Bühner Ruben A.

Ruben A. Bühner is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Würzburg and Privatdozent (Senior Lecturer) at the University of Zurich, specializing in New Testament studies with a focus on early Jewish-Christian relations and messianic theology. His academic career includes positions as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Bonn University and a research assistant under Prof. Jörg Frey and Prof. Michael Tilly. He holds a summa cum laude doctorate from Tübingen (2020) and a habilitation from Zurich (2023).

• Education:
  • Studies in Protestant Theology at Heidelberg, Princeton, and Tübingen (2012–2017)
  • 1st Theological Exam (Evangelical Church in Württemberg, 2017)
  • 2nd Theological Exam (Evangelical Church in Württemberg, 2022)

Bühner’s research explores Christologies in the New Testament, messianic expectations in Second Temple Judaism, and Paul’s theology within diaspora Jewish contexts. His work bridges ancient texts with modern theological debates, particularly regarding identity formation in early Christian communities. He has authored monographs like Hohe Messianologie (2020) and co-edited key volumes such as Paul within Judaism (2023, open access).

His recent articles analyze Paul’s Torah observance in Acts, purity systems in early Jewish texts, and the role of divine messianism in identity politics. Bühner has received prestigious awards including the Manfred Lautenschlaeger Award for Theological Promise (2021) and the Zürich Center for Ancient Studies Research Prize.

Beyond research, he has held editorial roles for major theological journals and contributed to conferences on Pauline studies and early Christian contexts. His current projects include a textbook on the historical context of early Jesus movements and studies on apocalyptic rhetoric in Revelation.