# Norbert Lohfink

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Norbert_Lohfink
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Norbert_Lohfink.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norbert_Lohfink
> Source revision: 1330087819
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|German theologian (1928–2024)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Norbert Lohfink
| image              = Norbert Lohfink (1b).jpg
| alt                = Colour photo of elderly, half-smiling, bald and clean-shaven man with wire-framed spectacles
| caption            = Lohfink, {{circa}} 2000
| birth_date         = {{birth date|1928|07|28|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [Frankfurt am Main](/source/Frankfurt_am_Main), [Prussia](/source/Free_State_of_Prussia), [German Republic](/source/Weimar_Republic)
| death_date         = {{death date and age|2024|09|23|1928|07|28|df=y}}
| death_place        = [Munich](/source/Munich), Bavaria, Germany
| occupation         = {{ubl | [Priest](/source/Priesthood_in_the_Catholic_Church) | Theologian }}
| education          = {{ubl | Berchmanskolleg | [Sankt Georgen Graduate School of Philosophy and Theology](/source/Sankt_Georgen_Graduate_School_of_Philosophy_and_Theology) | [Pontifical Biblical Institute](/source/Pontifical_Biblical_Institute) }}
| organizations      = {{ubl | [Sankt Georgen](/source/Sankt_Georgen_Graduate_School_of_Philosophy_and_Theology) | [Pontifical Biblical Institute](/source/Pontifical_Biblical_Institute), Rome | [Catholic Integrated Community](/source/Catholic_Integrated_Community) }}
| module             = {{Infobox clergy |child=yes
| church             = [Catholic Church](/source/Catholic_Church)
| ordained           = 1956
| congregations      = 
}}
}}

'''Norbert Lohfink''' [SJ](/source/Jesuits) (28 July 1928 – 23 September 2024) was a German [Catholic priest](/source/Catholic_priest), theologian and member of the [Jesuit Order](/source/Jesuit_Order). He was professor of [exegesis](/source/exegesis) of the [Old Testament](/source/Old_Testament) at the [Sankt Georgen Graduate School of Philosophy and Theology](/source/Sankt_Georgen_Graduate_School_of_Philosophy_and_Theology) in Frankfurt. He also taught at the [Pontifical Biblical Institute](/source/Pontifical_Biblical_Institute) in Rome, for four years in the 1960s and repeatedly for guest semesters. His works were translated into several languages. He worked on international and ecumenical projects, such as the [Hebrew Old Testament Text Project](/source/Hebrew_Old_Testament_Text_Project).

== Life and career ==
Lohfink was born in Frankfurt am Main, the eldest of four siblings in a workers' family;<ref name="Böhler" /> his father was a train driver.<ref name="Limburg" /> He grew up in the  {{ill|Kuhwaldsiedlung|de}} in [Bockenheim](/source/Frankfurt-Bockenheim) and in the [Gallus quarter](/source/Gallus_(Frankfurt_am_Main)).<ref name="Limburg" /> He learned a sensibility for the quality of literature early, for example reading in watch shifts as a [Luftwaffenhelfer](/source/Luftwaffenhelfer). During the last school year, he had a Brentano scholar for a teacher who taught latest developments in literary studies.<ref name="Schwienhorst-Schönberger" />

He joined the [Jesuits](/source/Jesuits) shortly after completing school with the ''[Abitur](/source/Abitur)'', as a novice at {{ill|Schloss Eringerfeld|de}} in 1947.<ref name="Böhler" /> He studied philosophy at the Berchmanskolleg in [Pullach](/source/Pullach) near Munich from 1947 to 1953.<ref name="Böhler" /> During this time he studied also Rilke's ''[Duino Elegies](/source/Duino_Elegies)'' for a year, and Henri de Lubac's ''[Exégèse médiévale](/source/Ex%C3%A9g%C3%A8se_m%C3%A9di%C3%A9vale)''.<ref name="Schwienhorst-Schönberger" />  He then did theology at the [Sankt Georgen Graduate School of Philosophy and Theology](/source/Sankt_Georgen_Graduate_School_of_Philosophy_and_Theology) in Frankfurt to 1957. He further studied exegesis at the [Pontifical Biblical Institute](/source/Pontifical_Biblical_Institute) in Rome where he achieved the doctorate in 1962.<ref name="Böhler" /><!--Paris and Jerusalem he earned the degrees: Lic. Phil. (Munich 1953), Lic. Theol. (Frankfurt 1957), Dr. in re biblica (Rome 1962), and Dr. hc (Vienna 1993).-->

