Hanns Lilje Prize
Since 1988, the Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Lower Saxony has awarded the Hanns Lilje Prize every two years. The Academy owes this prize to the Calenberg-Grubenhagen Landscape in Hanover. It serves to promote theological scholarship.
The prize is awarded for outstanding scholarly works in the fields of biblical studies or church history, which have either already been published or which are suitable for publication. This may also include doctoral dissertations and habilitation theses.
At the time of the award, the recipient must not have reached the age of forty. The call for applications is issued every two years and communicated to the deans of theology faculties and departments at German-speaking universities.
Self-nominations may be submitted directly to the Academy, accompanied by letters of reference and a statement outlining the applicant’s academic career. On the recommendation of an examination committee and with the approval of the plenary, the Humanities and Social Sciences Class of the Academy decides on the award of the prize.
Recipients
2024
Dr Felix Hagemeyer, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, receives the prize for his dissertation “Aschdod und Jerusalem: Eine archäologische und exegetische Untersuchung zu den Beziehungen von südpalästinischer Küstenebene und judäischem Bergland” [Ashdod and Jerusalem: An Archaeological and Exegetical Study of the Relations Between the Southern Palestinian Coastal Plain and the Judean Highlands].
2022
Dr Simon Bellmann, Justus Liebig University Giessen, receives the prize for his dissertation “Politische Theologie im frühen Judentum. Eine Analyse der fünf Versionen des Estherbuches” [Political Theology in Early Judaism. An Analysis of the Five Versions of the Book of Esther].
2020
Dr Jan Heilmann from Dresden receives the prize for his work “Lesen in Antike und frühem Christentum. Kulturgeschichte, philologische sowie kognitionswissenschaftliche Perspektiven und deren Bedeutung für die neutestamentliche Exegese” [Reading in Antiquity and Early Christianity. Cultural History, Philological, and Cognitive Scientific Perspectives, and Their Relevance for New Testament Exegesis].
Daniel Schumann from Oxford receives the prize for his work “Gelübde im antiken Judentum und frühestem Christentum” [Vows in Ancient Judaism and in Earliest Christianity].
2018
Dr Kai-Ole Eberhardt from Hanover receives the prize for his work “Christoph Wittich (1625–1687) – Reformierte Theologie unter dem Einfluss von René Descartes” [Christoph Wittich (1625–1687) – Reformed Theology under the Influence of René Descartes].
2016
Markus Lau from Fribourg, Switzerland, receives the prize for his work “Der gekreuzigte Triumphator. Eine motivkritische Studie zum Markusevangelium” [The Crucified Triumphator. A Motif-Critical Study of the Gospel of Mark].
Dr Sarah Schulz from Erlangen receives the prize for her work “Die Anhänge zum Richter-Buch. Eine kompositionsgeschichtliche Untersuchung von RI 17-21” [The Appendices to the Book of Judges. A Composition-Historical Study of Judges 17–21].
2014
Dr Sara Kipfer from Bern, Switzerland, receives the prize for her work “Der bedrohte David. Eine exegetische und rezeptionsgeschichtliche Studie zu 1. Samuel 16-1. Könige 2” [The Threatened David. An Exegetical and Reception-Historical Study of 1 Samuel 16 to 1 Kings 2].
2012
Henning Theißen, University of Greifswald, receives the prize for his work “Der Ursprung der Kirche und ihr weltweiter Beruf. Beiträge zu einer unierten Theorie der Kirche bei Schleiermacher und Ritschl”The Origin of the Church and Its Global Vocation. Contributions to a Unified Theory of the Church in the Works of Schleiermacher and Ritschl].
2010
Dr Benjamin Dahlke receives the prize for his work “Die katholische Rezeption Karl Barths. Theologische Erneuerung im Vorfeld des Zweiten Vatikanischen Konzils” [The Catholic Reception of Karl Barth. Theological Renewal in the Run-up to the Second Vatican Council].
Dr Gregor Emmenegger receives the prize for his work “Der Text des koptischen Psalters aus al-Mudil” [The Text of the Coptic Psalter from al-Mudil].
PD Dr Christopher Spehr receives the prize for his work “Luther und das Konzil. Zur Entwicklung eines zentralen Themas in der Reformationszeit” [Luther and the Council. On the Development of a Central Theme of the Reformation Period].
2008
Charlotte Köckert, Department of Church History, Heidelberg University, receives the prize for her work “Christliche Kosmologie und antike Naturphilosophie. Eine Untersuchung zur Auslegung des Schöpfungsberichtes bei Origenes, Basilius von Caesarea und Gregor von Nyssa unter besonderer Berücksichtigung kaiserzeitlicher Timaeus-Interpretationen” [Christian Cosmology and Ancient Natural Philosophy. An Investigation of the Interpretation of the Creation Account in Origen, Basil of Caesarea, and Gregory of Nyssa, with Special Consideration of Imperial-Era Timaeus Interpretations].
Dr Andres Straßberger, Großbothen, receives the prize for his work “Johann Christoph Gottsched und die ‚philosophische’ Predigt. Studien zur aufklärerischen Transformation der protestantischen Homiletik im Spannungsfeld von Theologie, Philosophie, Rhetorik und Politik” [Johann Christoph Gottsched and the ‘Philosophical’ Sermon. Studies on the Enlightenment Transformation of Protestant Homiletics in the Context of Theology, Philosophy, Rhetoric, and Politics].
2006
Dr theol. Martin Keßler, Faculty of Theology, Basel University, Switzerland, for his work “Johann Gottfried Herder als Generalsuperintendent von Sachsen-Weimar” [Johann Gottfried Herder as General Superintendent of Saxony-Weimar].
2004
Dr Henrik Pfeiffer, Berlin, for his work “Jahwes Kommen von Süden” [Yahweh’s Coming from the South].
Dr Hans-Ulrich Weidemann, Department of New Testament, Catholic Theological Faculty, University of Tübingen, for his work “Der Tod Jesu im Johannesevangelium” [The Death of Jesus in the Gospel of John].
2002
Dr Heike Omerzu, Mainz, for her work “Der Prozess des Paulus nach dem Bericht der Apostelgeschichte des Lukas” [The Trial of Paul According to the Account in the Acts of the Apostles by Luke].
Dr Katharina Greschat, Mainz, for her work “Apelles und Hermogenes. Zwei theologische Lehrer des zweiten Jahrhunderts” [Apelles and Hermogenes. Two Theological Teachers of the Second Century].
2000
PD Dr theol. Martin Wallraff, Bonn, for his work “Christus Verus Sol.”
1998
Dr Alf Christophersen, Munich, for his work “Friedrich Lücke (1791–1855). Neutestamentliche Hermeneutik und Exegese im Zusammenhang mit seinem Leben und Werk” [Friedrich Lücke (1791–1855). New Testament Hermeneutics and Exegesis in the Context of His Life and Work].
Dr Eva-Maria Seng, Halle, for her work “Der evangelische Kirchenbau im 19. Jahrhundert” [Protestant Church Architecture in the 19th Century].
1996
Dr Volker Leppin, Department of Theology, University of Heidelberg
Dr Hermut Löhr, Department of New Testament, Faculty of Protestant Theology, University of Bonn
1994
Dr Traudel Himmighöfer, Haßloch
Dr Christoph Markschies, Tübingen
1992
Dr Ulrich Hübner, Mainz
Dr Christoph Uehlinger, Biblical Institute of the University of Fribourg, Switzerland
1990
Dr Martin Evang, Sankt Augustin
Dr Bernhard Neuschäfer, Frankfurt
1988
Dr Ute Mennecke-Haustein, Göttingen