Gerhard von Rad was a German Lutheran pastor, University professor, and Old Testament scholar. With the experience of two World Wars, the German-speaking world began to turn "anti-Old Testament", as anti-Semitic feeling grew. Disturbed by this, Rad turned to the study of the Old Testament and gradually started to bring back its message. His lively papers achieved a renewal of interest and research in Old Testament studies. Along with Martin Noth, he applied research into the Pentateuch's oral tradition to the explanation of its origin. 

October 21st, 1901 in Nuremberg  /  Died:   Oct 31st, 1971