Background
Rendtorff was born at Preetz, Holstein, Germany.
educationist theologian university professor
Rendtorff was born at Preetz, Holstein, Germany.
He studied theology from 1945 to 1950 at the universities of Kiel, Göttingen and Heidelberg.
He has written frequently on the Jewish scriptures and was notable chiefly for his contribution to the debate over the origins of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament). He undertook his doctoral studies under Gerhard von Rad, 1950-1953. He died on 1 April 2014.