1957 born in Berlin.

1976-1982 studied in Berlin, München, Wien, and Tübingen.

1982-1986 Vollbeschäftigte wissenschaftliche Hilfskraft (Scientific Assistant) at the Institute for Old Testament Theology at the Ludwig Maximilians-University Munich.

1986-1988 Vicar in Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt, Stadtkirchengemeinde.

1988 participant "Lehrkurs des Deutschen Evangelischen Institutes für Altertumswissenschaft des Heiligen Landes".

1988-1991 Pfarrvikar in Marbach am Neckar.

1989 "Doctor theologiae" degree (supervisor: Prof. Dr. Jörg Jeremias), Ludwig Maximilians-University Munich.

1991-1994 Scholarship from the Fritz Thyssen Stiftung.

1992-1993 Research Fellow at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut / USA.

1994-1998  Wissenschaftlicher Assistent (Assistant Professor) at the Department for Protestant Theology at the Philipps-University Marburg.

1996 Habilitation for Old Testament (supervisor: Prof. Dr. Jörg Jeremias), Philipps-University Marburg.

WS 1997 - Sose 1999 Professurvertreter for Old Testament and New Testament at the University-Gesamthochschule Essen.

1998 Hochschuldozent at the Department for Protestant Theology at the Philipps-University Marburg.

Sose 1999 Professor for Old Testament and New Testament at the University-Gesamthochschule Essen.

19.08.-31.08.2002 Research Fellow at the University of Pretoria in Pretoria / South Africa.
              Some impressions from this stay (with photos).

Since 01.01.2003 Professor for Old Testament and New Testament at the University Duisburg-Essen