R. B. Y. Scott
Encyclopedia
Robert Balgarnie Young Scott (July 16, 1899 – November 1, 1987) was a clergyman of the United Church of Canada
and an Old Testament
scholar.
minister), he was a graduate of Knox College, University of Toronto
and the University of Toronto
where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1922, a Master of Arts degree in 1924, and a Ph.D. in 1928. He was ordained in the United Church of Canada
in 1926.
He started teaching at Vancouver's Union College in 1928. In 1931, he moved to Montreal where he was a professor of Old Testament language and literature at the United Theological College of Montréal. From 1948 until 1955, he taught Old Testament at McGill University
. In 1947, he became the first Dean of the Faculty of Divinity at McGill University. He was a member of the World Council of Churches
from 1949 to 1955.
In 1955, he was appointed the Danforth Professor of Religion in the new Department of Religion at Princeton University
. He was chairman of the department from 1963 to 1965. He retired in 1968.
He is noted for his staunch support for the social gospel ethos of the United Church, both at Princeton and at home in Canada and for some ten of his 24 hymns, many written in the cause of the Fellowship for a Christian Social Order, especially the social gospel hymn "O day of God draw nigh" which is found in the hymnals of the United Church of Canada, the Anglican Church of Canada
, the Presbyterian Church in Canada
, the joint hymnal of the Uniting, Anglican, Roman Catholic, Lutheran and Church of Christ churches of Australia and in hymnals of British and US churches. It was sung at Westminster Abbey at the memorial service for John Smith, the leader of the British Labour Party.
His published writings include Towards the Christian Revolution (1936), Relevance of the Prophets (1953); Treasures from Judaean Caves (1955); The Psalms as Christian Praise (1958); Proverbs and Ecclesiastes (1965) in the Anchor Bible Series; The Way of Wisdom, (1971)
He died on November 1, 1987 in Toronto
.
United Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada is a Protestant Christian denomination in Canada. It is the largest Protestant church and, after the Roman Catholic Church, the second-largest Christian church in Canada...
and an 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...
scholar.
Biography
Born in Toronto, Ontario, the son of John McPherson Scott (a Presbyterian Church in CanadaPresbyterian Church in Canada
The Presbyterian Church in Canada is the name of a Protestant Christian church, of presbyterian and reformed theology and polity, serving in Canada under this name since 1875, although the United Church of Canada claimed the right to the name from 1925 to 1939...
minister), he was a graduate of Knox College, University of Toronto
Knox College, University of Toronto
Knox College is a postgraduate theological college of the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 1844 as part of a schism movement in the Church of Scotland following the Disruption...
and the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1922, a Master of Arts degree in 1924, and a Ph.D. in 1928. He was ordained in the United Church of Canada
United Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada is a Protestant Christian denomination in Canada. It is the largest Protestant church and, after the Roman Catholic Church, the second-largest Christian church in Canada...
in 1926.
He started teaching at Vancouver's Union College in 1928. In 1931, he moved to Montreal where he was a professor of Old Testament language and literature at the United Theological College of Montréal. From 1948 until 1955, he taught Old Testament at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
. In 1947, he became the first Dean of the Faculty of Divinity at McGill University. He was a member of the World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
from 1949 to 1955.
In 1955, he was appointed the Danforth Professor of Religion in the new Department of Religion at 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....
. He was chairman of the department from 1963 to 1965. He retired in 1968.
He is noted for his staunch support for the social gospel ethos of the United Church, both at Princeton and at home in Canada and for some ten of his 24 hymns, many written in the cause of the Fellowship for a Christian Social Order, especially the social gospel hymn "O day of God draw nigh" which is found in the hymnals of the United Church of Canada, the Anglican Church of Canada
Anglican Church of Canada
The Anglican Church of Canada is the Province of the Anglican Communion in Canada. The official French name is l'Église Anglicane du Canada. The ACC is the third largest church in Canada after the Roman Catholic Church and the United Church of Canada, consisting of 800,000 registered members...
, the Presbyterian Church in Canada
Presbyterian Church in Canada
The Presbyterian Church in Canada is the name of a Protestant Christian church, of presbyterian and reformed theology and polity, serving in Canada under this name since 1875, although the United Church of Canada claimed the right to the name from 1925 to 1939...
, the joint hymnal of the Uniting, Anglican, Roman Catholic, Lutheran and Church of Christ churches of Australia and in hymnals of British and US churches. It was sung at Westminster Abbey at the memorial service for John Smith, the leader of the British Labour Party.
His published writings include Towards the Christian Revolution (1936), Relevance of the Prophets (1953); Treasures from Judaean Caves (1955); The Psalms as Christian Praise (1958); Proverbs and Ecclesiastes (1965) in the Anchor Bible Series; The Way of Wisdom, (1971)
He died on November 1, 1987 in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.