September 11, 1990: Mr. (Dr. Prof.) F.F. Bruce Dies

On 11 September 1990, the British New Testament scholar, the Mr.(Dr. Prof.) F.F. Bruce, dies at nearly 80.

From Wiki.

Frederick Fyvie Bruce FBA (12 October 1910 – 11 September 1990) was a Biblical scholar and one of the founders of the modern evangelical understanding of the Bible. His first book, New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? (1943), was voted by the American evangelical periodical Christianity Today in 2006 as one of the top 50 books "which had shaped evangelicals".[1]

Biography

Bruce was born in Elgin, Moray, in Scotland and educated at the University of Aberdeen, Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge and the University of Vienna. After teaching Greek for several years, first at the University of Edinburgh and then at the University of Leeds, he became head of the Department of Biblical History and Literature at the University of Sheffield in 1947. Aberdeen University bestowed an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree on him in 1957.[2] In 1959 he moved to the University of Manchester where he became Rylands Professor of Biblical Criticism and Exegesis. In his career he wrote over 40 books and served as editor of The Evangelical Quarterly and the Palestine Exploration Quarterly. He retired from teaching in 1978.

Bruce was a distinguished scholar on the life and ministry of Paul the Apostle and wrote several studies, the best known of which is Paul: Apostle of the Free Spirit (published in the United States as Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free). He also wrote commentaries on several biblical books including Romans, Acts of the Apostles, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, the Gospel and Epistles of John, and the Epistle to the Hebrews.

Bruce was in Christian fellowship at various places during his life, though his primary commitment was to the Open Brethren among whom he grew up.[3] He enjoyed the fellowship and acceptance of this group, though he was very much a maverick in relation to his own personal beliefs. He never accepted the dispensationalism[4] and pre-tribulationism usually associated with the Brethren, and he was also an advocate of the public ministry of women[5] – something that Plymouth Brethren would still disapprove of today.

Most of Bruce's works were scholarly, but he also wrote several popular works on the Bible. He viewed the New Testament writings as historically reliable and the truth claims of Christianity as hinging on their being so. To Bruce this did not mean that the Bible was always precise, or that this lack of precision could not lead to considerable confusion. He believed, however, that the passages that were still open to debate were ones that had no substantial bearing on Christian theology and thinking.

Bruce was honoured with two scholarly works by his colleagues and former students, one to mark his sixtieth and the other to mark his seventieth birthday. He was elected a Fellow of the British Academy, and served as President of the Society for Old Testament Study, and also as President of the Society for New Testament Study.

He is one of a handful of scholars thus recognised by his peers in both fields.

