WAKE FOREST, N.C. (BP) – Keith Harper, well-known Baptist historian and longtime professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS), died Wednesday (April 23) of lung cancer.
Harper arrived at Southeastern as assistant professor of church history in 1996. He would not leave until he retired last July from his role as senior professor of Baptist studies and moved to South Carolina to be near family.
“Dr. Keith Harper was a much loved and valued member of the Southeastern Seminary family for three decades,” said SEBTS President Danny Akin. “He was a consummate scholar, teacher and churchman. His books on the letters of Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong will remain an enduring gift to the Church.”
In the wider Southern Baptist world, Harper is best known for his books on Baptist history, including compilations of letters from Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong – letters that convicted generations of Southern Baptists and inspired them to increase their support for missions in the U.S. and around the world.
In a statement released Thursday (April 24), SEBTS said Harper often sought to represent the “unheard voices” in history, adding that he was a “strong advocate for women in scholarship.”
He also studied the history of Black Baptists, writing “Between Fetters and Freedom: African American Baptists Since Emancipation.”
“[Harper’s] keen mind and warm-hearted scholarship emerged from a passion for the purity of the church’s witness to God’s kingdom,” said SEBTS professor Walter Strickland upon Harper’s retirement last year. “While Dr. Harper is a scholar who influenced the masses with his pen, I can testify to his investment in individuals who will never be able to return the favor. His legacy will reverberate for generations to the glory of God.”
Harper’s book “SBC FAQs: A Ready Reference,” cowritten with author Amy Whitfield, is a must-read for anyone desiring to know the ins and outs of how Southern Baptists work together.
“My path was significantly shaped by the influence and encouragement of Keith Harper,” Whitfield said in comments on social media. “He saw what I was capable of before I could see it, and he would not let me give up. His historical mind could only be described as brilliant, and he leaves a body of work that will serve Baptists long into the future. But the scores of men and women who call him a mentor – that’s his legacy.”
Harper received his Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky, writing a dissertation titled, “The Quality of Mercy: Southern Baptists and Social Christianity, 1890-1920.”
Friends describe Harper as a great encourager, with a dry, sarcastic wit.
Pastors and SEBTS alums Nathan Finn and Keith Whitfield, in a piece memorializing Harper, said his death will leave a void among the hundreds of students and colleagues shaped by his wisdom and kindness.
“He was a craftsman of Baptist history and a shepherd of human souls,” they wrote. “He reminded us that the past isn’t just about dusty records – it’s about faith, sacrifice, and the conviction of those who came before. And he reminded us that our work isn’t just academic – it’s ecclesial. It’s discipleship. It’s service to Christ and His church.”
Akin said he looks forward to seeing his friend again.
“I love him and his wife Johnnie.” Akin said. “Keith had a witty sarcasm about him that was contagious and endearing. I always enjoyed our many conversations about all things Baptist. My last conversation with him included a brief debate on whether we would study Church and Baptist history in heaven. I was certain we would. He was more unsure. Well, now he knows!
“I will greatly miss Keith Harper, but I gain great comfort in the Gospel promise that we will see one another again.”
This story will be updated with funeral arrangements when they become available.
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