{"id":244,"date":"2011-08-11T00:01:00","date_gmt":"2011-08-11T00:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/biblicalstudies.org.uk\/blog\/?p=244"},"modified":"2016-02-28T20:46:47","modified_gmt":"2016-02-28T20:46:47","slug":"f-f-bruce-a-life-a-book-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/biblicalstudies.org.uk\/blog\/f-f-bruce-a-life-a-book-review\/","title":{"rendered":"F.F. Bruce: A Life – A Book Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\"\"<\/a>There has long been a need for a full biography of the F.F. Bruce, a scholar whose work proved deeply influential on the development of the Evangelical church in the 20th<\/sup> Century. For that reason I was delighted when Paternoster <\/i>sent me a review copy of Tim Grass\u2019s\u00a0F.F Bruce: A Life<\/a>\"\"<\/i><\/p>\n

\nHaving spent a considerable time interviewing friends and colleagues of Bruce around the globe, Tim Grass offers a thorough and at times humourous account of FFB\u2019s life. This is combined with a judicious analysis of both his writings and the development of his thought on a wide range of theological subjects. With such an influential figure it will, I am sure, prove tempting for some to tick-off those subjects on which one agreed or disagreed with Bruce. However, the author attempts to identify how Bruce\u2019s background and upbringing influenced his theology in a number of ways and so will perhaps help readers to recognise their own presuppositions more clearly. The author discusses both Bruce\u2019s strengths and weaknesses and so presents a well-balanced picture of Bruce as a deeply committed Christian and <\/i>a professional scholar. It is difficult not to be impressed by someone who proofread the entire text of the English translation of Kittel’s Theological Dictionary of the New Testament<\/i> whilst travelling on the train to work each day!<\/div>\n
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The final chapter provides an evaluation of Bruce\u2019s profound influence under three headings: His impact on the Brethren; on evangelicalism generally and, finally, on the world of academic biblical studies. An extensive bibliography of FFB\u2019s works rounds off the volume.<\/div>\n
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FFB is an inspiration by his example as a biblical scholar seeking to be true to the message of Scripture and I highly commend this book to anyone who, like myself, has benefitted from his works.<\/div>\n