James M. Robinson, Gnosticism and Gospel scholar, dies at 91

James M. Robinson, a prominent scholar of the Gospel source known as “Q” and of Gnosticism, died March 22 at age 91.

He taught at the school now named the Claremont School of Theology from 1958 until 1964. After that he was professor of religion at the school now named the Claremont Graduate University until he retired in 1999. A member of the Jesus Seminar, he also directed the Institute for Antiquity and Christianity from 1968 to 2000.

He earned a doctoral degree in 1952 from the University of Basel, where he studied with Karl Barth, and another from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1955.