Bruce Metzger
Encyclopedia
Bruce Manning Metzger was a professor at Princeton Theological Seminary
and Bible
editor who served on the board of the American Bible Society
. He was a scholar of Greek
, New Testament
and Old Testament
, and wrote prolifically on these subjects.
, and earned his B.A.
(1935) at Lebanon Valley College
, and his Th.B.
(1938) at Princeton Theological Seminary
. He stayed at Princeton as a Teaching Fellow
in New Testament Greek
. On April 11, 1939, he was ordained
in the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. which after mergers is now known as the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). In 1940, he earned his M.A.
from Princeton University
and became an Instructor
in New Testament
. Two years later, he earned his Ph.D.
("Studies in a Greek Gospel Lectionary (Greg. 303
)"), also from Princeton.
In 1944, Metzger married Isobel Elizabeth Mackay, daughter of the third president of the Seminary, John A. Mackay
. That same year, he was promoted to Assistant Professor. In 1948, he became Associate Professor, and full Professor in 1954. In 1964, Metzger was named the George L. Collord Professor of New Testament Language and Literature. In 1971, he was elected president of both the Studiorum Novi Testimenti Societas and the International Society of Biblical Literature. The following year, he became president of the North American Patristic Society. Metzger was visiting fellow at Clare Hall, Cambridge
in 1974 and Wolfson College, Oxford
in 1979. In 1978 he was elected corresponding fellow of the British Academy
, the Academy's highest distinction for persons who are not residents in the United Kingdom. At the age of seventy, after teaching at Princeton Theological Seminary for a period of forty-six years, he retired as Professor Emeritus
. In 1994, Bruce Metzger was honoured with the Burkitt Medal for Biblical Studies by the British Academy
. He was awarded honorary doctorates from Lebanon Valley College
, the Findlay College
, the University of St Andrews
, the University of Münster
and Potchefstroom University
.
Shortly after his 93rd birthday, Metzger died in Princeton, New Jersey
. He was survived by his wife Isobel and their two sons, John Mackay Metzger and James Bruce Metzger.
' standard Greek New Testament, the starting point for nearly all recent New Testament translations. In 1952, he became a contributor to the Revised Standard Version
(RSV) of the Bible, and was general editor of the Reader's Digest Bible (a condensed version of the RSV) in 1982. From 1977 to 1990, he chaired the Committee on Translators for the New Revised Standard Version
(NRSV) of the Bible and was "largely responsible for ... seeing [the NRSV] through the press." He considered it a privilege to present the NRSV — which includes the books referred to as Apocrypha
by Protestants, though Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox consider them deuterocanonical — to Pope John Paul II
and Patriarch Demetrius I of Constantinople
.
Central to his scholarly contribution to New Testament studies is his trilogy: The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration (1964; 2nd ed., 1968; 3d enlarged ed., 1992); The Early Versions of the New Testament: Their Origin, Transmission, and Limitations (1977); The Canon of the New Testament: Its Origin, Development, and Significance (1987).
Metzger's commentaries often utilize historical criticism
and higher criticism, which attempt to explain the literary and historical origins of the Bible and the biblical canon
. For instance, Metzger argues that the early church which assembled the New Testament did not consider divine inspiration
to be a sufficient criterion for a book to be placed in the canon. Metzger says that the early church saw it as very important that a work describing Jesus
' life be written by a follower of or an eyewitness to Jesus, and considered other works such as The Shepherd of Hermas and the Epistles of Clement
to be inspired but not canonical.
Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary is a theological seminary of the Presbyterian Church located in the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey in the United States...
and Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
editor who served on the board of the American Bible Society
American Bible Society
The American Bible Society is an interconfessional, non-denominational, nonprofit organization, founded in 1816 in New York City, which publishes, distributes and translates the Bible and provides study aids and other tools to help people engage with the Bible.It is probably best known for its...
. He was a scholar of Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
, New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
and Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
, and wrote prolifically on these subjects.
Biography
Metzger was born in Middletown, PennsylvaniaMiddletown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Middletown is a borough in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, on the Susquehanna River, nine miles southeast of Harrisburg. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, and earned his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
(1935) at Lebanon Valley College
Lebanon Valley College
Lebanon Valley College is a small, liberal arts higher education institution situated in the heart of Annville in Lebanon County, east of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.-History:...
, and his Th.B.
Bachelor of Theology
The Bachelor of Theology is a three to five year undergraduate degree in theological disciplines. Candidates for this degree typically must complete course work in Greek or Hebrew, as well as systematic theology, biblical theology, ethics, homiletics and Christian ministry...
(1938) at Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary is a theological seminary of the Presbyterian Church located in the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey in the United States...
. He stayed at Princeton as a Teaching Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
in New Testament Greek
Koine Greek
Koine Greek is the universal dialect of the Greek language spoken throughout post-Classical antiquity , developing from the Attic dialect, with admixture of elements especially from Ionic....