Selected writings

• New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1981. (First published in 1943 as Are the New Testament Documents Reliable?)
• The Hittites and the Old Testament. Tyndale Old Testament Lecture, 1947. London: The Tyndale Press, 1947. Pbk. pp.28.
• The Books and the Parchments. London: Pickering & Inglis, 1950 (2nd edn 1953; 3rd & revised edn 1963; paperback revised edition 1971
• The Acts of the Apostles: The Greek Text With Introduction and Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1951.
• The Book of the Acts (New International Commentary on the New Testament). Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1954.
• The Epistles to the Colossians and the Ephesians. (New International Commentary on the New Testament) Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1957. [title may be incorrect; Bruce wrote the Colossians commentary, and E.K. Simpson wrote the Ephesians commentary; see the 1984 replacement below entirely by Bruce]
• The Teacher of Righteousness in the Qumran Texts. London: The Tyndale Press, 1957. Pbk. pp.36.
• The Apostolic Defence of the Gospel. London: Inter-Varsity Press, 1959.
• Biblical Exegesis in the Qumran Texts. London: The Tyndale Press, 1960. Pbk. pp.88.
• Paul and his Converts. Cambridge: Lutterworth Press, 1962.
• Romans (Tyndale New Testament Commentary). Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1963.
• Israel and the Nations. Exeter: Paternoster Press, 1963.
• Epistle to the Hebrews (New International Commentary on the New Testament). Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1964.
• This is That. Exeter: Paternoster Press, 1968. (published in the USA as New Testament Development of Old Testament Themes. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1968.)
• New Testament History. London: Oliphants, 1969.
• The Acts of the Apostles: The Greek Text With Introduction and Commentary, 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1970.
• An Expanded Paraphrase of the Epistles Of Paul. R.N. Haynes Publishers; 1st USA edition (1981) 323 pages.
• Galatian Problems. John Rylands Library, 1971.
• Answers to Questions. Exeter: Paternoster Press, 1972.
• The 'Secret' Gospel of Mark. The Ethel M. Wood lecture delivered before the University of London on 11 February 1974. London: The Athlone Press, 1974. Pbk.
• Jesus and Christian Origins Outside the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1974.
• Paul: Apostle of The Free Spirit. Exeter UK: Paternoster, 1977. (published in the USA as Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1977.)
• History of the Bible in English. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 1978.
• The Epistles of John. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1979.
• Men and Movements in the Primitive Church. Exeter: Paternoster, 1979.
• I and II Corinthians (New Century Bible Commentary). Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1980.
• The Spreading Flame. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1980.
• Bible History Atlas. N.Y.: Crossroad, 1982.
• Epistle to the Galatians (New International Greek Testament Commentary). Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1982.
• 1 and 2 Thessalonians (Word Biblical Commentary). Thomas Nelson, 1982.
• Hard Sayings of Jesus. Inter-Varsity, 1983.
• Jesus and Paul: Places They Knew. Thomas Nelson, 1983.
• Abraham and David: Places They Knew. Thomas Nelson, 1984.
• The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians. (New International Commentary on the New Testament). Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1984. [This is Bruce's new commentary on Ephesians and Philemon along with a revision of his 1957 commentary from the Simpson and Bruce volume above]
• The Gospel of John. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1984.
• Jesus: Lord and Savior. Inter-Varsity, 1986.
• The Message of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1986.
• Romans (Tyndale New Testament Commentary), revised. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1986.
• Second Thoughts on the Dead Sea Scrolls. Attic Press, 1986.
• The Canon of Scripture. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988.
• The Book of the Acts, revised (New International Commentary on the New Testament). Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1988.
• Philippians, (New International Biblical Commentary), 1989. Hendricksen.
• Epistle to the Hebrews, revised. (New International Commentary on the New Testament) Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1990.
• The Acts of the Apostles: The Greek Text With Introduction and Commentary, 3rd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1990.
• A Mind For What Matters: Collected Essays. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1990.
• Kaiser, Walter C., Peter H. Davids, F. F. Bruce, and Manfred Brauch. Hard Sayings of the Bible. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996.

Articles

• "The Chester Beatty Papyri," The Harvester 11 (1934): 163, 164.
• "What Do We Mean By Biblical Inspiration?" Journal of the Transactions of the Victoria Institute 78 (1946): 121-139.
• "The Speeches In Acts: Thirty Years After," Robert Banks, ed., Reconciliation and Hope. New Testament Essays on Atonement and Eschatology Presented to L. L. Morris on his 60th Birthday. Carlisle: The Paternoster Press, 1974. pp.53-68.
• "The Background to the Son of Man Sayings," Christ The Lord. Studies in Christology presented to Donald Guthrie. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 1982. Hbk.
• "The Curse of the Law," M. D. Hooker and S. G. Wilson, eds., Paul and Paulinism. Essays in Honour of C. K. Barrett. London: SPCK. Hbk. pp.27-36.
• "Colossian Problems: Part 1: Jews and Christians in the Lycus Valley," Bibliotheca Sacra 141: 561 (1984): 3-13.
• "Colossian Problems: Part 2: The 'Christ Hymn' of Colossians 1:15-20," Bibliotheca Sacra 141: 562 (1984): 99-112.
• "Colossian Problems: Part 3: The Colossian Heresy," Bibliotheca Sacra 141: 563 (1984): 195-206.
• "Colossian Problems: Part 4: Christ as Conqueror and Reconciler," Bibliotheca Sacra 141: 564 (1984): 291-301.
• "Luke's Presentation of the Spirit in Acts," Criswell Theological Review 5.1 (1990) 15-29.
• Annual Rylands lectures at the John Rylands Library, Manchester (published in Bulletin of the John Rylands Library, vols. 43-60; including "Galatian problems", 5 pts, and "St Paul in Rome", 5 pts.)

Werner Georg Kummel, F.F. Bruce and "Theology of the New Testament"

Kummel, Werner Georg. The Theology of the New Testament. Nasheville, TN: Abington, 1978.

