Dr. James J. S. Johnson, chief academic officer and associate professor of apologetics for ICR’s School of Biblical Apologetics (SOBA), joined his Lord in heaven on the night of July 19, 2025. A long-time member of the ICR family, he will be greatly missed.
Dr. Johnson was educated and experienced in many fields. He earned a J.D. from the University of North Carolina in 1984, a Th.D. from Emmanuel College of Christian Studies in 1996, and a D.Min. from Tyndale Theological Seminary in 2022. His forensic science background included trial attorney and judicial experience, two post-doc certifications, and years of American Academy of Forensic Sciences membership. Along with this, Dr. Johnson studied biblical languages, receiving the American Bible Society Award in 1982, mostly for Hebrew and Aramaic.
Over the years Dr. Johnson explored many interests, several of which were reflected in his writings: salmon, Vikings, family history, sea life, birds, forest and desert animals, lutefisk, and more salmon. Starting in 2008, he wrote hundreds of articles for the Institute for Creation Research, most for the Acts & Facts magazine. Each of his articles on nature and living creatures reflected his awe at the marvelous handiwork of our Creator, Jesus Christ.
A love for his Creator began early in Dr. Johnson’s life. One seed was planted when his second-grade teacher gave him a book about birds as a year-end prize. It made a deep impression on the young boy. As he wrote in one Acts & Facts article,
Ever since second grade, I have enjoyed my bird book and many more that I have acquired, knowing how God cares for those marvelous and multifarious birds. Yet God cares so much more for me, as both Matthew 6:26 and John 3:16 prove.1
Dr. Johnson’s education and love of learning and teaching found expression in the School of Biblical Apologetics (SOBA). His involvement was fundamental to its founding in 2010. Since then, it has offered undergraduate and postgraduate training in biblical education and apologetics, with a special emphasis on Genesis 1–11. Mary Smith, who recently retired as SOBA’s registrar and academic coordinator, said about Dr. Johnson,
I have worked with Dr. Johnson closely for the last 15 years, developing and maintaining SOBA. He has been a good friend and wonderful employer throughout that time. Anytime I needed help with understanding a passage in Hebrew, Jim knew the answers. He and I were able to discuss many different theological challenges through the years. Even though I am retired, I will miss him greatly.
ICR President Randy Guliuzza shared these thoughts about Dr. Johnson’s many years of work with the ministry.
I’ve never met anyone else like my dear friend, Dr. Jim Johnson. From the moment we met at ICR we were of one mind and spirit in serving the Lord Jesus in the work of creation science. It didn’t take anyone long to see that Jim was a stalwart believer and defender of orthodox biblical truth but always with a gracious spirit. I saw him openly weep for people who rejected the claims of the Lord Jesus. I don’t recall a single prayer request that Jim didn’t take passionately in prayer to the Lord.
The topics we discussed were wide-ranging, and with an office packed from floor to ceiling with books, it was obvious that Dr. Johnson had an unbounded curiosity about a huge range of topics. Like so many others who interacted with him, I found it a real joy to talk together. Jim and his sweet wife, Sherry, had unbounded energy and were quite often found working together at ICR. Jim and Sherry modeled for all of us how a Christian couple can joyfully serve the Lord in a loving partnership.
For me, Dr. Johnson was the type of honorable and faithful consultant every leader dreams of having. He was a man who would tell you what you need to hear, was neither gullible nor naïve, had a keen discernment for right and wrong, and was always without guile. He served so many people because he knew that he was ultimately serving the Lord Jesus—and that is what he lived for. I already miss him deeply, especially his infectious smile, ready laugh, and the twinkle in his eyes that are just some of the things that made Jim so easy to love.
Our prayers are with Dr. Johnson’s wife, Sherry, and family. We mourn with them while still rejoicing that he’s at home now enjoying the presence of His Savior.
Click here for Dr. Johnson's obituary.
References
- Johnson, J. S. 2015. Attracted to Genesis by Magnets and a Bird Book. Acts & Facts. 44 (8): 19.
- For information about the ICR School of Biblical Apologetics and other online classes, visit ICR.edu.
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