Rev. Harold P. Scanlin

The Rev. Harold P. Scanlin, 87, died at his home at Waldheim Park in Allentown, PA, on May 19, 2024. Rev. Scanlin was a noted theologian and Bible scholar. He was the husband of Grace Lenore (Logue) Scanlin. The couple celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary in April. Rev. Scanlin was born March 20, 1937, to Harold H. Scanlin, former bishop of the Evangelical Congregational Church, and Carolyn (Kichline) Scanlin. In addition to his wife, Lenore, his survivors include sister, Joan Fenstermaker, wife of the deceased Rev. Roger Fenstermaker, Allentown, PA; daughter, Susan Elisabeth (Scanlin) Mazza, married to Joseph Mazza, Bethlehem, PA; son John Harold Scanlin, Allentown, PA; grandchildren: Michael Mazza, Allentown, PA; Katelyn Mazza, married to Ian Carey, Oxford, NJ; and Grace Elisabeth Mazza, Bethlehem, PA. Rev. Scanlin retired in 2003 from United Bible Societies, where he had served as Consultant on Scholarly Editions and Helps since 1995 and as Translation Advisor from 1988 to 1995. From 1979 to 1988 he served as Special Secretary for Translations for the American Bible Society and from 1966 to 1979 as Librarian and Associate Professor of Hebrew for the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Myerstown, PA. He served as pastor at Evangelical Congregational Churches in East Petersburg, Hatfield, and Brownstown, PA. He was currently a member of New Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church, Allentown. Rev. Scanlin graduated from Moravian College in 1958; Evangelical Theological Seminary and Palmer Theological Seminary (formerly Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary) in 1968; and the Graduate School of Library Science at Villanova University in 1972. He had also studied at Dropsie College for Hebrew and Cognate Learning, Philadelphia, PA, as part of the Advanced Doctoral Studies program. Rev. Scanlin was an author, contributing author, and editor of numerous scholarly theological publications. He authored the book, The Dead Sea Scrolls and Modern Translations of the Old Testament, published by Tyndale House in 1993. He had served as Book Review Editor for The Bible Translator; Editor of the series Textual Criticism and the Translator; Editor of Evangelical from the Beginning; served on the Editorial committee for Biblia Hebraica Quinta; and served as Vice President and Editor of Religious and Theological Abstracts. Rev. Scanlin also served as Secretary-Treasurer for the International Organization for Masoretic Studies; President of the Historical Society of the Evangelical Church; and Past President of the Evangelical Congregational Waldheim Park Association. He was a long-time collector of ECWPA historical memorabilia and souvenir photos and books. Services will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, June 1st in the Tabernacle at E. C. Waldheim Park, 2400 S. Hall St., Allentown. A calling hour will precede the service from 10:00-11:00 AM. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the E.C. Waldheim Park Association, 2400 S. Hall St., Allentown, PA 18103.