This 350-page volume and 1996-enlarged edition is available at: 


 http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Testament-Werner-Georg-Kummel/dp/0687055768/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377027178&sr=8-1&keywords=werner+georg+Kummel

Below, a letter from Mr. (Dr. Prof.) Kummel to Mr. (Dr. Prof.) F. F. Bruce. It was discovered surreptitiously in a one of Mr. Bruce's books from his library. We could find no biographical information in Mr. Kummel other than “1905-1995” at Wiki. There is a Festschrift out there somewhere. We did find a letter posted as per below. The two knew each other.

“Werner Kummer letter to F.F. Bruce.” NT Resources. March 10, 2008. Accessed August 20, 2013. http://ntresources.com/blog/?p=102

Werner Kummel letter to F. F. Bruce

March 10, 2008

Our library recently purchased, at my request, a used copy of Jesus und Paulus, the Kümmel Festscrift.

Grässer, Erich, ed. Jesus und Paulus: Festschrift f. Werner Georg Kümmel z. 70. Geburstag. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht, 1975.

To our surprise, the copy we received had been the personal copy of F. F. Bruce—his signature is inside the front cover. Also in the book was an envelope addressed to Bruce containing two letters, one from the editor of the Festschrift, the other from Kümmel (both in German). It likely came through used book channels that did not have much concern for biblical studies—the stamp has been cut out of the envelope, but the letters left in the book! For what historical curiosity this may be, I’ve posted an image of the letter and given the text below along with my paraphrase/translation.” (I welcome anyone with more proficient German skills to offer of more polished rendition!)

The text of the letter:

Prof. Dr. W. G. Kümel
355 Marburg/Lahn, 12.Juni 1975
von-Harnack-Straße 23

Sehr verehrter Herr Kollege,

Sie werden es mir sicher nicht übelnehmen, dass ich erst heute dazu komme, Ihnen für Ihre freundliche Mitarbeit an der mir zu meinem 70. Geburtstag überreichten Festschrift sehr herzlich zu danken. Aber Sie werden verstehen, dass man nur Schritt für Schritt die vielen Briefe und gar die vielen Aufsätze lesen und beantworten kann, die einen an einem solchen Jubilaum erreichen. Ich habe mich sehr darüber gefreut, dass auch Sie sich an der Festschrift beteiligt haben, und die Gedanken, die Sie als die eigentliche Meinung des Paulus in dem von Ihnen behandelten Abschnitt des Galaterbriefs herausstellen, halte ich durchwegs für richtig. Dass Paulus letztlich nicht autobiographisch, sondern kerygmatisch-apologetisch schreibt, haben Sie richtig und überzeugend nachgewiesen.

Ich hoffe, Sie haben inzwischen den mir pünktlich überreichten Band auch erhalten und gesehen, dass er viele interessante und wertvolle Arbeiten enthält und auch ein erfreuliches Zeichen der die Grenzen überschreitenden Zusammenarbeit der Neutestamentler ist.

Ich hoffe, Sie im August als Präsident unserer Societas begrüssen zu können, und grüsse Sie bestens

Ihr ergebener

[Werner Kümmel—sig]

My paraphrase/translation:

My very dear colleague,

You’ll surely understand that I’m only now getting around to thank you very cordially for your friendly collaboration in my 70th birthday Festschrift. But you will understand that one can only read and answer the many letters and essays which one receives at such an anniversary one at a time.

I was very pleased about the fact that you also took part in my Festschrift, and the thoughts which you presented as Paul’s actual opinion in the section of Galatians that you treated, I hold throughout to be correct. The fact that Paul writes in the long run not autobiographically, but kerygmatically and apologetically, you have proven both correctly and convincingly.

I hope, in the meantime that you have also received the volume presented to me and seen that it contains many interesting and valuable essays and also a pleasing indication of the extent of broad co-operation by NT scholars. I hope to be able to welcome you in August as a president of our Society and greet you warmly,

Yours truly,
[w.k.]

The book is outlined as follows.

