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...”.[ Boston University Today December 17, 1987 to January 6th, 1988, page 6]
Background
Life and education Harrell Frederick Beck was born in Lyons, Nebraska, on March 2, 1922, and went to Wayne State Normal School after high school.from “Harrell, Harral, Harril,” an unpublished memoir by Florine Harrell Greenwood In May 1945, Beck graduated with a Ph.D from Boston University School of Theology with highest honors as a Jacob Sleeper Fellow.[Boston University Today December 17, 1987 to January 6th, 1988, page 6] After being ordained in the Nebraska Annual Conference of what was then called simply the Methodist Church,[1988 Journal of the Southern New England Conference of the United Methodist Church, page 144] 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. Harrell died on December 10, 1987, soon after retiring from Boston University.[Obituary, The Boston Globe (Boston, MA) December 19, 1987 ]
Professional associations and publications 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, 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.
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).[Typed resume on file at the Boston University School of Theology Library archives]
Influence and legacy Beck’s contributions have been recognized with the establishment of an annual lecture series sponsored by the Massachusetts Bible Society. 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.
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."
References
External links Harrell F. Beck biography at the Massachusetts Bible Society Alban institute article, "On Harrell Beck," by Gil Rendle Info on the Harrell F. Beck Chair in Hebrew Scripture at Boston University School of Theology Audio files of Harrell Beck lectures at Boston University's "Digital Common" "Triptych," by Katheryn Pfisterer Darr on her installation as the second Harrell F. Beck Scholar of Hebrew Bible. Harrell F. Beck Facebook page Harrell Beck Blog