Skip to main content
With the Lord

Bill Arp, Professor

By July 10, 2017No Comments

CLARKS SUMMIT, Pa.—Bill Arp, scholar and professor of Greek and New Testament studies who spent nearly 50 years teaching at Clarks Summit University, died July 2. He was 75.

William Edward Arp was born Dec. 7, 1941. He received a BS from Philadelphia Biblical University, an MDiv and an STM from Faith Theological Seminary, and a ThD in New Testament from Grace Theological Seminary.

Before going to Clark Summit University and Baptist Bible Seminary, Arp served as a youth pastor at Faith Community Church in Roslyn, Pennsylvania, and Berachah Baptist Church in Bridgeton, New Jersey. He also taught at South Jersey Evening Bible Institute. According to the BBS website, Dr. Arp’s knowledge of Greek text, the Greek New Testament, and the English Bible, as well as his skill in exegesis, was instrumental in developing the Greek program at CSU.

Dr. Arp also taught Sunday School and served as a deacon at Heritage Baptist Church in Clarks Summit. He wrote three adult Bible studies for Regular Baptist Press: The Joyful Life (Philippians), Growing Belief (Gospel of John), and Staying on Course (1 and 2 Thessalonians).

David Gunn, editorial director of publications at Regular Baptist Press, managing editor of the Baptist Bulletin, and doctoral candidate at Baptist Bible Seminary, says Dr. Arp was an incredible scholar and professor. In his many decades of teaching New Testament Greek, he studied deeply, wrote extensively, and kept himself conversant with all the major issues on the cutting edge of Koine Greek research. Yet with all his learnedness and scholarly acumen, he will no doubt be remembered most for his gracious manner toward and genuine care for his students. “It was a delight to study under Dr. Arp,” Gunn says, “not just because he knew what he was talking about and could communicate it well, but because you could tell he actually cared about you. That’s a rare quality, and it’s what makes the difference between a good teacher and a truly great one. Bill was one of the latter, and all who had the privilege of knowing and learning from him are deeply grieved by his passing.”

Dr. Arp is survived by his wife of 51 years, Joanna; five children, Joanna Carter, Jesica Mosher, Joshua, Judith, and Jeanne; and 12 grandchildren.