In research and teaching, Prof. Theissen focuses on the areas of social history of early Christianity, historical Jesus, and theory of early Christian religion and theology of the New Testament. Among his publications are: “Die Jesusbewegung. Sozialgeschichte einer Revolution der Werte”, “Der historische Jesus. Ein Lehrbuch” (with A. Merz), “Die Religion der ersten Christen. Eine Theorie des Urchristentums”, “Erleben und Verhalten der ersten Christen. Eine Psychologie des Urchristentums”, and “Zur Bibel motivieren. Aufgabe, Inhalte und Methoden einer offenen Bibeldidaktik”. He also published several volumes of sermons and a volume on homiletics.

Prof. Theissen has received numerous honors for his work, including the Burkitt Medal for Biblical Studies from the British Academy. He is a member of the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities.

Work Area:

VIII. Anthropology and Ethics of Early Christianity

Projects:

• The Epistle to the Romans
• Ritual Dynamics of Early Christianity
• Human Image and Ethics of Early Christianity