Lohfink was ordained a [priest](/source/Priesthood_in_the_Catholic_Church) in 1956<ref name="Sankt Georgen" /> at the [Frankfurt Cathedral](/source/Frankfurt_Cathedral).<ref name="Limburg" /> He taught at Sankt Georgen from 1962, then from 1966 at the Pontifical Biblical Institute for four years, and finally at Sankt Georgen again<ref name="Böhler" /> until 1996.<ref name="Böhler" /><ref name="Sankt Georgen" /> He returned to Rome occasionally for guest semesters.<ref name="Böhler" /> Lohfink became an internationally respected expert, and a teacher who was able to fascinate his audience.<ref name="Böhler" /><ref name="Schwienhorst-Schönberger" />

Lohfink's main areas of research were [Deuteronomy](/source/Deuteronomy), [Qoheleth](/source/Qoheleth) and the [Psalms](/source/Psalms);<ref name="Sankt Georgen" /> his scientific works in those areas are regarded as milestones in research history.<ref name="Schwienhorst-Schönberger" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Levinson |first=Bernard M. |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/legal-revision-and-religious-renewal-in-ancient-israel/6C15540D333A89CA590C3F27A4D35692 |title=Legal Revision and Religious Renewal in Ancient Israel |date=2008 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-51344-9 |location=Cambridge |pages=129–32 |doi=10.1017/cbo9780511499029}}</ref> His books were translated into many languages.

Lohfink was the founder or co-founder of the series "Stuttgarter Bibelstudien"<ref name="t016">{{cite web | title=Wir über uns | website=Bibelwerk Verlag | url=https://www.bibelwerkverlag.de/footer/wir-ueber-uns | language=de | access-date=25 September 2024}}</ref> and "Stuttgarter Biblische Aufsatzbände", and a co-editor of the "Yearbook for Biblical Theology" and the "Zeitschrift für altorientalische und biblische Rechtsgeschichte".<ref name="Sankt Georgen" /> He translated two books of the Bible for the ecumenical ''Einheitsübersetzung'',<ref name="Sankt Georgen" /> and worked for ten years for the [Hebrew Old Testament Text Project](/source/Hebrew_Old_Testament_Text_Project) of the United Bible Societies.<ref name="Schwienhorst-Schönberger" /> He worked over many years in the international liturgy commission of German-speaking countries (IAG)<ref name="Schwienhorst-Schönberger" /> and collaborated with {{ill|Georg Braulik|de}} on a Deuteronomy commentary for the ''Hermeneia'' series of [Fortress Press](/source/Fortress_Press).<ref name="Sankt Georgen" />

Lohfink worked towards understanding, dialogue and collaboration of Christians and Jews who share the same texts.<ref name="Schwienhorst-Schönberger" /><ref name="Vatican News" /> In a 1987 collection, ''Das Jüdische am Christentum. Die verlorene Dimension.'', he pointed at the Jewish ''Welthaftigkeit'', an openness towards the world which is specific to the Old Testament: faith as origin of wanting to transform the world.<ref name="Schwienhorst-Schönberger" />

=== Personal life ===
Lohfink was the brother of [Gerhard Lohfink](/source/Gerhard_Lohfink). He and his brother belonged to the [Catholic Integrated Community](/source/Catholic_Integrated_Community). He moved to the Pedro Arrupe community for seniors in [Unterhaching](/source/Unterhaching) in 2021.<ref name="Böhler" /><ref name="Vatican News" /><ref name="Kirche und Leben" />