Introduction

1. The problematic of a theology of the New Testament
2. Literature

Chapter 1: The Proclamation of Jesus According to the First Three Gospels

1. The problem of the historical Jesus
A. The Question of the Sources
B. The Theological Problematic

2. The Kingdom of God
A. John the Baptist—imminent judgment, conversion and baptism, coming of the “Mightier One,” the baptism of Jesus
B. Jesus—imminence of the kingdom of God, the presence of the kingdom of God

3. The proclamation about God
A. The Judge
B. The Father who will act in the future
C. The demand for conversion
D. The Father who acts in the present

4. God’s demand
A. The Kingdom of God and the fulfillment of the Divine Will
B. An interim ethic?
C. Jesus’ demand the Jewish situation
D. God’s unconditional will
E. The encounter with the love of God
F. The Kingdom of God and the idea of reward and punishment

5. Jesus’ personal claim
A. Jesus’ deeds
B. Belief in Jesus?
C. Jesus the Prophet?
D. The Messiah
E. The Son of David
F. The Son of God
G. The Son of Man

6. Jesus’ suffering and death
A. The prediction of Jesus’ suffering
B. The suffering of the Son of Man
C. Gethsemane and the Last Supper

Chapter Two: The Faith of the Primitive Community

1. The Easter Faith
A. Paul’s account
B. The Account of Mark’s Gospel
C. The Earliest Tradition
D. The essence of the resurrection faith

2. The belief in Christ of the Palestinian primitive community
A. The Son of Man
B. The Messiah
C. The Servant of God
D. The Son of God
E. The Lord
F. The Man Jesus
G. The Crucifixion

3. The belief in Christ in the Hellenistic community
A. The mission of the Son of God
B. The bearer of Divine Power
C. The Spirit as Possession and the birth of Jesus without a human father

4. The church’s self-awareness
A. The self-understanding of the primitive community
B. The separation from the Jewish community
C. The twelve and the apostles

Chapter Three: The Theology of Paul

1. The historical position of Paul
A. Effect and source of Pauline thought
B. The sources

2. The present as the time of salvation
A. The expectation of the imminent consummation of salvation
B. The presence of salvation
C. Adam and Christ
D. History of Israel and the Christ Event
E. Paul’s call experience

3. The Christ event
A. The sending of the Son of God
B. Jesus and Christ
C. The “Final Man”
D. The Lord (Kurios)
E. The Son of God
F. The formula “through Christ”
G. The “likeness of God”
H. The humanness of Jesus
I. Christ and the Spirit
J. The pre-existence of Christ

4. The lost condition of man in the world
A. Man as flesh
B. The universality of sin
C. Law and guilt

5. Salvation in Jesus Christ
A. Deliverance and redemption
B. Liberation from the spiritual powers
C. Liberation from the law
D. Liberation from sin and guilt
E. Justification—what does justification mean? Christ and justification. Faith and justification
F. Reconciliation

6. God’s gift of salvation and the task of the Christian
A. The present reality of the Christian life—baptism and the body of Christ, dying with Christ, the Holy Spirit and “being in Christ,” the Lord’s Supper and transformation into glory
B. Indicative and imperative
C. Judgment according to works
D. Divine predestination
E. The final consummation—the destruction of the powers of the world and “being with Christ,” expectation of the end-time and consummation of salvation after death, and salvation for all?

7. Paul and Jesus
A. The historical connection
B. The substantive relationship—the different historical and salvation-historical situation, the understanding of salvation in detail (God, law, preaching, Christology, baptism, Lord’s Supper, church, world and men)
C. The Lord and His messenger

Chapter IV: The Johannine Message of Christ in the Fourth Gospel and in the Epistles

1. The historical position of Johannine theology
A. The literary problem
B. Circumstances of composition

 2. The essential character of the Johannine message of Christ
A. The Gospel of John as the perfect witness to Christ
B. The language of the Johannine witness to Christ

3. The Johannine image of Christ
A. The Anointed One
B. The Son
C. The Savior of the world
D. The Son of Man
E. The Word (the Logos)
F. The Bearer of Salvation

 4. Salvation and the way of salvation
A. The lost condition
B. Liberation from the world and from death
C. Liberation from sin
D. Faith and love
E. Birth from God and the sacraments—being in God and in Christ, birth from God, baptism and the Lord’s Supper
F. The Holy Spirit and the community—the Spirit of God, the Paraclete, the community

Conclusion: Jesus—Paul—John: The Heart of the New Testament

A. The “Heart of the New Testament”
B. The Future and the Presence of Salvation—the primitive community and Paul, the Johannine writings
C. The Divine Condescension
D. The Message of the Major Witnesses

Index:

A. Index of New Testament passages
B. Index of Topics