Robert Stein

 Robert (Bob) Harry Stein, age 90, entered the presence of the Lord at his home in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, on January 20, 2026. He finished his earthly race next to his sweetheart, Joan Lila (Thatcher) Stein, and in the presence of his children.

Bob was born on March 13, 1935, in Jersey City, New Jersey, to William and Ella Stein. He grew up in West New York, New Jersey. After his freshman year at Rutgers University, Bob came to a saving faith in his Lord Jesus Christ. He graduated with a B.A. from Rutgers in 1956 and felt called to pursue vocational Christian ministry. In 1959, he received a Bachelor of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.

While studying at Fuller, Bob met the love of his life, Joan, and they were married on June 28, 1958. Bob served as pastor at First Baptist Church in Ellendale, North Dakota, from 1960 to 1964. Two children were born to Bob and Joan while in Ellendale: Robert Paul, who passed away four days after his birth in 1961, and Julie Joan, born in 1963.

In 1964, Bob and Joan moved to Newton Center, Massachusetts, where Bob received a Master of Sacred Theology from Andover Newton Theological School in 1966. During their time there, Keith Robert was born in 1965. Bob then pursued and received a Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary and served as an associate pastor at First Baptist Church in Freehold, New Jersey. Stephen William was born in 1969.

In 1969, Bob accepted a faculty position at Bethel College and Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, as a professor of New Testament, and the family moved to White Bear Lake, Minnesota. Bob taught at Bethel from 1969 to 1997. During a sabbatical year in 1975–1976, Bob completed post-doctoral studies in Heidelberg, Germany. This was a formative year for the family, during which Bob met many of his parents’ relatives for the first time. Fruit from that sabbatical year included the first of his many books, The Method and Message of Jesus’ Teachings.

Bob also taught at a seminary in Büsingen, Germany, in 1984 and studied in Tübingen, Germany, in 1990 during subsequent sabbaticals while at Bethel.

In the fall of 1997, Bob accepted a position as Senior Professor of New Testament Interpretation at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and he and Joan moved to Louisville, Kentucky. They returned to Minnesota in 2002 to be near family, though Bob continued teaching for two more years while commuting weekly to Louisville. Bob retired in 2004 but continued writing and teaching at churches and as a guest lecturer at colleges and seminaries.

Bob was a respected and accomplished scholar with nearly 30 peer-reviewed journal articles, 15 books, and uncounted conference presentations and abstracts. Particularly well known among his books are A Basic Guide to Interpreting the Bible: Playing by the Rules, Jesus the Messiah: A Survey of the Life of Christ, a commentary on Luke in The New American Commentary series, and a commentary on Mark in the Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament series. His influence extended beyond the English-speaking world, as many of his books were translated into other languages. He was part of the team that translated the Gospel of Luke for the New Living Translation and wrote much of the study notes for Luke in the English Standard Version Study Bible. His lectures have been listened to more than one million times through biblicaltraining.org.

Bob was more than a theologian. He loved the Lord and served Him faithfully and joyfully, and he beautifully shepherded his family to know Jesus Christ. He had a heart for the poor and those in need. Bob was a faithful member of his church for more than 50 years—North Haven Church/North St. Paul Baptist Church. He adored his wife, children (and spouses), grandchildren (and spouses), and great-grandchildren, and they adored him. Bob and Joan loved traveling and took their family on many memorable trips to Europe, the Holy Lands, Hawaii, Vancouver Island, the Boundary Waters, and many other amazing places. Bob loved sports, fishing, hunting, and being outdoors.

Bob is survived by his wife of 67 years, Joan (Thatcher) Stein; children Julie (Stein) Adamson and her husband, Bruce Adamson; Keith Stein and his wife, Barbara (Corcoran) Stein; and Stephen Stein and his wife, Liz (McGettrick) Stein; their 11 beloved grandchildren and their spouses; 17 great-grandchildren; and many extended relatives.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, William and Ella Stein; his brother, William John Stein; and his son, Robert Paul.

A memorial service will be held at North Haven Church (2240 15th Ave E, North St. Paul, MN) on Saturday, February 7, at 11:00 a.m., with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m.

The family welcomes memorial donations to Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities in honor of Robert Stein. Gifts may be made at: https://www.ugmtc.org/ways-to-give/memorial-gifts-honorariums/.