He took the dr.theol. degree in 1978 with the thesis Theology in Conflict: Studies in Paul"s Understanding of God in Romans, and was appointed as a professor of the New Testament at the University of Oslo in 1984. In 2006 ran for election as the dean of the Faculty of Theology, but succumbed to Trygve Wyller.
Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters]
In 2005 he received an honorary degree at the University of Copenhagen, and he is also a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.