Dr. Michael Riccardi serves as assistant professor of theology at The Master’s Seminary. He grew up in Central New Jersey and attended Rutgers University, where he earned a B.A. in Italian and a M.A. in Education.   Through the latter stages of his undergraduate days, Mike was increasingly gripped by a constraining desire to preach the Word and shepherd the flock. The elders of his church affirmed his desire, and an admiration for John MacArthur—wanting to handle the Word of God with the same care and precision that he did—led Michael and his wife Janna to TMS in August of 2009. After completing his Master of Divinity degree in the summer of 2012, Mike continued his TMS education with a ThM in 2015 and a PhD in 2021. To date, Dr. Riccardi has published two books: Sanctification: The Christian’s Pursuit of God-Given Holiness and The Forrest and the Trees: The Story of Scripture and Biblical Interpretation. He also contributed significantly to Biblical Doctrine and has published articles with The Master’s Seminary Journal, Credo Magazine, and the Banner of Truth, among others.  Dr. Riccardi and his wife have three children. He and Phil Johnson co-pastor the Grace Life fellowship group at Grace Community Church.