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Bruce Metzger was a great inspiration to me when a student at PTS (1950–1953), and his courses in New Testament exegesis helped me in teaching my courses at the Andong Bible Institute in Korea, where I was principal from 1959 to 1964. Later, when I was a pastor in Washington DC at the Sixth Presbyterian Church, Bruce and Isobel came to speak. The RSV was always my “version of choice” in those years of teaching and preaching.
Ben E. Sheldon (M.Div., 1953)
Elverson, Pennsylvania

I have used the NRSV throughout my ministry from the time of its publishing. I cannot count the number of times that the members of the churches I have served have made positive comments about the use of this translation in worship. My wife and I have used it daily in conjunction with the devotions in These Days. Dr. Metzger’s influence on my ministry is probably one of the most significant of all of the faculty during my three years at Princeton Seminary. His droll sense of humor coupled with his command of the New Testament Scriptures was something that richly influenced my ministry from the time of my graduation in 1953 to the beginning of my retirement and beyond. I thank God in the name of Jesus Christ for his servant Bruce.
Ormond L. Hampton, Jr. (M.Div., 1953)
North Fort Myers, Florida

Dr. Bruce Metzger taught me to love the New Testament. His classes were interesting, informative, and stimulating. Peering through those ever-present spectacles, this great man infused the Bible with life and light. Later on in congregations when I introduced the people to the RSV and the NRSV, I was proud to reveal Dr. Metzger’s part in the whole process. Visiting the Seminary on the occasion of my fiftieth-year reunion, I spotted this great scholar and professor at a nearby table in the dining room. It was a deeply humbling experience to shake his hand and thank him for what he did for his thousands of students and for biblical studies.
Ronald V. Fleming (M.Div., 1954)
Cambridge, Ohio

When I was a middler in the M.Div. program in 1952, my wife, Ann, and I, together with two other student couples, had Bruce and Isobel Metzger to dinner. He was thirty-eight years old and an assistant professor of New Testament. He was a modest and somewhat retiring man with as systematic a mind as anyone I have ever known. The precision and logical progression of his lectures in the introductory course to New Testament was a model. His fairness in treating the controversial issues of the time was transparent, and even in disagreement on a point, you understood exactly what he thought and why and how he got to that position. He developed a depth and breadth of New Testament scholarship that enabled him to discriminate between changing insights and mere fads.
Conrad H. Massa (M.Div., 1954; Ph.D., 1960)
Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania

During my years as a student at PTS Dr. Metzger was a light of high moral and spiritual inspiration on campus. For me, as a student, he replicated the Spirit of Jesus.
Kenneth Cragg (M.Div., 1956)
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

I remember Dr. Metzger not only from my student days (1954–57), but for his help many years later. In the late 1980s I was struggling with a current issue in our area. There were strong advocates for a particular viewpoint who offered papers and essays on Scripture and exegesis of several texts. I felt I needed to have a broader background and so called Dr.Metzger. He listened carefully and then recommended an article in a journal unknown to me, which was most helpful.
Ross Ludeman (B.D., 1957)
Grafton, Vermont

Several months ago I had a question concerning a text I was planning to use for my sermon. On two occasions the two great commandments were identified as loving God and loving one’s neighbor. I could find no sources to indicate if this combination was original in the New Testament or if it was part of the Jewish tradition. I called Dr. Metzger at his home, left a message, and hoped that he would return my call. He did and spoke with me for fifteen minutes about the issue, though he noted that he had given some of his library that might have been useful to the Seminary. He also spoke on several occasions to my graduate class, The Bible as Literature, at the College of New Jersey and identified the problems of translators.
Kenneth Williams (Ph.D., 1957)
Feasterville, Pennsylvania

Dr. Metzger was one of the bright lights for me among the outstanding faculty of PTS while I was a student. However, it is because I have had the added pleasure to have exchanged with him personal thoughts in regard to our faith that his departure is particularly regretful to me. I consider that I have lost a friend.
Lloyd Hiler (B.D., 1958)
Bartlett, Tennessee

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the enormous influence Dr. Metzger was to both his students and to the world community through both the RSV and, especially, the NRSV. I was one of those students who “sat at his feet” in utter amazement that such a scholar and teacher could be such a caring human being! Dr. Bruce Metzger served his Lord faithfully and thoughtfully and we are the grateful recipients!
David C. Jamison (M.Div., 1959)
Dothan, Alabama

The only biblical text I had seen until I was fifteen years old was the King James Version. As a child I had often been puzzled by both the vocabulary and style of the archaic English. Thus, as a high school student, I remember how deeply significant it was for me to pick up a copy of the New Testament RSV. It revolutionized my comprehension of the text, especially the epistles.

I met Dr. Metzger at PTS in 1956. I appreciated the clarity and orderliness of his teaching, was encouraged by his conservative approach to the critical questions, and was overwhelmed by his wealth of knowledge. We also heard how he went through Alexander Hall on Christmas Day, searching for any students who had no place to eat Christmas dinner, inviting them to his home.

Though saddened by news of his death I smile as I think of his joy upon meeting the Lord.
Jack Voelkel (M.Div., 1959)
Tucson, Arizona

Having just returned from the mission field in Lebanon in 1958, I was awarded a scholarship at Princeton Seminary to study under the leadership of Dr. Bruce Metzger, who taught me the Scriptures in the original Greek language, which is my native tongue. His deep knowledge of culture and language and his love for the Holy Scriptures encouraged me to pursue further studies in theology. Thank you, Dr. Metzger, for feeding this young thirty-year-old with the love of God and his Holy Word.
Lee Theodore (Special student, 1959)
Temecula, California

I was a PTS student and staying on campus over Christmas vacation. Dr. Metzger walked around the campus on Christmas Eve and looked for any lighted student windows on campus. He came and knocked on my door in Alexander Hall and the doors of other students still on campus. We were all invited to his home for Christmas Eve. We had an enjoyable time of singing Christmas hymns and having refreshments. Since then, I have always deeply appreciated Dr. Metzger as a pastor in addition to his worldwide reputation as teacher and scholar.
Bryce Little (M.Div., 1959)
Elk Grove, California