Gerhard von Rad (1901-1971) was a prominent German Old Testament scholar whose work brought back focus to the Old Testament. He was educated at the University of Erlangen and at the University of Tübingen and later received honorary Doctorates from the Universities of Lund, Wales, Leipzig and Glasgow. He also taught at the University of Jena, University of Gottingen, Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg. The Encyclopedia of World Biography notes him as having "developed the 'tradition history' approach to the Old Testament that has dominated the study of the Bible for the last 40 years." His dissertation was on "Das Gottesvolk im Deuteronomium" (The People of God in Deuteronomy).