On December 27, 1954, Pastor Roy Johnson advised the General Board of Philadelphia Church that he had received a petition signed by a number of the church’s young people, in which they asked for Bible school training. Following discussion regarding the possibility of some sort of Bible training, Pastor Johnson was asked to contact Dr. Arthur Petrie of the Simpson Bible Institute to see if he might be interested in working with the leadership of the church on such a project.

At the January 1955 assembly meeting, the members gave the Board a vote of confidence to go ahead with plans for a daily Bible school. Pastor Johnson advised that he had been invited to attend a regional convention in Minnesota in March. He suggested that the trip would afford him an excellent opportunity to discuss the proposed Bible school with brethren in the Midwest, and to seek their cooperation in the venture. The church endorsed this suggestion and gave the pastor the go-ahead.

In the fall of 1955, Seattle Bible Training School opened its doors, meeting in the Philadelphia Church annex, with more than twenty students enrolled. (In 1985 the name of the school was changed to Seattle Bible College.) This was the beginning of the fulfillment of a “vision” of Pastor Johnson—a vision that came to him about five years before. For those years there had been in his heart the desire to establish a Bible-based school.

Dr. Arthur Petrie served as the first Director of Studies. Rev. Gwilym Francis of Wales was called in 1956 to become the Director of Studies and continued with the Bible School until the spring of 1958. Rev. Gunnar Jacobsen came as Director of Studies in the spring of 1958, and was followed by Rev. A.G. Dornfeld that fall.

Early in 1960, Rev. H.E. (Ned) Collingridge began his ministry at the Seattle Bible Training School. He served in various capacities over the years including teacher, Director of Studies, Dean of Men, and Dean of the School. The direction he gave to the School and the mark he made on the students was substantial. Ned Collingridge resigned in 1968 to return to ministry on the foreign field.

In May of 1965, Rev. Samuel T. Smith was called to serve the School. Sam Smith led the development of the four-year degree program and served in teaching, administration, and as the Registrar until May of 1992, when he suddenly passed away.

Rev. Paul Cornish, from Alberta, Canada, was called to be the Dean of the School in February 1970. Paul Cornish continued as Dean and in his teaching ministry through June 1992, when he resigned from his position at the College to enter into an overseas ministry.

Over the intervening years Daniel Fick, James Crews, and Bryan Johnson served in administrative leadership. Faculty additions have complemented the unique blend of academic training and significant pastoral and missions experience that comprise the team members of the teaching faculty.

In 2003, approval was given for Seattle Bible College to form its own 501(c)(3) non-profit ministry incorporation distinct from that of the founding assembly, Philiadelphia Church.  A board of Christian leaders governs the College.  A council of Advisors is also in place to offer input and to lend support to the ongoing ministry of the College.

During the summer of 2006, SBC relocated 20 miles north of its historical Seattle location to Sonrise Chapel in south Everett.  In 2007 a graduate studies division of SBC was established -Cross-National Graduate School of Leadership.  In 2009 SBC relocated to the Mill Creek campus of Christian Faith Center, and a "blending" process began with Vision College, a training ministry of Christian Faith Center.  In 2010 Vision College became a "vocation studies division" of Seattle Bible College, Inc., and Pastor Casey Treat was confirmed as President of Seattle Bible College, Inc.  As of fall quarter, 2011, SBC blends the vocational aspect of Vision College and the degree programs of SBC.  Full-time SBC academic courses are offered at both campuses of Christian Faith Center- in Federal Way and Mill Creek.  Bryan Johnson serves as Executive Vice President and Dean of SBC, and Terry Tarsiuk serves as Associate Dean.