Dieter Mitternacht

Born in Freiburg im Breisgau and raised in Ihringen am Kaiserstuhl, a town and region that is famous for its climate, vinyards and fruit orchards, Dieter Mitternacht moved to Sweden in the late 1970's and married Gun. They have three children, Simon, Mirjam and Lydia. After a number of years of research and teaching at Lund University, and with the children now living their own lives, the couple moved to Hongkong in 2009 to serve as employees of the Church of Sweden at Lutheran Theological Seminary.

In the 1990's DM pursued doctoral studies in New Testament Exegesis, first under professor Birger Gerhardsson, then under professor Birger Olsson. He received his doctoral degree in 1999 and was appointed Docent (equiv. Dr Habil.) of New Testament Exegesis at Lund University in 2007. In 2008 he was appointed professor of New Testament and History of Early Christianity at Lutheran Theological Seminary, Hong Kong, where he is serving since 2009.

Research interests: Jesus movement, ancient synagogue, early communities of Christ-followers; rhetorical, psychological and narratological perspectives and approaches.

Teaching history: New Testament Studies, Biblical Studies, Hermeneutics and German at Lund University, Göteborg University, Växjö University and Örebro Theological Seminary; visiting professor at Aristotle University in Thessaloniki; New Testament, Bible and Culture, and History of Christianity at Lutheran Theological Seminary in Hong Kong.

Academic qualifications

1986: Dipl. Theol., Örebro Theological Seminary, Sweden
1988: Th. M. in Biblical Studies, Bethel Theological Seminary, St Paul, MN, USA
1996: Ph. M. in Science of Religion, Lund University, Sweden
1999: Dr Theol. in New Testament Exegesis, Lund University
2007: Docent (venia legendi) in New Testament Exegesis, Lund University

Career history

1983 – 1986: Graduate studies at Örebro Theological Seminary
1986 – 1988: Postgraduate studies at Bethel Theological Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota
1994 – 1999: Doctoral studies at Lund University
1999 – 2003: Member of research project The Ancient Synagogue: Birthplace for Two World Religions at Lund University, funded by The Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation
2000 – 2003: Individual research project Social Cognition and Strategies of Persuasion in Pauline Letters at Lund University, funded by the Swedish Council of Research
2003 – 2006: Member of research project Christian Identity - The First 100 Years at Lund University, funded by the Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation
2003 – 2008: Senior researcher/assoc. professor at Lund and Göteborg Universities
2009 – : Professor of New Testament and History of Early Christianity at Lutheran Theological Seminary, Hong Kong

Professional memberships

Member of Society of Biblical Literature
Member of Exegetical Society of Sweden
Member of Swedish Bible Academy

Pedagogical interests

Coordinator of Internet-teachers' pedagogical development at the Humanities and Theology at Lund University, Sweden (2003-2006).
Erasmus exchange lecturer at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Spring of 2005).
Co-Author with Birger Olsson of teaching manual for advanced level courses in New Testament interpretation, translation, and Elementary Greek (translation of title: From Alpha to Omega. Getting to know the New Testament in Greek and Swedish) [details here].
Co-Author with Anders Runesson (former colleague at Lund, now at McMaster University, Canada) of comprehensive textbook involving 18 Swedish speaking NT Scholars from Sweden, Finland and Canada (translation of title: Jesus and the first Christians. Introduction to the New Testament) [details here].
Development of ICT-based courses in New Testament studies: Main ideas in the New Testament; Some Greek for Bible readers; Paul among converts and power holders in Galatia.
Development of ICT-based course for advanced studies of German: German for humanists and theologians.
Development of ICT resources for New Testament Studies and German grammar for Swedes.

Awards, grants and research appointments

1986-1988: Joint research grant awarded by Örebro Theological Seminary and Bethel Theological Seminary for Masters studies.
1994-1988: Stipend and appointment for doctoral studies by the Faculty of Theology, Lund University.
1997: Pfannenstil Fond research grant for doctoral research at Heidelberg University, awarded by the Faculty of Theology, Lund University.
1999-2001: Research appointment for postdoctoral studies by the Swedish Council of Research.
2000-2006: Research appointments in several research projects.
2003-2007: Senior researcher and lecturer appointment at Lund University in recognition of previous research.
2002: Research grant from Crafoordska stiftelsen.
2004: Research grant from Krookska fonden for research at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greeece.

Dieter Mitternacht
dm(a)diatheke.org

The Mitternacht Family