. On April 11, 1939, he was ordained
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
in the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. which after mergers is now known as the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). In 1940, he earned his M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
and became an Instructor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
in New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
. Two years later, he earned his Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
("Studies in a Greek Gospel Lectionary (Greg. 303
Lectionary 303
Lectionary 303 , designated by siglum ℓ 303 in the Gregory-Aland numbering, is a 12th-century Greek manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. The manuscript has complex contents.- Description :...
)"), also from Princeton.
In 1944, Metzger married Isobel Elizabeth Mackay, daughter of the third president of the Seminary, John A. Mackay
John A. Mackay
John A. Mackay was a Presbyterian theologian, missionary, and educator. He was a strong advocate of the Ecumenical Movement and World Christianity.-Early life and education:...
. That same year, he was promoted to Assistant Professor. In 1948, he became Associate Professor, and full Professor in 1954. In 1964, Metzger was named the George L. Collord Professor of New Testament Language and Literature. In 1971, he was elected president of both the Studiorum Novi Testimenti Societas and the International Society of Biblical Literature. The following year, he became president of the North American Patristic Society. Metzger was visiting fellow at Clare Hall, Cambridge
Clare Hall, Cambridge
Clare Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is a college for advanced study, admitting only postgraduate students.Informality is a defining value at Clare Hall and this contributes to its unique character...
in 1974 and Wolfson College, Oxford
Wolfson College, Oxford
Wolfson College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Located in north Oxford along the River Cherwell, Wolfson is an all-graduate college with over sixty governing body fellows, in addition to both research and junior research fellows. It caters to a wide range of...
in 1979. In 1978 he was elected corresponding fellow of the British Academy
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
, the Academy's highest distinction for persons who are not residents in the United Kingdom. At the age of seventy, after teaching at Princeton Theological Seminary for a period of forty-six years, he retired as Professor Emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
. In 1994, Bruce Metzger was honoured with the Burkitt Medal for Biblical Studies by the British Academy
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
. He was awarded honorary doctorates from Lebanon Valley College
Lebanon Valley College
Lebanon Valley College is a small, liberal arts higher education institution situated in the heart of Annville in Lebanon County, east of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.-History:...
, the Findlay College
University of Findlay
The University of Findlay is a private university located in the city of Findlay in Hancock County, Ohio, United States. It was affiliated with the Churches of God, General Conference, and was founded in 1882 by the city of Findlay and the Churches of God, General Conference. Findlay offers more...
, the University of St Andrews
University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
, the University of Münster
University of Münster
The University of Münster is a public university located in the city of Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. The WWU is part of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, a society of Germany's leading research universities...
and Potchefstroom University
Potchefstroom Campus
The Potchefstroom campus of the North-West University was formerly known as the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education...
.
Shortly after his 93rd birthday, Metzger died in Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
. He was survived by his wife Isobel and their two sons, John Mackay Metzger and James Bruce Metzger.
Books and commentaries
Metzger edited and provided commentary for many Bible translations and wrote dozens of books. He was an editor of the United Bible SocietiesUnited Bible Societies
The United Bible Societies is a worldwide association of Bible societies. In 1946 delegates from 13 countries formed the UBS, as an effort to coordinate the activities of the bible societies. The first headquarters were London and in Geneva...
' standard Greek New Testament, the starting point for nearly all recent New Testament translations. In 1952, he became a contributor to the Revised Standard Version
Revised Standard Version
The Revised Standard Version is an English translation of the Bible published in the mid-20th century. It traces its history to William Tyndale's New Testament translation of 1525. The RSV is an authorized revision of the American Standard Version of 1901...
(RSV) of the Bible, and was general editor of the Reader's Digest Bible (a condensed version of the RSV) in 1982. From 1977 to 1990, he chaired the Committee on Translators for the New Revised Standard Version
New Revised Standard Version
The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible is an English translation of the Bible released in 1989 in the USA. It is a thorough revision of the Revised Standard Version .There are three editions of the NRSV:...
(NRSV) of the Bible and was "largely responsible for ... seeing [the NRSV] through the press." He considered it a privilege to present the NRSV — which includes the books referred to as Apocrypha
Apocrypha
The term apocrypha is used with various meanings, including "hidden", "esoteric", "spurious", "of questionable authenticity", ancient Chinese "revealed texts and objects" and "Christian texts that are not canonical"....
by Protestants, though Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox consider them deuterocanonical — to Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
and Patriarch Demetrius I of Constantinople
Patriarch Demetrius I of Constantinople
Demetrios I also Dimitrios I or Demetrius I, born Demetrios Papadopoulos was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from July 16, 1972, to October 2, 1991. Before his election as Patriarch he served as Metropolitan Bishop of Imvros...
.
Central to his scholarly contribution to New Testament studies is his trilogy: The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration (1964; 2nd ed., 1968; 3d enlarged ed., 1992); The Early Versions of the New Testament: Their Origin, Transmission, and Limitations (1977); The Canon of the New Testament: Its Origin, Development, and Significance (1987).
