Bruce M. Metzger

Bruce M. Metzger (1914-2007) was an American biblical scholar and textual critic whose work profoundly influenced modern understanding of the New Testament text. Professor at Princeton Theological Seminary for 46 years, Metzger served as general editor of the Reader's Digest Bible and chaired the committee for the New Revised Standard Version. His pioneering work in New Testament textual criticism, including "The Text of the New Testament" (1964) and "The Canon of the New Testament" (1987), established methodological standards for determining authentic biblical texts. While primarily focused on textual criticism rather than philosophical theology, Metzger's meticulous scholarship provided crucial foundations for theological discourse by establishing reliable biblical texts. His work on manuscript traditions and canonization processes significantly impacted how scholars approach questions of biblical authority and divine revelation in contemporary theology.