This book is subtitled “The Definitive Biography of a New Testament Scholar,” and will appeal especially to New Testament scholars and those with their roots in the Brethren assemblies. I remember many of Bruce’s books being in my father’s collection (he was a Brethren evangelist) and he was always highly spoken of in those circles.

Grass shows, however, that Bruce played a key role in many denominations, where he led the 20th century resurgence in academic study of the Scriptures. Many who would go on to staff denominational colleges and university theological faculties in the late 20th century studied under his direction when he was Rylands Professor of Biblical Criticism and Exegesis at Manchester. He was a great mentor to his students.

 

Not a spectacular preacher (he often read from his drafts), he became more alive in question and answer sessions. He was pre-eminently a gifted writer who could take academic research and make it understandable to those who wanted to strengthen their Scriptural understanding. Many of his books continue in print 20 years after his death.

 

A bit like N.T. Wright today, he was well accepted in evangelical circles, although there were some (especially in America) who felt that he was not quite evangelical enough. He sought to apply a moderating influence to those who chose to attempt to define what evangelicals should believe in too greater detail. His views on women’s role in ministry were well ahead of their time.

– David McLeod-Jones

By Tim Grass
Paternoster, Crown Hill, 2011
ISBN 978-1-84227-737-9