Former New Testament professor dies at 76

Siegfried Schatzmann, former professor of New Testament at Southwestern Seminary, died Feb. 20 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 76.

Siegfried was born on Aug. 8, 1941, in Switzerland. He was a New Testament scholar with a teaching career spanning more than 30 years. In addition to Southwestern, he taught at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla.; Regents Theological College in England; and as a guest professor in Germany. Prior to teaching, he served as a pastor in Switzerland and as a missionary in Lesotho, Africa.

Siegfried was an avid reader, gardener, and philatelist (stamp collector). He authored A Pauline Theology of Charismata, and he enjoyed translating German theological books into English, including The Fathers of the Church: A Comprehensive Introduction (by Hubertus R. Drobner), Colossians: A Commentary (by Petr Pokorny), and Romans: The Righteousness of God (by Adolf Schlatter). Schatzmann traveled frequently to his home country to see family and friends.

Southwestern President Paige Patterson says, “Dr. Schatzmann was a treasure here at Southwestern, and I remember him with great fondness.” Charles Johnson, one of Schatzmann’s former students, says Schatzmann was one of his favorite professors at Southwestern. “I enjoyed every class I took with him,” Johnson says. “He was a brilliant and Christlike man and scholar, always firm but kind with instruction and guidance.”

Schatzmann is survived by his wife of 55 years, Madi; children, Myriam, David and Marcel; and 10 grandchildren.