Robert Yarbrough taught at Covenant Theological Seminary from 1991-96 and returned in 2010. Previously he served at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (1996-2010), Wheaton College (IL) (1987-91), and Liberty University (1985-87). His PhD is from the University of Aberdeen (Scotland).
He has been involved in theological education in Africa since 1989, especially in Sudan and currently in South Africa. He taught extensively in Eastern Europe 1990-2007. He has also taught in Hong Kong and Australia. In the US he has pastored or served on pastoral staff in Montana, Missouri, Illinois, and North Carolina.
He is the author of a commentary on Romans in the The ESV Expository Commentary, vol. 10 (Crossway, 2020). He has also written Clash of Visions: Populism and Elitism in New Testament Theology (Mentor, 2019) and The Letters to Timothy and Titus in The Pillar New Testament Commentary series (Eerdmans, 2018). He co-authored (with Victor Kuligan) In Christ Alone (Christian Art, 2017), a book on the five Reformation solas published in South Africa.
He wrote on the Johannine Epistles in 1 and 2 Peter, Jude, 1, 2, and 3 John (Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, 2015). He authored 1-3 John (2008) in the Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament series, which he co-edits (with Joshua Jipp). He is also co-editor (with Andreas Köstenberger) of the Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament (B&H Academic). He serves as editor of the Covenant Seminary journal Presbyterion.
His other books include The Salvation-Historical Fallacy? Reassessing the History of New Testament Theology (Deo, 2004) and The Gospel of John (Moody, 1991; new edition Wipf & Stock, 2011). With Walter Elwell he authored the widely used textbook Engaging the New Testament (Baker, 3rd ed. 2013; 4th edition 2022), which has been translated into numerous languages. He also co-edited (again with Walter Elwell) Readings from the First Century World: Primary Sources for New Testament Study (Baker, 1998).
With Andreas Köstenberger he co-edited Understanding the Times: Essays in Honor of D. A. Carson (Crossway, 2012) and wrote two of the book’s chapters. He has contributed to many other books, reference works, and journals. At the popular level Dr. Yarbrough is author of The Kregel Pictorial Guide to the New Testament (2009).
Dr. Yarbrough has been married to Bernie, a registered nurse, since 1973. They have two adult sons. He has coached high school and American Legion baseball and was a lumberjack by trade. He is a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America.