PASADENA, Calif. (ABP) — David Scholer, noted American Baptist scholar and professor of New Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary, died Aug. 22 after a long struggle with cancer. He was 70.
Scholer was a specialist in several areas of New Testament studies, including Gnosticism and second-century Christianity, but was perhaps best known for his contributions to studies on women in ministry. He taught at the California-based evangelical seminary for 14 years where his course, “Women, the Bible and the Church,” was considered a popular elective.
Despite a diagnosis of colo-rectal cancer in 2002, he taught and mentored students until he retired this summer.
“David was a very strong supporter of our American Baptist ministry at Fuller. For several years he has been fighting cancer with a remarkable testimony; never did he allow it to slow him down or diminish the work that God had called him to do,” noted David Brown, executive director of the American Baptist Theological Center at Fuller.
“He was deeply loved, deeply respected and will be deeply missed at his home church in Pasadena, at Fuller, in our American Baptist family and in the wider community of faith.”
Scholer was ordained into Christian ministry by the American Baptist Churches USA Nov. 27, 1966. He served the denomination in several capacities, including as a member of the ABC-USA General Board from 1989-1992. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Pasadena.
Scholer had published several books on subjects ranging from discipleship to biblical models of women in ministry. He also contributed more than 200 articles and book reviews and a number of edited volumes and publications.
Prior to joining Fuller, Scholer served as professor of New Testament at North Park Theological Seminary, Northern Baptist Theological Seminary and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He held both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Wheaton College, a bachelor of divinity degree from Gordon Divinity School and his doctor of theology degree from Harvard Divinity School.
Scholer is survived by his wife, Jeannette; two children, Abigail Scholer Strazzabosco and Emily Scholer Hernandez; and three grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at First Baptist Church of Pasadena Aug. 30.
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