Lohfink died in Munich on 23 September 2024, at the age of 96.<ref name="Böhler" /><ref name="Vatican News" /><ref name="Kirche und Leben" />

== Honorary doctorates ==
* 1992–93 [University of Vienna](/source/University_of_Vienna)<ref name="z616">{{cite web | title=Norbert Lohfink, SJ | website=650 plus Universität Wien | date=7 February 2017 | url=https://geschichte.univie.ac.at/en/persons/norbert-lohfink | access-date=26 September 2024}}</ref>

== Writings ==
=== Dissertation ===
* {{Cite thesis |last=Lohfink |first=Norbert |year=1963 |title=Das Hauptgebot eine Untersuchung literarischer Einleitungsfragen zu Dtn 5–11 |url=https://archive.org/details/dashauptgebotein0000lohf |language=de |publication-place=Rome |publisher=E Pontificio Instituto Biblico |oclc=655384712}}

=== In German ===
Lohfink's bibliography was published by the Sankt Georgen University.<ref name="Bibliography" />

* {{Cite book |last=Lohfink |first=Norbert |title=Hinter den Dingen ein Gott |publisher=Herder |publication-place=Freiburg |date=1978 |isbn=978-3-451-18226-6 |language=de}}
* {{Cite book |last=Lohfink |first=Norbert |author-mask=2 |title=Kohelet |publisher=Echter |publication-place=Würzburg |date=1980 |isbn=978-3-429-00655-6 |language=de}}
* {{Cite book |last=Lohfink |first=Norbert |author-mask=2 |title=Das Jüdische am Christentum |publisher=Herder |publication-place=Freiburg |date=1987 |isbn=978-3-451-20994-9 |language=de}}
* {{Cite book |last=Lohfink |first=Norbert |author-mask=2 |title=Kirchenträume |publisher=Herder |publication-place=Freiburg; Basel; Vienna |date=1988 |isbn=978-3-451-21254-3 |language=de}}
* {{Cite book |last=Lohfink |first=Norbert |author-mask=2 |title=Der niemals gekündigte Bund |publisher=Herder |publication-place=Freiburg; Basel; Vienna |date=1989 |isbn=978-3-451-21597-1 |language=de}}
* {{Cite book |last=Lohfink |first=Norbert |author-mask=2 |title=Im Schatten deiner Flügel |publisher=Herder |publication-place=Freiburg; Basel; Vienna |date=1999 |isbn=978-3-451-27176-2 |language=de}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Braulik |first1=Georg |last2=Lohfink |first2=Norbert |author-mask2=2 |last3=Bücken |first3=Erwin |title=Osternacht und Altes Testament |publisher=Peter Lang Gmbh, Internationaler Verlag Der Wissenschaften |publication-place=Frankfurt |date=2003 |isbn=978-3-631-51819-9 |language=de}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Braulik |first1=Georg |last2=Lohfink |first2=Norbert |author-mask2=2 |title=Die Rhetorik der Moserede in Deuteronomium 1 - 4 |publisher=Peter Lang Gmbh, Internationaler Verlag Der Wissenschaften |publication-place=Berlin; Bern; Bruxelles; New York; Oxford; Warsaw; Vienna |date=19 January 2022 |isbn=978-3-631-87348-9 |language=de}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Braulik |first1=Georg |last2=Lohfink |first2=Norbert |author-mask2=2 |title=Kommentar Zu Deuteronomium 1 |publisher=Peter Lang Gmbh, Internationaler Verlag Der Wissenschaften |publication-place=Berlin; Bruxelle; Chennai; Lausanne; New York; Oxford |date=10 July 2024 |isbn=978-3-631-89521-4 |language=de}}

