Rolf Jacobson is Dean of the Faculty, Professor of Old Testament, and the Alvin N. Rogness Chair of Scripture, Theology, and Ministry. Rolf joined the Luther Seminary faculty in 2003. Prior to that, he served on the faculty of Augsburg University and as Associate Pastor of Como Park Lutheran Church (St. Paul, Minnesota).

Rolf is known for integrating humor into his teaching and scholarship. This combination is evident in his latest book, God Meets Us in Our Suffering (with Karl Jacobson and Michael Pancoast), which has been described as “heartrending, hope-filled, laugh-out-loud funny.”

Rolf enjoys collaborating with other leaders. With Craig Koester, he developed and supports the Narrative Lectionary. With Beth Tanner and Nancy deClaissé-Walford he wrote The Book of Psalms. With Karl Jacobson, he wrote Invitation to the Psalms. And with Michael Chan, he is the author of Introducing the Old Testament: A Historical, Literary, and Theological Survey.

For over 15 years, he was a part of “Sermon Brainwave,” a weekly preaching podcast. He continues to participate in “The Narrative Lectionary” podcast. Rolf sings the high lonesome and operates a guitar in “The Fleshpots of Egypt,” a Lutheran bluegrass band.

A survivor of childhood cancer, he is a double, above-the-knee amputee, who generally wears a bicycle and a smile. He and his wife Amy share two children, Ingrid and Gunnar, and a cat who thinks he is a lion. He is a loyal friend, lifelong sufferer of Minnesota sports, and committed board-game geek.
He is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.