Metzger's commentaries often utilize historical criticism
Historical criticism
Historical criticism, or historical-critical method, and also known as higher criticism, is a branch of literary criticism that investigates the origins of ancient text in order to understand "the world behind the text"....
and higher criticism, which attempt to explain the literary and historical origins of the Bible and the biblical canon
Biblical canon
A biblical canon, or canon of scripture, is a list of books considered to be authoritative as scripture by a particular religious community. The term itself was first coined by Christians, but the idea is found in Jewish sources. The internal wording of the text can also be specified, for example...
. For instance, Metzger argues that the early church which assembled the New Testament did not consider divine inspiration
Biblical inspiration
Biblical inspiration is the doctrine in Christian theology that the authors and editors of the Bible were led or influenced by God with the result that their writings many be designated in some sense the word of God.- Etymology :...
to be a sufficient criterion for a book to be placed in the canon. Metzger says that the early church saw it as very important that a work describing Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
' life be written by a follower of or an eyewitness to Jesus, and considered other works such as The Shepherd of Hermas and the Epistles of Clement
Epistles of Clement
The Epistles of Clement are two letters ascribed to Clement of Rome :* First Epistle of Clement;* Second Epistle of Clement, not by the same author;...
to be inspired but not canonical.
List of Books and Publications
- "Apostolic Letters of Faith, Hope, and Love: Galatians, 1 Peter, and 1 John" (2006)
- The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, And Restoration (1964). 2005 4th edition with Bart D. EhrmanBart D. EhrmanBart D. Ehrman is an American New Testament scholar, currently the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill....
, ISBN 0-19-516122-X - The New Testament: Its Background, Growth and Content (2003, James Clarke & Co., Cambridge; ISBN 9780227170250)
- The Oxford Essential Guide to Ideas and Issues of the Bible (2002 with Michael D. Coogan)
- The Oxford Guide to People & Places of the Bible (2001 with Michael D. Coogan)
- The Bible in Translation, Ancient and English Versions (2001)
- Greek New Testament (2000 with B. Aland)
- Breaking the Code: Understanding the Book of Revelation: Leader's Guide (1999)
- Reminiscences of an Octogenarian (1997)
- The Canon of the New Testament: Its Origin, Development, and Significance (1997)
- Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament (1994)
- The Oxford Companion to the Bible (1993 with Michael D. Coogan)
- The Reader's Bible (1983)
- Lexical Aids for Students of New Testament Greek (1969)
- List of Words Occuring Frequently in the Coptic New Testament (Sahidic Dialect) (1961) – note: "occuring" is misspelled in the published title
- Introduction to the Apocrypha (1957)
- The Oxford Concise Concordance to the Revised Standard Version of the Holy Bible (with Isobel M. Metzger)
List of Translations
- The NRSV Bible with the Apocrypha, Compact Edition (2003)
- New Revised Standard Version (1989)
- Oxford Annotated Apocrypha: Revised Standard Version (1977)
- The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha, Revised Standard Version, Expanded Edition (1977 with Herbert G. May)
- Oxford Annotated Apocrypha: The Apocrypha of the Old Testament (1977)
Festschriften
- New Testament Textual Criticism: Its Significance for Exegesis: Essays in Honour of Bruce M. Metzger, ed. Eldon Jay Epp and Gordon D. Fee (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1981)
- A South African Perspective on the New Testament, Essays by South African New Testament Scholars Presented to Bruce Manning Metzger during His Visit to South Africa in 1985, ed. J.H. Petzer and P.J. Hartin (Leiden: Brill, 1986)
- The Text of the New Testament in Contemporary Research: Essays on the Status Quaestionis, ed. Bart D. Ehrman and Michael W. Holmes, (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989)
Selected Articles
- “The Meaning of Christ’s Ascension,” Christianity Today, vol. 10, no. 17 (May 27, 1966): 3-4.
- “Names for the Nameless in the New Testament: A Study in the Growth of Christian Tradition,” in Patrick Granfield & Josef A. Jungmann (eds.), Kyriakon: Festschrift Johannes Quasten, 2 vols. (Münster, Verlag Aschendorff, 1970) vol. 1: 79-99.
- “Patristic Evidence and Textual Criticism of the New Testament,” New Testament Studies, vol. 18, pp. 379–400. Presidential Address, Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas, delivered August 24, 1971 at Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands.
- “Literary Forgeries and Canonical Pseudepigrapha,” Journal of Biblical Literature, vol. 91, pp. 3–24. (1972). Presidential address, Society of Biblical Literature, delivered October 29, 1971 in Atlanta, Georgia.
External links
- Obituary in the Trentonian
- Obituary from Society of Biblical LiteratureSociety of Biblical LiteratureThe Society of Biblical Literature, founded 1880, is a constituent society of the American Council of Learned Societies , with the stated mission to "Foster Biblical Scholarship"...
- Tribute from Ben Witherington
- Tribute from Daniel B. WallaceDaniel B. WallaceDaniel Baird Wallace is a professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary where he has been tenured since 1995. He is also the founder of the Center of the Study of NT Manuscripts....
- Obituary in The Independent, (pub.22/02/07)