Born in Görlitz in 1905. From 1937 imparts his teaching at Bethel and works as a pastor in Münster and Dortmund. From 1949 until his retirement in 1971 he was professor of New Testament at the University of Heidelberg.

Works: The New Testament and the history of early Christianity, 1975; Studies on the New Testament, 1983; Pablo de Tarso, 2002 (6th. Ed.).