Kay Arthur, whose popular Bible studies helped millions to understand and apply the truths of Scripture, died Tuesday. She was 91. Since 2020, Arthur had battled Parkinson’s disease. 

The ministry she founded, known as Precept, began after she and her husband, the late Jack Arthur, began hosting Bible studies for teenagers in their living room. Fifty-five years later, Precept serves 190 countries and its resources are translated into 110 languages.

“Kay Arthur’s impact on the lives of millions has been remarkable, and her hope and prayer was for every person to know God deeply,” an obituary at Precept.org states. “Arthur often quoted Daniel 11:32b: ‘…the people who know their God will display strength and take action.’” Her approach to Bible teaching was to engage the participant to “observe, interpret and apply the truth of Scripture.”

“When you know what God says, what He means, and how to put His truths into practice, you will be equipped for every circumstance of life,” Arthur was fond of saying.

For more than three decades, Arthur was a regularly featured speaker at the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove. For the last few years she spoke at The Cove as a special guest of her son David during seminars that he taught, most recently in 2024. Over the years, she wrote numerous articles for Decision magazine, including monthly Bible studies from March 2007 through December 2008.

On hearing of her passing, Franklin Graham posted on social media: “Kay Arthur, co-founder of Precept Ministries, went to be with her Lord and Savior today. … She loved the Word of God and was a great Bible teacher, authoring over 100 books and Bible studies. The Lord used her to touch the lives of millions of people for His glory. She will be greatly missed. Join me in lifting her family up in prayer.”

A Michigan native, Arthur graduated with a nursing degree from Case Western Reserve University and became a registered nurse. In sharing her testimony of conversion to Christ, Arthur told of a period of much personal hardship in her 20s. During that time, she had two sons—Tom and Mark—by her first husband, Tom Goetz. But the couple eventually divorced.

According to the Precept.org obituary, she is quoted as saying of that painful season, “All suffering has an end.” Amid the pain, she surrendered her life to Jesus Christ at age 29.

A few years later, she enrolled at Tennessee Temple University, where she met a missionary named Jack Arthur. They married in 1965 and later went to serve as missionaries in Mexico, where their son David was born.

In 1970, after the family returned from the mission field and settled in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Arthurs began hosting a small group of teenagers in their home. Those Bible studies grew into what became Precept, which largely catered to women.

In addition to a gift for clear Biblical teaching, Arthur was relatable to many women, having had a testimony with real-life blemishes and trials that were redeemed by the grace of Jesus Christ.

In addition to her written and videotaped Bible studies, Arthur began hosting a syndicated Bible program called Precepts for Life, which was broadcast to 30 countries and reached more than 75 million households.

David Arthur, who serves as CEO of Precept, said in a Facebook post on Wednesday: “When my mom surrendered her life to Christ in 1963, she truly gave her all to Him. She moved wherever He called her to be, which meant serving as a missionary and learning to lead and write Bible studies. She was deeply passionate about the mission of Precept because she loved God’s Word. It was her life.”

Kay is survived by her three sons, Tom Goetz, Mark Goetz, and David Arthur (Margaret); nine grandchildren, Meg Day (John), Joseph Goetz and Daniel Goetz; John Goetz (Whitney), Ryan Goetz and Alexandra Goetz; Jesse Callahan (Zach), Abigail Edens (Robert) and Ann Arthur; and seven great-grandchildren.

According to a statement from Precept, a private memorial service is planned, with a livestream of the service to be available to the public. Details will be announced in the coming days.

Photo via Facebook / Precept Ireland