Gerhard von Rad

Dr. Gerhard von Rad (October 21, 1901 – October 31, 1971) was a German Lutheran Old Testament theologian and one of the most-influential Old Testament scholars of the 20th century. He served as Professor of Old Testament at Jena (1934), Göttingen (1945), and most prominently at Heidelberg (1949–1967). He was associated with the Confessing Church during the Nazi era — the same theological-ecclesial context that produced Bonhoeffer. His two-volume Old Testament Theology (vol. 1, The Theology of Israel's Historical Traditions, 1957; vol. 2, The Theology of Israel's Prophetic Traditions, 1960; English 1962/1965) is a landmark of 20th-c. biblical-theological scholarship. Pastor Marc named him in the original brief specifically referencing The Message of the Prophets (compact volume 1968 / English 1968, distilled from vol. 2's prophetic-traditions material). Other notable works: Genesis: A Commentary (Old Testament Library, 1953/1972), Studies in Deuteronomy (1947/1953), Wisdom in Israel (1970/1972).