Paul D. Hanson, Florence Corliss Lamont Professor of Divinity Emeritus at Harvard Divinity School, died June 9, 2023, at the age of 83.
Hanson began teaching at Harvard in 1971 and was Lamont Professor of Divinity until July 2009 when he retired and was named Lamont Research Professor. Throughout his tenure at Harvard University, Hanson held a joint appointment with the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations.
“Paul Hanson was a dedicated scholar and teacher who will be remembered not only for his contributions to the study of the Old Testament and Biblical hermeneutics, but also for mentoring, along with his wife, Cynthia Rosenberger, countless students as a faculty dean,” said HDS Dean David N. Hempton. “I have fond memories of him taking me on a grand tour of Harvard houses when I first arrived at the University, and of his fortitude and grace in dealing with health adversities. The School’s condolences are with his family and loved ones.”
Hanson’s courses focused on Hebrew prophecy, Jewish literature of the Second Temple Period, the religion of the ancient cultures of Mesopotamia and Egypt, and biblical theology.
Hanson authored several books, including: The Dawn of Apocalyptic: The Historical and Sociological Roots of Jewish Apocalyptic Eschatology; Dynamic Transcendence: The Correlation of Confessional Heritage and Contemporary Experience in a Biblical Model of Divine Activity; The Diversity of Scripture: A Theological Interpretation; Visionaries and Their Apocalypses; Old Testament Apocalyptic; The People Called: The Growth of Community in the Bible; Isaiah 40-66; and Political Engagement as Biblical Mandate.
His most recent book published in 2015, A Political History of the Bible in America, explores the interplay of religion and politics throughout the history of the United States, while paying close attention to the role that biblical tradition has played in shaping the national story of the U.S.
William A. Graham, HDS Dean from 2002 to 2012, knew Hanson going back to their days as graduate students in the 1960s when they played basketball together. The friends later became colleagues, working together in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, at HDS, and as faculty deans.
“In all of the venues in which I knew him, what stood out, along with his sense of humor, was his never-failing enthusiasm for, and commitment to, whatever he was engaged in. Cynthia matched him in all that they did as a couple, and they made a terrific team,” said Graham, who is currently Murray A. Albertson Professor of Middle Eastern Studies, Emeritus and Harvard University Distinguished Service Professor, Emeritus.
In 1970, Hanson earned his PhD from Harvard University and then spent a year conducting archaeological research in Israel. He also earned his bachelor of arts degree from Gustavus Adolphus College, and a bachelor of divinity degree from Yale University.
For 15 years, Hanson and his wife, Cynthia Rosenberger, served as Harvard house faculty deans. They served at Dudley House before moving to Winthrop House, and built relationships with and mentored countless students who lived there.
Hanson was a member of the Old Testament Editorial Board of Hermeneia, the Catholic Biblical Association, the Society of Biblical Literature, and other boards and committees.
Hanson was also a longtime member of University Lutheran Church in Cambridge, where he was remembered as being “generous with his knowledge.” He led student Bible studies and congregational discussions for decades, and served on several councils and committees.
A celebration of life for Paul Hanson will take place at University Lutheran Church on July 2, 2023.