David Trobisch was born in Ebolowa, Cameroon, to Walter and Ingrid Trobisch and grew up in Africa and Austria. He is a German-American scholar, writer, editor, and publisher. He lives and works between Nußloch, Germany, and Springfield, Missouri.
Academic work
His teaching and research have included appointments and visiting work at Heidelberg University, Missouri State University, Yale Divinity School, Bangor Theological Seminary, the University of Dresden, and the Jewish Studies program at the University of Memphis.
His scholarship has concentrated on the formation and publication of the New Testament, the Pauline letter collection, early Christian manuscripts, textual criticism, and the editorial features of ancient books.
Editorial and institutional work
From 1995 to 2006 he served on the translation subcommittee of the American Bible Society and from 2006 to 2017 on its Board of Trustees.
From 2014 to 2018 he was Director of Collections at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC.
From 2018 to 2025 he served as Chair of the Board of the Foundation Historical Bibles Europe in Basel.
He has worked as an independent consultant since 2009 and is the owner of Quiet Waters Publications.
Writing and publishing
His publications range from studies of New Testament manuscripts and the history of the canon to books for general readers, children’s literature, dialogue across religious traditions, and family history. In retirement, writing, storytelling, publishing, and archival work have become the center of his activity.
Languages
He speaks English, German, and French and studied Latin, Hebrew, and ancient Greek as part of his degree.