John F. Wilson Papers

John F. Wilson is a field archaeologist, and writer and lecturer on archaeology in the Middle East, particularly focused on the relationship between archaeology and Christianity.

Wilson attended Central Senior High School in Springfield, Missouri, where he graduated in 1955. While in school, he was active in choir and musicals, as well as church and service extracurricular activities. He graduated from Harding University in 1959 with a BA in Religion and Music (and served as the student body president), and then continued at Harding at the Graduate School of Religion, where he received an MA in 1961. Wilson then went on to receive a PhD from the University of Iowa in New Testament and Ancient History in 1967. After completing his degrees, Wilson returned to his hometown of Springfield, Missouri, where he founded the Christian Student Center at Missouri State University as a branch of the South National Church of Christ in Springfield. He served as the Director of the Student Center from 1959 to 1973, as well as a Professor of Religious Studies at the University from 1961 to 1983. Wilson also was a visiting lecturer at Abilene Christian University from 1971 to 1976.

Wilson took his first archaelogical trip in the mid-1970s, and went on sabbatical in 1981 to Cambridge University, England, to study notes taken from 19th century archaeological expeditions to the Holy Land. In 1983, Wilson came to Pepperdine University, where he served as the Dean of the Seaver College of Letters, Arts and Sciences for 15 years. During this time, Wilson was also a Professor of Religion at Pepperdine, as well as the Director of Pepperdine’s Institute for the Study of Archaeology and Religion. He took Pepperdine students on archaeological trips to Israel for over 25 years.

Wilson retired in 2006 from his last position as Professor of Religion, Emeritus, at Pepperdine. He is the author of a number of publications, most notably his work on a famous archaeological site in the Middle East: Caesarea Philippi: Banias, the Lost City of Pan. He has also written for radio and television, produced religious television programs, and appeared on television in an A&E series about archaeology and the Bible.

John F. Wilson is married to Dr. Claudette Wilson (a former Assistant Professor of Education at Pepperdine, who retired in 2004). They have three daughters, Laura, Amy, and Emily.