=== In English ===
* {{Cite book |last=Lohfink |first=Norbert |title=The Covenant Never Revoked |publication-place=New York; Mahwah, NJ |publisher=Paulist Press |date=1991 |isbn=978-0-8091-3228-7}}
* {{Cite book |last=Lohfink |first=Norbert |author-mask=2 |title=Theology of the Pentateuch |publisher=Burns & Oates |date=1994 |isbn=978-0-567-29251-3}}
* {{Cite book |last=Lohfink |first=Norbert |author-mask=2 |title=Church Dreams |publisher=D & F Scott Publishing Incorporated |publication-place=North Richland Hills, Tex |date=2000 |isbn=978-0-941037-91-4}}
* {{Cite book |last=Lohfink |first=Norbert |author-mask=2 |title=The God of Israel and the Nations |publisher=Liguori |publication-place=Liguori, Mo |date=2000 |isbn=978-0-7648-0575-2}}
* {{Cite book |last=Lohfink |first=Norbert |author-mask=2 |title=Qoheleth |publisher=Continental Commentaries |date=2003 |isbn=978-0-8006-9604-7}}

=== Other languages ===
* {{Cite book |last=Lohfink |first=Norbert |title=Un Dio dietro le cose |trans-title=Hinter den Dingen ein Gott |publisher=Ancora |date=1997 |isbn=978-88-7610-575-3 |language=it}}
* {{Cite book |last=Lohfink |first=Norbert |author-mask=2 |title=Qohelet |date=1997 |publisher=Morcelliana |isbn=978-88-372-1646-7 |language=it}}
* {{Cite book |last=Lohfink |first=Norbert |author-mask=2 |title=Álmok az egyházról |trans-title=Kirchenträume |publisher=Agapé |publication-place=Szeged |date=2004 |isbn=978-963-458-280-9 |language=hu}}
* {{Cite book |last=Lohfink |first=Norbert |author-mask=2 |title=A la sombra de tus alas |trans-title=Im Schatten deiner Flügel |publisher=Desclée de Brouwer |publication-place=Bilbao |date=2002 |isbn=978-84-330-1692-8 |language=es}}

==References==
<references>

<ref name="Böhler">{{cite web
| last = Böhler
| first = Dieter
| url = https://www.jesuiten.org/news/p-norbert-lohfink-sj-in-muenchen-verstorben
| title = P. Norbert Lohfink SJ in München verstorben
| website = jesuiten.org
| date = 24 September 2024
| language = de
| access-date = 24 September 2024
}}</ref>

<ref name="Schwienhorst-Schönberger">{{cite magazine
| last = Schwienhorst-Schönberger
| first = Ludger
| url = https://www.herder.de/stz/hefte/archiv/144-2019/1-2019/ein-exeget-ortet-seine-wissenschaft-norbert-lohfink-sj-zum-90-geburtstag/
| title = Ein Exeget ortet seine Wissenschaft: Norbert Lohfink SJ zum 90. Geburtstag.
| magazine = [Stimmen der Zeit](/source/Stimmen_der_Zeit)
| date = 2019
| language = de
| pages = 17–27
| access-date = 25 September 2024
}}</ref>

<ref name="Bibliography">{{cite web
| url = https://www.sankt-georgen.de/fileadmin/user_upload/personen/Lohfink/lohfinkbibliogr.pdf
| title = Bibliography von Norbert Lohfink / 1954–2008
| work = [Sankt Georgen Graduate School of Philosophy and Theology](/source/Sankt_Georgen_Graduate_School_of_Philosophy_and_Theology)
| date = 2008
| language = de
| access-date = 26 September 2024
}}</ref>

<ref name="Kirche und Leben">{{cite web
| title = Bekannter Alttestamentler Norbert Lohfink ist tot
| work = Kirche und Leben
| date = 25 September 2024
| url = https://www.kirche-und-leben.de/artikel/alttestamentler-norbert-lohfink-tot-jesuiten
| language = de
| access-date = 25 September 2024
}}</ref>

