Harrell F. Beck

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Harrell F. Beck
Harrell F. Beck, Theology Professor, June 27, 1984
DenominationThe United Methodist Church
Personal
Date of birthMarch 2, 1922
Place of birthLyons, Nebraska, United States
Date of deathDecember 10, 1987
Place of deathArlington, Massachusetts

Harrell F. Beck (March 2, 1922 – December 10, 1987) was an American preacher, professor, and academic who taught Hebrew Scripture for 33 years at Boston University School of Theology and travelled North America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Australasia teaching and speaking. Walter George Muelder, Dean Emeritus of the School of Theology, wrote, “Harrell Beck’s contribution to the School of Theology and the wider church was enormous.” He generated high esteem as “professor, friend, preacher, prophet, and lecturer...”.[1]


Background[edit]

Life and education[edit]

Harrell Frederick Beck was born in Lyons, Nebraska,[2] on March 2, 1922, and went to Wayne State Normal School after high school.[3] In May 1945, Beck graduated with a Ph.D from Boston University School of Theology with highest honors as a Jacob Sleeper Fellow.[4] After being ordained in the Nebraska Annual Conference of what was then called simply the Methodist Church,[5] he moved to Egypt for nine years where he became fluent in Arabic and was a faculty member and dean of the School of Oriental Studies at the American University in Cairo (1945 -1954). There he met and married Leila Atallah. Harrell and Leila had two sons, David and Daniel.[3] Harrell died on December 10, 1987, soon after retiring from Boston University.[6]

Professional associations and publications[edit]

President of the New England section of the Society of Biblical Literature, Harrell also served as the President of the Massachusetts Bible Society Board of Trustees,[7] and, at the time of his death, was serving on the Hymnal Revision committee for the United Methodist Hymnal, where several of his translations and contributions can be found. [8] [9] [10] He was the author of many articles in various theological and religious journals, and at least one Bible study guide for church use, “Our Biblical Heritage,” published in 1964. He was also a contributor to the Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible (1962) and the Interpreter's One Volume Commentary on the Bible (1971).[11]

Influence and legacy[edit]

Beck’s contributions have been recognized with the establishment of an annual lecture series sponsored by the Massachusetts Bible Society.[12][13][14] An endowed professorship has been established at the School of Theology at Boston University to honor his contributions to both Old Testament studies and preaching of the highest quality.[15]

Former Beck student, the author and sociologist Rev. Dr. Tex Sample, has written:

"I remember Harrell Beck as an extraordinary teacher, a lecturer of compelling power, a sensitive spirit, and a deeply formed Christian who cared personally for his students. As a speaker and preacher, he was simply electric."[16]

References[edit]

  1. ^ [ Boston University Today December 17, 1987 to January 6th, 1988, page 6]
  2. ^ Daly, Christopher B. "Boston Globe: December 19, 1987". Highbeam.com. Archived from the original on 2014-06-10. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  3. ^ a b from “Harrell, Harral, Harril,” an unpublished memoir by Florine Harrell Greenwood
  4. ^ [Boston University Today December 17, 1987 to January 6th, 1988, page 6]
  5. ^ [1988 Journal of the Southern New England Conference of the United Methodist Church, page 144]
  6. ^ [Obituary, The Boston Globe (Boston, MA) December 19, 1987 ]
  7. ^ "Harrell Beck Biography | Massachusetts Bible Society". Massbible.org. 1988-01-14. Archived from the original on 2014-01-14. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  8. ^ "The United Methodist Hymnal 112a. God grant to us your wisdom". Hymnary.org. Archived from the original on 2014-01-16. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  9. ^ "The United Methodist Hymnal 849. I sing of your promise, O Lord". Hymnary.org. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  10. ^ "The United Methodist Hymnal 832b. Great are the works of the Lord". Hymnary.org. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  11. ^ [Typed resume on file at the Boston University School of Theology Library archives]
  12. ^ "2010 Beck Lectures with Harvey Cox (Videos) | Massachusetts Bible Society". Massbible.org. 2009-07-06. Archived from the original on 2014-01-14. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  13. ^ "God's Secretaries: The Making of the King James Bible - Beck 2011 with Adam Nicolson | Massachusetts Bible Society". Archived from the original on September 15, 2011. Retrieved October 15, 2011.
  14. ^ ""Power Shifts: How Social Media Changed Religion and Politics in 2012, and Why" with Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite - Harrell Beck Lecture 2012 | Massachusetts Bible Society". Massbible.org. 2012-10-28. Archived from the original on 2014-01-14. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  15. ^ "Focus : Boston University School of Technology : Winter 2011" (PDF). Bu.edu. Retrieved 2014-02-24.
  16. ^ "Tributes". Harrell Beck. 2012-06-28. Retrieved 2014-01-13.

External links[edit]

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