wayne House, Gen. ed. The Evangelical Dictionary of World Religions (Baker Books, 2018)
“Church of God, Seventh Day” and “Calvary Chapel Movement” in George Thomas Kurian
and Sarah Claudine Day, Gen. eds. The Essential Handbook of Denominations and
Ministries (Baker Publishing, 2017)
“Archaeology and Old Testament Criticism,” in Josh McDowell and Sean McDowell, New
Evidence that Demands a Verdict (Updated and Revised). Nashville, TN: Thomas
Nelson, 2018.
“Open Theism, Analogy, and Religious Language,” in Terry L. Miethe, gen. ed., I Am Put
Here for the Defense of the Gospel: Dr. Norman Geisler, A Festschrift in His Honor (Pickwick Publications, 2016)
“Foreword” in Norman Geisler and David Farnell, eds., The Jesus Quest: The Danger
From Within (Xulon Press, 2014)
“Engaging the Muslim,” in H. Wayne House and Dennis Jowers. Reasons for Our Hope: An
Introduction to Apologetics (Broadman & Holman, 2011), 407-417.
“The Jesus of World Religions” in H. Wayne House, The Jesus Who Never Lived:
Exposing False Christs and Finding the Real Jesus (Harvest House Publishers, 2008): Research Contributor.
“An Interview with Theology and Archaeology Expert Joseph Holden,” in How the Bible Was Written, Special Collectors Edition. Winter/Spring 2016, Beckett Entertainment.
Radio & Teaching Ministry
KWVE 107.9 guest host of “Pastor’s Perspective” live call-in apologetics program
aired nationally (2006-present)
KRTM 88.9FM host of “Living Epistles” program aired weekly in southern California
area (2006-2009)
CSN Radio guest host of “To Every Man An Answer” live call-in program aired nationally
(2006-2008)
KRTM 88.9 guest host/commentator of “Word in Life” program aired weekly in Southern
California (2005)
Joe has taught at numerous venues locally (Southern California), nationally (United States), and internationally (Europe and the Middle East), on various topics in the field of theology, religion, biblical studies, apologetics, and archaeology.
Academic Society