<ref name="Limburg">{{cite web
| url = https://bistumlimburg.de/beitrag/mit-gott-ein-ganzes-leben/
| title = Mit Gott – Ein ganzes Leben
| work = [Diocese of Limburg](/source/Diocese_of_Limburg)
| date = 26 July 2015
| language = de
| access-date = 17 September 2023
}}</ref>

<ref name="Sankt Georgen">{{cite web
| url = http://www.sankt-georgen.de/lehrstuehlelehrende/emeriti/norbert-lohfink-sj/
| title = Emeriti / Norbert Lohfink SJ
| work = [Sankt Georgen Graduate School of Philosophy and Theology](/source/Sankt_Georgen_Graduate_School_of_Philosophy_and_Theology)
| date = 24 September 2024
| language = de
| access-date = 24 September 2024
}}</ref>

<ref name="Vatican News">{{cite web
| url = https://www.vaticannews.va/de/kirche/news/2024-09/norbert-lohfink-theologie-trauer-deutschland-jesuit-verstorben.html
| title = Trauer um den Theologen Norbert Lohfink
| work = Vatican News
| date = 25 September 2024
| language = de
| access-date = 25 September 2024
}}</ref>

</references>

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite book |last1=Braulik |first1=Georg |last2=Gross |first2=Walter |last3=McEvenue |first3=Sean E. |title=Biblische Theologie und gesellschaftlicher Wandel |publisher=Herder |publication-place=Freiburg |date=1993 |isbn=978-3-451-23236-7 |language=de}}
* {{Cite book |last=Zenger |first=Erich |title=Der Psalter in Judentum und Christentum |publisher=Herder GmbH |publication-place=Freiburg/Br. |date=1998 |isbn=978-3-451-26664-5 |language=de}}
* {{Cite book |last=Hossfeld |first=Frank-Lothar |title=Psalmen: 51-100 |publisher=Herder |publication-place=Freiburg |date=2000 |isbn=978-3-451-26827-4 |language=de}}
* {{Cite book |last=Frevel |first=Christian |author2=Universität Tübingen |title=Selbst Gott hat eine Geschichte : vom Vergessen der Geschichte und der Notwendigkeit einer geschichtlichen Dimension in der Exegese – am Beispiel der Frühgeschichte des Gottes Israels; Norbert Lohfink zum 90. Geburtstag |date=2018 |doi=10.15496/PUBLIKATION-86236}}

=== Obituaries ===
* {{Cite web |title=Die AGAT trauert um Prof. Dr. Norbert Lohfink SJ ✝ 23.9.2024 – AGAT |website=AGAT – Arbeitsgemeinschaft der deutschsprachigen katholischen Alttestamentlerinnen und Alttestamentler |url=https://agat-online.org/?page_id=1108 |language=de |access-date=26 September 2024}}
* [https://sbl-site.org/assets/pdfs/Lohfink_Tribute2.pdf "In Memoriam Norbert Lohfink SJ,"] by Bernard M. Levinson. Society of Biblical Literature In Memoriam Archive. Retrieved 15 October 2024.

== External links ==
* [https://tobias-lib.uni-tuebingen.de/xmlui/browse?type=author&value=Lohfink%2C+Norbert Digitalised publications by Norbert Lohfink]—Tübingen University library
* [http://www.kathpedia.com/index.php?title=Norbert_Lohfink Norbert Lohfink]—kathpedia.com
* [https://www.domradio.de/artikel/alttestamentler-norbert-lohfink-wird-95-jahre-alt Schon 27 Jahre emeritiert] (in German)—{{ill|Domradio|de}}, 28 July 2023

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lohfink, Norbert}}
Category:1928 births
Category:2024 deaths
Category:20th-century German Catholic theologians
Category:Clergy from Frankfurt
Category:German biblical scholars
Category:20th-century German Jesuits
Category:Old Testament scholars
Category:Roman Catholic biblical scholars

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Norbert Lohfink](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norbert_Lohfink) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norbert_Lohfink?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.