Presbyweb carried the news today that Dr. Bruce Manning Metzger, probably the greatest New Testament critic and Biblical translator of the 20th century died at his home in Princeton, New Jersey at the age of 93. (Presbyweb is a subscription site, but offers a free trial period.)Dr. Metzger, an ordained Presbyterian minister, chaired the committee that produced the NRSV translation of the Bible. He was a professor at Princeton seminary. I wish I could have taken a class or seminar with him. But in a way, thanks to the wonders of modern technology, I was able to bring him into a classroom at the church I served as Director of Christian Education several years ago.
Dr. Metzger wrote a book explaining the book of Revelation from the perspective of Reformed theology, titled "Breaking the Code" and filmed a series of lectures on videotape that accompanied it. I loved teaching that class and found Dr. Metzger's book and videotapes (now available on DVD) instructive and inspirational. He was scholarly but accessible and persuasive without being dogmatic. The class met during the height of the "Left Behind" craze, so our series was very timely and popular.
God bless you, Dr. Metzger, and be with your family and loved ones as you join the Church Triumphant. Your life touched many, many people for good.
6 comments:
I'm so sorry; it sounds like this is a personal loss for you as well as one for the church.
Our senior pastor graduated from Princeton. He may well have studied with the man. I'll ask. He certainly lived a very long and full life. I'll check out his book. Thanks for the tribute.
Amen.
Thank you, God, for those who offer the life of the mind to the glory of God.
Dr. Metzger's books earned me A's on seminary exegeses (exegesi?) on the Christ Hymns in the NT.
Thank you Dr. M! Enter joyfully into the place prepared for you before the beginnings of the world!
(((QG)))
Thanks for posting this notice, QG. I have appreciated Dr. Metzger's works since I read him in seminary decades ago.
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