An Outstanding Figure in Biblical Scholarship

In recognition of his outstanding commitment to the study of the Hebrew Bible, Adrian Schenker was awarded the Canstein Medal of the German Bible Society on Monday, 8 June. The biblical scholar served for many years as a leading editor of the scholarly editions of the Hebrew Bible, the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia and its successor project, the Biblia Hebraica Quinta. The award ceremony took place during the Society’s General Assembly in Wiesbaden.

The award honors “his many years of exceptional dedication to the Biblia Hebraica: first within the Hebrew Old Testament Text Project of the United Bible Societies, from 1991 as Chair of the Editorial Committee of the Biblia Hebraica Quinta, and since 1997 also as editor of the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia.” The medal was presented during the 45th General Assembly of the German Bible Society, held on 8–9 June in Wiesbaden.

Dr. Christoph Rösel, General Secretary of the German Bible Society, highlighted in his laudation both the length and the quality of Schenker’s contribution: “For 35 years, he carried out this task with scholarly precision, great dedication, and at the same time with remarkable modesty.” Schenker stepped down from his role as Chair of the Editorial Committee in February this year, while continuing his work as editor of the Book of Kings.

Professor Emanuel Tov, a leading authority in biblical textual criticism, also paid tribute to Schenker in a statement prepared for this occasion: “He deserves the praise of all the scholars in the world, as well as of the learned public, for creating a critical tool that brings Hebrew and translated Scripture closer to the public.” This recognition reflects not only Schenker’s work in textual criticism and biblical theology, but also his leading role in developing a key resource for biblical textual research, the Biblia Hebraica Quinta (BHQ).

As Schenker was unable to travel due to his age, the ceremony was held in hybrid form. While the official proceedings took place in Wiesbaden, they were simultaneously streamed to the Institut Dominique Barthélemy in Fribourg, Switzerland, where the medal was presented to him on behalf of the German Bible Society in the presence of colleagues in biblical scholarship, his Dominican confrères, and representatives of the University of Fribourg.

In a video message, Schenker expressed his gratitude for the honour and for the trust placed in him by the German Bible Society. In his address, he reflected on the long history of the transmission of the biblical text, tracing a line from the work of the German Bible Society today—through Baron von Canstein, after whom the medal is named and whose commitment to disseminating the Bible remains an inspiration—back to the Jewish editors of the scriptural texts in pre-Christian times, who handed them down with great care and dedication.

Adrian Schenker, born in Zurich in 1939, is a Roman Catholic theologian and has been Professor of Old Testament since 1982. Until 2005, he also served as director of the Institut Dominique Barthélemy at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland.

Further information on Biblia Hebraica Quinta: die-bibel.de/en/biblia-hebraica-quinta-bhq

Further information on the Canstein Medal: die-bibel.de/canstein-medaille