Dr. Dominick Hernández was born in New York City, NY, yet spent most of his formative years living in the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA.  During his early teenage years, Dr. Hernández became interested in athletics, music, learning languages—and particularly, studying the Bible.

Despite his appreciation for the Bible, Dr. Hernández did not immediately delve into the discipline of biblical studies.  Dr. Hernández always wanted to be an educator—a desire that initially led him into health and physical education with intent of coaching and teaching. This prompted Dr. Hernández to attend West Chester University of Pennsylvania where he studied a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. Dr. Hernández then continued his education at the Teachers College Columbia University where he focused on curriculum and teaching in the biobehavioral sciences, earning a Master of Arts degree in physical education.  

While studying at Columbia University, Dr. Hernández began attending a congregation that taught expositionally through the Bible. This experience fostered a desire in Dr. Hernández to learn the Bible—in its historical and linguistic contexts—so that he too might be able to teach in both academic and congregational contexts.  

From this point on, Dr. Hernández’s vocational pursuits focused on attaining practical training as well as achieving excellence in academia.  From 2006-2008, Dr. Hernández received ministerial training at the Calvary Chapel School of Ministry in Costa Mesa, CA.  During his time at the School of Ministry, Dr. Hernández was ordained at Calvary Chapel Voyage in Fountain Valley, CA (2008) and served as the congregation’s youth pastor.      

After the School of Ministry, Dr. Hernández continued his studies at Princeton Theological Seminary—focusing on Old Testament/Hebrew Bible—and was awarded a Master of Divinity degree in the spring of 2011. This educational experience opened the doors for doctoral studies, concentrating on Biblical Wisdom Literature and Semitic Philology at Bar-Ilan University. Dr. Hernández was officially awarded the Doctor of Philosophy degree in the fall of 2016. 

Dr. Hernández currently serves as an associate professor of Old Testament and Semitics at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. Prior to coming to Talbot, Dr. Hernández served at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville, KY), and at Moody Bible Institute-Spokane. Dr. Hernández is deeply invested in the academic community in which he continues to research, write, and present on the Bible in its ancient Near Eastern context. Dr. Hernández remains committed to the church, having served in English, Spanish, and Hebrew-language ministries in the United States and abroad, and currently preaches and gives seminars in congregations.

Read more about Dr. Hernández’s previous professional experience on his CV.

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