Gerd Theissen

Gerd Theissen (Theißen, born 24 April 1943) is a German Protestant theologian and New Testament scholar.

Early life and education

Gerd Theissen (spelling in German, Theißen) was born in Rheydt, Germany, today known as Mönchengladbach, Germany, on 24 April 1943. It is granted "in recognition of special service to Biblical Studies". The British Academy's citation states that Theissen is:...one of the earliest pioneers in the application of the principles and methods of sociology to the study of the New Testament. [His n]otable works in this field are The First Followers of Jesus... (which concentrated on conditions in Palestine) and The Social Setting of Primitive [sic., Pauline] Christianity (a Pauline study dealing mainly with Corinth). and the University of St. Andrews in 1997. In 2005, Thiessen was awarded an honorary doctorate (doctor honoris causa) by the Faculty of Theology of the Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary, during festivities to celebrate its 150th jubilee.

Professor Theissen is a member of the Heidelberger Akademie der Wissenschaften.